Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-12-14

for either political influence or pf'Ta'e
COULD contribute nothing iu the depra'ed appele u 'ne
! age for power and speculation. r,L,b,c
RIM impur,a as are the evenlua! safety n Inc puo'!e
,,upsy md purity OF character in It's management ~
must be manifest from the remarks a'Ieaoy "aue, az.
from the warning events OF the last Two yta'S 1T
gisa,ion should lock not only to them p'. ush Iva
Recent occurrences have shown tiat the Wn", "'
sure of the T. when intrusted To banks IS ilaoe' ~
critical PERIODS be swept at once from Tue uSe ""o
control of the General Government.
The uood faith Of Tic Union may thus be su'u'"iy
,c, in r,irrme Jeopardy Indeed il VIII ne fortunate
the accumulated Ills Of broken public credit through
out the land not actually acdrc, ana are '"'
| OH the lator and pursuits q! Tie whoie Pfor''' :, 49,
lows therefore, though banking insiitulinns hhv wv
been reuatded by tie undersigned az class ol "e"
generally unsafe when Looking 10 eventual l"ssrs' an"
though The additional securities anu prohibitions o''1
ms;inned might be nco pcrattd Into some s!s'e" VI
banks but with less lucy than into The pan u az ~
drpepGco; Treasury that The gra! and VICE spread aih
ger experienced Of late from the employ OF u"'hS
rs fiscal depos ruries VIII CHI ought, II Poss'oF' "
be avoided Arising, it does from Their iiahih'y 10
re,cr, suspsnsnn Of specie payments, The individual
officers who ho.d money drpcste are eSPosru W "'
such calamity; and when The recent suspension n"P
pened the specie in the possession OF many ~ ,"e
proved exceedingly seusonab!e and useful III dscnafS
;no the uubIic obGntuns in the lmperalVeiy
required by law. Though apparent sccnIi'y asahs
some of the Notifying endorsements, resu'"g rom
such u general spensi"n, might be obtained oy auoP'
ing system of Special DPp0srs, yet, IN o9oei " '
der such drposiies in fiscal operations TIE
banks must heretofore explained have access 10 tue
funds and be- tempted in an emergency 20 use them-
The changes which have been proposed III keeping 'e
public money in an Independent treasury "ou'u {"
lrely ohvale most 81 these dangers.
II individual agents were chiefly employed u Inc So
veral checks and securities proposed were ADOPTED anu
if the of the public money Tor private "eIe
prohibited under prnaes, candnr must conceoe
Thai there would be much less tendency 10 any OF tue
evils heretofore described, and none to the greatest Of
ell disasters in fiscal agen,sa general REFUSAL 10 meet
their Liabilities in legal manner.
No cause either for special favor or hnsIty oet"teh
the banks and the Government would then exist Win
out any alliance offensive or defensive between hem an
appropriate and occasional use would sill be mace OF
the banks bp tile Treasury is done by others, "eh
ever convenience should require 1t. But neither party
would be- forced into species of vassaage; constant
necessary and dependant connection, which, IN Tue re-
cent crisis has been found not only perIious 10 pnoIc
credit but derogalury of the parties, and SUBJECT
ing both TO continued imputaOns Of those unworthy
influences so disrepuabe 10 The community as well as
the Government
On the whole, it is apparent, that the system OF an
Independent Treasury Is more PLAIN and simple IN lis
arrangeme hts than any other, and much accordan
with that originally in after The adoption oil the Con
siitulion.
lis uer to the spirit of that sacred instrument, and
those elementary self sustaining principles " Inch belong
to independent Government
II is more free from several formidable dangers; aud
under the additional guards and restrictions proposed,
is likely 10 unite all aItainabe security WIN eicIrcy
and purity. in the custody OF the pubic funds
In fine experience has furnished satisfactory proof
that the collecting officers can, in mos, places, keep and
dsburse as well collect the public dues without great
Inconvenience and that The exclusive employment oil
banks as drpose agents though not regarded as com
paratively unsafe relation 10 eventual payment mas
proved embarrassing and dangerous in other respects
ard unnecessary, provided few additional receivers,
and the additional regulations checks, ana securities
which have been urged IN respect 10 coecNhs oceFsi
are adopted.
X oS SEVERAL MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
Separate reports will soon be made various other
of public interest conhded to The charge OF ms
Department.
These will include one the progress made IN the ma
nuucture Of weights and measures, and their dis'rbu
ton among the different States and custom houses as
well as OH the important survey OF the Atlantic coast OF
the United States Another will be submitted on the
erection and dsconnuance of light houses; and others
on the affairs of the General Land Office and the Mint
and lis branches.
Since last December the sixth inslanent due from
France and The fifth from Naples, f." Indrmnes. alter
being puncually paid have been transferred TO this
country and distributed among the claimants Notice.
has also been recently received that the arearGges oil
interest due from France upon the first four instruments
have been pad and the amount, exceeding million Of
lrancs will forthwith be ADJUSTED win those eh'eu
to it, ..
Tie Smithsonian legacy, amounting TO more than half
million Of dollars, has been received and Invesicd-
For PARTICULARS reference be had 10 special report
which will be made 10 the President and lard before
Conpre g. under resolution Of the House OF RePresen
tatives. .
A, an early day it is intended to submit to that House
valuable collection Of facts, compliance with It's re-
goIuon calling for information concerning The number
of steamboats,. locomotives and other machinery nioFeu
BY steam within the u. S, as well as the causes o The
explosion steam boilers, and various matters cOHtc'eu
with that interesting subject
Such other questions Of minor Importance cs have been
referred 10 this office, will be answered as early as Pruc
ticabe. :,
II is hoped that the undersigned will not be regarded
as too if he again expresses an earnest de
sir. for reorganization of the Treasury Department
With come sight changes, rendered proper ny ne"
legislation since 1885 the less emp and more efficient
system at that recommended IN separate report
would be great improvement
1ha, portion of it, proposing separation OF Inc uueS
Of Commissioner of the Customs from those OF comp
trolling accounts, and requiring the undivided aiehoh
of one bureau each subject Is OF the most pressing
importance and would greatly ccnduce 10 prompnd',
e1uctness and skill the respective business OF each
An alteration in The nceent oil the iscai year,
and revision Of The number and compensation OF Gus,
tom house officers and also Of several laws connected
with the collection of the imposts, measures sill as
desirable as when they heretofore submitted 10 The
consideration of Congress. Some legal provision on
the subject of return duties, regulating the manner o'
keepnG them while under protest, and the mode oi re-
payment, is necessary 10 remove douos ana P'ooe VIC
public security. The Employment oil more boys IN 'ne
mecbau, service u.s. in degree, connected with ie
customs on account of lis tendency 10 AFFORD additional
protection 10 the lives aud property engaged IN com
MERGE as well improve the morals OF mariners anu
prevent smuggling, mulinies aud piraclts
The encouragement by law Of such an acquisition 10
the marine Of country, by soon bringing INT" acVe
usefulness class of intelligent, vrtuous aud able sea
man w,uld tend materially avert Ui the nune-
ros evils from that quarter, which now bear upon COM
mercial energy and prosperity.
Respectfully, yours.
LEVI WOODBURY.,
l.