The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-01
sUB-TREAsURY PENAL SECURITIES.

The various developments that have been
made since the sub Treasury was recommend
ed, Of the utter insecurity of the public money
in the hands of the Government officers,
though giving what was deemed ample bond
men, by the different exhibits and lists Of de-
faulters, led the advocates Of the scheme to
propose and advocate the infiction of penal
punishment on such officers in case of defal-
cations. We take the following from the ad-
dress, recently put forth, signed by commit
tee Of the Loco foco party Of each branch of
Congress
ave are in favor of such changes in our financial
SYSTEM will eectually prevent the application of
Of accomplishing this great reform are Of less i'm
portance than the end to be obtained. We however
perceive no means SO effective and certain as to lei
the Government keep its own money, by the instru-
mentality Of its own officers who shall be put under
bonds, with heavy securities, not to use or lend it
and, in addition, making il highly penal in them to
do. II is not perceived why the Government cannot
make its money as secure as bank. All the usual
means of security enjoyed BY the banks are within
its reach in addition 10 which, il has absolute power
over the persons OF its agents. which the banks have
not. Banks cannot, by regulations, punish their
cashiers and clerks for faithlessness and crime with
the peniteniary or otherwise; but the Government
can.
We should like to be informed wherein the
General Government enjoys a right or a
power to infict greater or severer punish
ment for fai,hlessness or crime" than the
State. Governments do! We believe that
cashiers Of banks who are guilty of faithless-
ness and crime, can be punished with equal
severity under the laws of the States, as col
lectors or receivers appointed by the Govern
ment, who are guilty Of high offences can be,
under the laws Of the United States.
To those who regard i, as giving increased
security, TO make these offences highly pc
nal" we recommend the following aphorism Of
Lacon, from the BUSINESS Of which few, if any
Of those wearing the ermine of the bench will
dissent
Laws that are too severe, are temptations to plum
der on the part OF the criminal, and TO perjury
the part of the prosecutor since the would rather
burden his conscience with a false OATH than with
true one which would arm cruely TO kill in the
garb Of justice Such laws, therefore, reverse the
natural order Of things, transferring the Indignation
of public feeling, which oughtlo follow the criminal
to the ferocy Of that sentence by which he is to suf
fer and taking from Legislation its main support the
sympathy Of public esteem and appreciation; for the
victim OF loo severe law is considered as martyr,
rather than criminal, and that which we pity, we
cannot at the same time deest But there is il pos
sible, stronger objection against such laws they
open door to all kinds of favorism and partially,
Tor they AFFORD the executive power of pardoning
friend under the pretext of mercy; or OF DESTROYING
foe, with the forms of justice. law of this ma.
ture may be compared to mastff that is so fero-
cious that he is never suffered to be let loose and