The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-15
From the Nc,o York Times,

DIRECT TAXATION AND THE SUPERNATURAL
practical illustration of the reckless extravaganza OF the
administration which has laid the foundation Of ma
tiona debt and is leading onward towards direct taxa
ton by the federal government exhibited in this
city last week. 1t was equally felcitous as practical
exposition Of the beauty simplicity utility and economy
of the hard money subtreasury scheme II will be
collected by readers that shortly prior TO the cleo
ton in Missouri, quantity Of specie was taken by the
administration from the Atlantic cities, and transported
at the expense Of the Government to that State, in
order to aid in the election Of the great humbug. An
election is approaching in the State Of Michigan where
tho political waters look troubled and dark for the ad
ministration, and 1t has been deemed advisable to
brighten the prospect with little Of the gold and silver
That State has been ground to the dust by the unred
expeden and the scarcity Of money has been so great
that dollar looks large cart wheel through the
pecunary rarfacton of the atmosphere.
The clerk who stands charged by the kitchen cabinet
with the supervisory care OF the local elections wit
Messing this state Of facts, unnaturaly concludes,
that little dispensation of the real metallic will be
hailed as was the in the desert. At any rate,
the "expedient" must be "tred," and may add, in
the language OF the Albany Argus is now in practical
operation"
For this purpose an instrument well known and
"practised great extent in this community" called
specie draft, issued by the treasury department
upon one Of the banks Of this city, which keeps and
all the public moneys here, maugre all
the declarations Of the Post Argus and Gobe-and was
executed. The corporas guard Of the treasury came
this city safely with the specie draft for 5000,
and presented it to the bank and demanded payment in
American half dollars, American gold. The officers
Of the bank concluded to accommodate the particular
gentlemen and offered Immediately to them the money
out Of the vaults. But no a difficulty arose The
gentlemen on referring to their written instructions,
stated to the officers that they were directed to count
every dollar Of it, The officers replied tina, the silver
was in boxes Of $1,000 each and the gold in bags as
marked that the bank had counted the money and
satisfied il was there and if they had any doubts they
must count il for their satisfaction. The officers
proflered the Of room to those Sub.tres.urcrs
count the money, and it was turned out Of the
vaults into that apartment The subtreasurers opened
Of the $1,000 boxes and commenced the task, and
completed that box in about hour, and found it cor
rect. II apparent from the time consumed in
counting box aud the number Of boxes to be count
cd that the business would occupy these subreasurers
for several days Whereas their instructions equal
" explicit and positive leave the city that afternoon
at FIVE o'clock, carry onward the precious metals 1t
was therefore necessary to break the instruction to
the counting Of the money to the time Of leaving
the city. In this dilemma, the ready.wted cashier,
who by the way, is not Yankee, suggested a remedy,
and the bank came the relief Of the Government
usual The cashier proposed that as the boxes all
made alike, and Of about the same weight, and the
subtroasurrs had counted the money in one and found