The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-22
STATE OF THE QUESTION.

PROXIMITY OF THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER
TO THE CONSERVATIVE SYSTEM OF FL
NANCE.
The Enquirer of the l4th inst contained
an article in which was introduced the follow
ing quotation from General Jackson's Mes
sage in December, 1886, wherein he said:
1t is against the genius Of our free institutions to
lock up in vaults the treasures Of the nation. To
take from the people the right Of bearing arms and
put their weapons of defence in the hands of stand
ing army, would scarcely be more dangerous to their
liberties than to permit the Government to accumu-
late an immense amount Of treasure beyond the sup
plies necessary to its legitimate wants. Such trea-
sure would doubtless be employed at some time, as
it has been in other countries, when opportunity
tempted ambition"
Following this, the Enquirer said
General jackson then considered that in coun-
try which wanted capital SO much as our own, not
particle of it should be GnnihiLafcd for commercial
purposes. But, some of the Conservatives are will
ling to yield up this privilege for the sake of COM
promise. For own parts we are free to confess,
that prefer it upon the whole the best scheme.
Employ the State banks as the public repositories.
Do that which almost every other man in society,
who is convenient to State bank, will do for him
self Do that which every State in the Union does
for itself If a man in Richmond has ten thousand
dollars, which he has no immediate occasion for,
for safe keeping? In bank. Why, then, should
not the officers Of the Federal Government do the
same2 Do that which we understand the Federal
officers in this city are noac dong-deposte the State
Bank notes in the banks, as much specie funds
to be drawn out if called for in specie. Why null
tiply Executive officers; appoint Receivers General;
and add to that Executive patronage, which the De-
mocrats SO strongly deprecated Of the inevita
BILE concomitants of the Sub Treasury SYSTEM in
1912 Are we afraid that the banks will discount
upon the public funds and thus multiply the issues OF
their paper; and that the Government cannot get
back its deposiles when II wants them, IN specie
general TO special. Prevent the banks from banking
on the public deposes."
We will go the whole length, depth, breadth
quirer. We will follow its lead-become its
adjunct in advocating the principles contained
in the above. They are precisely what we
have been contending for.
Place at the head of the Treasury Depart
ment competent person possessing all the
requisite qualifications to perform all the du-
ties of the station; employ State banks, as
our veteran friend proposes, and if they can
not be restrained from multiplying their issues
cfpaper on The Government funds deposited
with them, then we say, with the Enquirer,
change The system Of deposite from general
to special" "Prerent The banks from bank
ing on the public deposites." Thus on this
vered question the Enquirer and ourselves are
united. There is not the smallest particle of
difference between us.
As we intimated few days since, il was our
intention to have given general review of the
articles in the Enquirer, from the lst of Au-
gust up to this time, affecting US; but, for the
present, we prefer to pass them over with but
light notice, in the hope that we may here
alter act in unison in relation to the all-absorb-
ing and exciting topic, on which we now are
soperlectly agreed.
The Enquirer Of the 10Th August last as
signed us place on the political chess board
that we have never yet ourselves selected.
lime alone can determine "ihe complexion TO
'rhich zee may come al last" 1t is by his works
only that man is known. By our deeds we
are willing to be judged.
1t is true, as the Enquirer said, VIC have
carried our opposition 10 The Sub Treasury
so Jar as to denomce Mr.. Fan Buren, and
deciare 'car against HIM" We did not do so
unt 1t was officially declared through his or
gan, that he would +" sink or swim" with that
measure We ask the Enquirer in all candor
10 state' now 1t is possible for us to support the
man, and yet oppose the measure on which he