Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-01-10


them and the Solicitor OF The Treasury,
In like manner, tho Presiden, bears in
my optimism, the NEST impressive testimony |
TO the superior safety OF banks MS Jeposiio |
ries, by the extraordinary and unusual pro.
VISIONS he recommends Ia guard against the |
ueidicaliDns at public officers. He express.
~ says, indeed, that "the experience ofeve
~ country has shown that public officers
are no, at all times proof against ten,pta-
fion. 10 couniervail the force Of this temp, |
taiion, he invokcs the peoaI legislation of |
Congress 10 visit" the iniiielity of these a. |
gents with severe and isnominious pun.
ishmen', But of VIA, avail would he even |
the bloody code OF Dracp, " hen the improv
ed methods Of incomotion to which the en-.
terpcising and inventive genius of the aye
has given birth, and OF which two cf cur
sub-Ireasuters have already svsiied thcn,-
selves, afford so ready means OF escape ,and
OIL consequent inIunity, under foreign in
risdICiiun. Far better would il be, in inv
humble judgment, tn heed the prayer which
Divine Wisdom has taught to human veal,
ness, and 10 lead nor' public officers (wbo
are but men) ,nte "tcinp,a,iun," hy CONS
uniting TO their custody large sums of the
public treasure.
But the President, as il conscious ,ha, ne;.
iher the rigois Of Legislative enactment, nor
adequately provide for The safety Of The pub
lie moneys in the hands OF individual agents
has grareiy submitted to Congress promo.
siiion which, must with all deierehce say.
appears to me the most extraordinary on re-
curd, ana utterly opposed 10 the spirit al
least, OF the Constitution. What is il?
why, that Congress should appoint an am
buiaiOry committee of their own body To
look after the Presidents sub. Treasursrs.
TO make frequent examinations of their ai !.
FAIRS and accounts OF which these officers
the president adds, should have no previ.
Gus notice" and then TO "raport TO the Er.
echttre such de'alcations as are found 60 ex.
ISL. Yes, sir, committee of Congress 10
hunt up dsiaulters, and report them to the
Erecufire! Whose duty isn, would ask
under the Constitution, 10 supervise and il
spect the conducl OF public officers. "The
Executive power" by the Constitution. is
expressly "vesled in The President" He
appoints the public officers, who are his a.
gents and assistants in the performance of
his high trust he alone has the power Of
removing them, and upon him alone should
real the responsibility Tor their Conduct, and
me measures necessary To ascertain their
hie!ny or unworihiness. Congress is the
Legislative department, whose province II j.
10 enact latcs, the execution of which, then.
devolves on tie President Congress- can
havo nothing to do with the functions and
details OF administration, the responsibility
oil which rests on The President alone. 4
proposition, then, making them shares in
that responsibility through committee of
their body, TO which shOnId be assigned the
subordinate and ministerial duty OF "inspect
ing The affairs and accounts of sub Treas
urers, and reporting "their defalcations 10
Tie Eaccahce, 1 must repeat, appears to
lar u Al.
Constitution, and wholly incor raiible with
the dignity of Congress No, sir, even if
The occasion were "a legitimate one, we shall
never sec, trust, committee of Congress
reporting 10 any other body than TO CONGRESS
itself. Ii Tho President will have sub Trea
suFers, he must lock after them hy agents Of
bis own. AS much as Executive bower
lament to say, has invaded and sub.lueti the
.otty spirit and righiiul Independence of The
legislative department, we are not vet.
trust, prepared for the humiliation OF an
pointing committee OF the American Con.
gfess as corps OF beadles TO hunt up de-
!aui'Ing sub iTeasurers, and report them TO
the Executive. Tha: so novel and ex,rsor.
binary measure should have been promised
hy the President as a necessary means of
guarding The public money from delaIcaiion
'h The bands OF suh-Treasureis, is the mos,
emphatic acknow iedgmeni he could have
mace y. The inherent insecurity Of tha, sys
tenn.
Notwithstanding, however, oil these adj, !.
missions, express OF implied, of the supe.ior
SAFETY and convenience Of banks rs drposito-
ries and fiscal agents, the President recon.
Inend' again The sub Treasury scheme 10
Congress, and even says his opinions in ia
vor oi IL have been strengthened by recent |
events W hat the President can find in
'recent events" to sustain his renewed 70.
communication of the sub.Treasnry scheme |
u utterly surpasses my powers OF cornpre.
hensIon 10 imagine. Recent ereafs, sir ! |
Lei US, Tor moment, inquire what these re- /
cenl erents have been, and how they bear on !
tne TWO fival systems proposed for the safe. !
keeping OF The public moneys First, as To !
Inc system OF Slate backs as public Geposi, !
forics What is the testimony of recent e.
cents with regard to them? live We not |
recently seen them, within fifteen months |
sher general suspension of specie pays !
fnents, brought upon them by an unptece |
denied combinatun of adverse ci,crms,o,,.
ces, among which not the least was the hos
lie policy at The Governmen, jtssif-b,ye
we not seen them, within this short pcrrod
without even cheering voice from the Go,
veFnmcnt amid The difficulties which sur
rounded them, resUming their pqvments i,
specie, meeting all their engagements 10 the
country with prompinude, paving many
millions 10 The Government punciueiIy n
The periods designated by law end even an !
iicipai'ng, in some instances, the payment off
The small balances remlining before 1hey |
have Uocome due under the prnyjainns OF
law! So prompt recovery, under circuin
stances OF such peculiar difficult, and EN-
baTrds.rDenf, IS Without cXatn,J, in Tho 4 !