The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-01

which may be payable TO the United States not ap-
pertaining to the Post Office.
Sections 10 10 inclusive, are occupied principal
" with detail of rendering accounts, duties, liza
bilies, &c. &C.; with the exception Of the fifth,
which provides that the officers at Boston, Phila-
delphia, New York Charleston and New Orleans,
hitherto denomnaled Collectors OF Customs shall
be constituted SUPERVISORS OF THE CusToMsi shall
perform all the duties hitherto imposed on them, ex-
coping, that they shall not be permitted TO collect
OF keep any of the public money derived from any
source whatever
The 18th section requires the accounting officers
of The Treasury TO settle the accounts Of all the de-
postories within one month from the time that they
shall be received The object Of this, undoubtedly,
is to cast The blame Of the late defalcations upon
The accounting officers andto charge the same upon
them as neglect.
Sections IA 10 l6 are occupied with details.
Section II imposes duty on the House of Repre-
sentanyes to appoint committee al every session to
examine the money, accounts, SC. of all officers en-
trusted with the public money, and report defaulters
ifthey find any, to the President. This provision
we regard as a direct insult TO the House of Repre-
sentatives Is that body coordinate with the Execu-
tive, to become the sentinel over and inquisitor
into the conduct Of his officers, for whose conduct he
is held responsible under the Constitution, and who
removable at his will First, lei that body have
voice in the appointment of those officers, before it
shall in any manner share in their misconduct.
Sections 10 to % inclusive, are occupied princi-
pally with details, security to be given by various
classes of officers, transfers Of public money, &c.
Sections 81 and 25, provide for making special de-
Posas in banks of surpusses that may accrue in the
hands of collectors and receivers at all places,
cept at Boston, New York. Philadelphia, Charles
ton New Orleans and ST. Louis, which may accu-
muiale TO any amount in the hands Of the Cashiers
OF The Customs at Boston, New York and Charles
ton, and OF the Public Receiver" at ST. Louis, as
well as at the mint al Philadelphia and the Branch
at New Orleans. Nothing but gold or silrer, Trea-
sury notes, or other evidences of deb, due by the
United States shall be placed on special deposite
Section 26 and 81 provides for transferring the
public money in certain cases, and other details.
Section % is the one that is to make honest men
of rogues by keeping constantly before them the
penitentiary.
The following is the mos, important provision in
the whole bill
"Sec %. And be IL further enacted That, from and
after the thiry-hr day OF December next, if any
officer charged with the collection, safe-keeping
transfer, OF DISBURSEMENT on pubic money, SMALL
| by depoSi,iug the same with any bank or banks, ex-
cep as is specially provided for in the wenyfourh
and twenty-fiith sections OF this act, (which auho.
rises, in certain cases. special deposites of gold sill
yer, and treasury notes in banks or by keeping the
public money in his hands in bank notes, enable any
bank or banks 10 discount upon the balance which
they may thus directly or indirectly owe the United
States, whether any such bank or banks shall or shall
not discount upon the same such officer shall be dis
missed from the public service, and shall forfeit all
| compensation then due to him."
This section is the spseie clause" with vengeance.
1t prohibits every class of public officers from de
posting money in bank, excepting under a lock
and key of their own, and no officer will dare 10
hold single note in his possession from day to
another, not even for single night; he to do
So he would make himself liable TO be dismissed
from the public service. 1t strikes directly against
the use OF bank notes OF any kind even to the small
est extent being used for any public purpose what
ever. We want the people TO see read and under
stand it fully. Why was that the operation OF this
scheme was sought TO be CLOSED over and KEEP, from
the understanding of the people2 Why did not the
trainers of this bill come out openly and avow their
intentions Was it because their intentions fore
BODIED evil, and therefore they strove 10 conceal
them? We cannot omit quoting one of the apho-
risms of LAcoN, who it is admitted by many Of
stood human nature as vel! as any person who ever
wrote. He said;
/" Shrewd and crafty politicians, when they wish to
bring about unpopular measure must not 60 suagnt
| forward to work. If they do, they Will certainly fail
and failures to men in power like defeats TO gene
raj they shake their popularity Therefore, since they
! cannot sail in the teeth Of the wind they must tack,
and ultimately gain their object by appearing at times to
be departing from it. Mr.. Pitt at moment when the
| tha Tho htpCf
Of the freed Of the press inflicted mortal blow on
this guardian Of liberties, without seeming TO touch
or even 10 aim he doubled the tax upon all adver-
sements and this single knocked up host of pam
pheteers who formed the sharpshcoers and traileurs
Of literature and whose fire struck terror into the
administration than the heaviest cannonade from bulky
ouartos or folios conld produce the former were
ready for the moment, but before the latter could De
bound and brought bear, the object was either chang
ed or removed and had ceased TO awaken the eaouses
or to excite the fears OF the nation
| What is this 29th section, but crafty" scheme
of Mr. Van Buren, and his friends " 10 bring about
an unpopular measured And what else but
"tack," since they have found that they could not
"sail in the teeth of the wind" for the purpose
ultimately TO gain their object by appearing to be
| departing from hF'
We should think that, when MI Van Buren,
wrote his last message he must have had this apho
rism, we have quoted, continually before him, for
so completely did he appear 10 be departing from his
Object" that great majority of the people believed
he had abandoned it. Thus il is that crafty politi-
Clans seek to gain their object. The applicability of
the whole of this saying of Lacon to Mr.. Van Blu
ren's diplomacy and policy cannot fail to strike
every one who will take the trouble to compare them,
most forcibly.
Sections 80 to 81 provides the salaries that shall be
paid to the "Cashiers of the Customs" and the
Public Receiver at 81. Louis; prohibits them
from taking any bride, authorizes the Secretary OF
the Treasury to provide vaults Safes chests, and to