Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-12-20
From the Columbia Observer.
Independent, or Sub-Treasury Bill

From the Columbia Observer!
Independent, or Sub-Treasury Bill.
"LET US REASON TOGETHER"
Our neighbor has at length, for the frs
time, ventured to publstV this chill Of a
Nominations" Having heretofore tough
shy, and very TREMENDOUSLY given the mea
sure faint support, he is NOV embolden
ed, under the short-lived delusion produ
ced by the temporary success Of his party
in Ohio, to spread the bill before his rca-
ders. We are glad Of it. Having thus
thrown out his banner, An opportunity is
presented us, before he again hauls ii
down, ofputting some shot-holes through it.
Our present purpose is, to point out to
the reader such of its clauses, as to our
mind, are (raught with the most danger to
republican liberty and the elective indie
pendence Of this happy people. The bill
itself has beer published in the Observer
months ago!
As a first impression on reading this
bill, it must strike every candid mind
with force, that the consequences of its
passage will be nothing short of radical
violation Of the intentions of the constitu-
ton, and subverSion Of all the statutes
heretofore regulating the control Of the
public moneys! The constitution, it must
be borne in mind, has very wisely entrus-
ted the control of the public moneys TO the
representatives Of the people in congress-
This bill wrests it from Congress, and
places it in the hands Of the executive,
who already has the control of the army
and the nary, and the appointing Of 10000
office holders! II may be thought strange,
that there are representatives of the Peo-
pie to be found, who not only tamely sub
nit to this innovation, but actively aid in
contributing TO its success! But when ii
is recollected that the executive has a
number of honorable and lucrutive offices
TO dispose, and the principle 81 vjH giDe
him ma cote, and he WW beStOlC on me his
PATRONAGE" is we'll understood at Wash
ington, our surprise at such conduct will
soon vanish. Indeed, this pH0acy on the
part Of the peoples representatives., Is the
most alarming Development of the times!
In 1897, in his paImiest andpurest day,
our own representative, Col. Polk, warn
ed us. that "IF THIS Happy GOVERN
MENT IS EVER DESTROYED, which
God forbid, II WILL BE BY THE
ENCROACHMENTS AND ABUSE OF
POWER, AND BY THE ALLURING
AND CORRUPTING INFLUENCE OF
EXECUTIVE PATRONAGE"
This bill not only places the public mo-
neys in the "palms" of the executive and
his subordinates, to be used without any
adequate checkS or guards; but it gives to
him the appointment of an UNLIMITED
number Of c6fcers! True, it wears upon
its face the appearance of bringing at
first but few additional officers to his aid;
but if the reader will carefully examine
its DISCUSSES, and particularly the 18th
section of the bill, he will find that power
is given TO the secretary of the treasury,
to appoint, cat his discretion" "as occa-
sion may require" an unlimited number y
officers, "pith such compensation as HE
man think reasonabier' When the sys-
tenn shall once have been adopted, the
number of officers, provided for IN other
portions Of the bill, which now seems
fred, will be Increased by future enact
ment, as the executive may see proper to
demand. See how the system has work
ed in France, the only government IN
which it has been put in operation. Small
at first. and with but few officers, 1t has
gradually extended itself, till now 1t re-
Guires 100, 900 Office holders to carry 1t out !!
1t will be seen that this bill endows the
secretary Of the treasury with legislature
capacities, and requires the whole ma
chinery Of sub-treasurers, post masters
collectors, &C., TO be gOUerned "6y any reg
ulatton of the treasury department. Oa.c"
in its wiSiom ii may THINK necessary =
And who is the secretary OF the treasury
who is endowed with such powers? lie Is
an officer unknoDn TO the constitution, lnaue
by statute, and is the creature OF the
president, appointed and removed al MS
pleasure! .,.1 ,ha,
In the l7th section, it is provided that
such officers "may be allowed any neceS-
sarv additional expenses" which the Secre-
tarv may at his ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Se
directions s'are to be Strtctly followed
In the 10th section, he is empowered TO
transfer moneys from any one depository,
in the Union to any other, 'at ms d'ScTeT' o." OF"
In the 9th section, the solicitor oil lne
treasury is empowered TO require such
honds as HE MAY THINK sale and ne
cessary, from all sub-treasurers, anu nc NC
is authorized from time to tune 10 "roqu'le
such bonds TO be increased and strength
ed by new sureties" as he may lhlnk pro, ,
per. Thus giving him po'oer 70 Jorce O ~
of office any sub-treasurer VINO may W
100 honest or independent to SUIT ms Pul,
poses, by requiring hearier 00""S ana