The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-06
THE EXAMPLE, on ROME.

Il EhAMfLE Of tADhE@
Mr.. LEoARE, ia his eloquent speech at the
late session, perhaps sufficiently exposed the
error of those who rely upon the experience
Of the Roman Questors for safe example in
favor of the proposed Sub Treasury system.
One distinguished Senator, at least, who is
not a little celebrated for his evidences of
classical research, has frequently adduced the
example Of the Roman Questors, in order 10
give weight and authority to his preference Of
the scheme reported by the Finance Com
mittee of the Senate. Without repeating the
illusions made by Mr.. Legare, we propose to
examine briefly the character Of the Roman
QuGstors and the utility Of their connection
with the Roman Treasury.
That the friends Of the Sub-Treasury are
correct in comparing tho new officers 10 be
created to the Roman Qu9stors, we are not
inclined to doubt. Indeed, we believe they
are so. The Questors were so called because
they received and discussed the public mo-
ney, and entered an account OF their receipts
and disbursements. This is The duty prescrib-
ed for the /" RECEIVERS GENERAL"
The Qunstors were assigned to certain pro-
vinces or cifies-this is also the case with
the Receivers General and the Collectors
Some of them collected duties--exacted tri-
buies--paid the army-kept the soldiers mo-
ney-and went into the provinces attended
with hefors. Others, assessed taxes, and ex-
acted fines in the cities. At first, the Ques-
tors were two in number, but gradually multi
piled to the number Of four, of eight, oftwen-
ty, and under Caesar, who had large debt Of
gratitude to pay, TO the number of forty. The
Treasurer" General" OF the Empire was call
ed /" Count Of The sacred Largesses," perhaps,
illustrative of The bounty Of a gratsful Erecu-
the. "'The actual account of the finances"
says Gibbon, employed several hundred
persons, distributed into eleven different off,
ces, which were artfully contrived TO examine
and control their respective operations The
multitude Of these agents had a NATURAL TEN
DENcY TO INCREASE; and 1t was more than
once thought expedient 10 dismiss TO their ma
tive homes, the useless supernumeraries, who
deserving their honest labors, had pressed
with too much eageness into the lucrative
profession Of the finances. TUeniy-niae pro-
pincial RECEIVERS, of whom eighteen were
honored with the title of Count, correspondent
with this Treasurer; and he extended his ju-
risdiction over the mines from whence the
precious metals were extracted, ouer The minis,
in which they were converted into the current
CON- and over the public treasures OF most Of
the important cities, where they were deposit
ed for the service Of the state" Augustus,
however, who introduced the Golden Age"
removed the Quaslors from the management
of the Treasury.
The condition of Rome under the admins
tration Of the Quastors, is described to be Of
the most corrupt, debauched and disordered
character.
And expressly in regard to fhe corrupting
effects of this ROMAN SUB-TREAsURY sYs-
TEN, recent writer deriving his authority
from Dio Cassius says:
"Ifit be remembered that MEN OF INFLu-
ENcE were enabled during their brief term of
Office, 10 make use Of the public money as their
own, UNDER ALL SORTS OF PRETExTs; as IL
oas difficult 10 bring them to account, so long
as the people, their real sovereign, called for
spectacles, shows, and bounties, the soldiers
for donations, increase Of pay, and allotments
of land, on the expiry of their term of SER
vice, il cannot be matter of surprise that ENoR-
NOUS MASSES OF TREASURE VANISHED WITH
SUCH CELEBRITY"
THE state Of Italy was dreadful Tho citizens were
plundeed of their treasures, and their lands measured
out for distribution Every where the soldiers stationed
in and hamets committed the brutal excess
slaves escaped from their masters fields and har-
vests laid waste; agriculture brought stand,
and dreadful dcarth the very natural consequence
The rerenue officers and soldiers employed 10 back them,
trcrc engaged in OPEN HosTiLriEs WITH THE PEoPLs;
and disorder in all transactions, confusion in all ranks,
unavoidable, the old official dgntes began TO
be viewed titles and orders which the contempt
ibe creatures might participate On the whole, the
cent manners and constitution totally lost, that
the legal introduction Of form Of government
essential to the general good of tho empire
So much for the administration of the Ro-
man Questors, whose example has been al
duced to sustain the proposed establishment
Of system, confessedly copied from theirs, in
the United States!
THE RIGHT OF INSTRUCTION AND THE
DUTY OF OBEDIENCE.