Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-11-01
VOLUME xXXyE.---Ne. So.


but Two ot1ree millions Of he pubic money,
according 10 The slate of this prirae account & ls.
and invest il in his private speculc,iuns expend.Enfon
some great political contest involving he fare f his
patrons, or take trip Of pleasure with il across the
A,Ianlic Nothing absolutely nothing hui otiriOl
integrity, which the Presiden, hmself hos told us, ind
which the recent experierce of f!ic country bnt too
m6urnuly confirms, isTot;a all times proof against
temptation Yet such is the notable Executive system
tor the safe keeping Of hepitbc monies Of this great
hard working and sensible nation Of uurp In regard TO
The other branch Of The system which makes the psot
money, speaking in more nrociical sense, The
STREAMS OF Executive bounty flow from Bank mic
another "lurned by the nod Of MIR Huytas the Trea.
sury yiceroy and which enables him 10 speak OF the
Banks used for the deposi,e Of Tho public monies as
"kts Deposite Banks This agents, &c ,, IL it has not
yet developed lis Laletu political influence on the
moneyed institutions which surround him, most assured
" the day is far distant, when II wall be and
tell IN all the maturity of lis m,schc!s
SeeIng, fellow citizens the wide spread devastation OF
the public funds by the nfdsly Of Executive agents TO
whose custody they were committed, and especially the
immense stake Of the national treasure left absolutely -
The mercy Of one in the city 9! New York. fell
that should the responsibility oil pro.
posing practical remedy tor so loose aud dangerous
state OF things The experience of State hay
ing been full of instruction on this subject, thought
incumbent ire, If else did 10 bring forward
such plan You oil recollcct. gentlemen, the success
s;vc and notifying dealcalions Of two OF our State
Treasurers, in whose probry the nest unlimited
confidence had been reposed, but who we're unable,
many others have been, 10 resist the temptation
arising from The possession and control of large
oil public money. These occurrences, involving both
heavy pecunIary loss TO the State and melancholy
sacrifice OF individual character and happiness. called
uron the Legislature to apply remedy; and the WIS.,
dom and experience OF our ablest practical men were
,asted in devising it. system at length ma'urcd
and adopted which, in ten years OF successful expert
ence has been found 10 confer the most absolute secu
u, ord is believed In be as perfect as the ingenuity
and EftFr
principle Of i, is, ha, public monies should under
circumstances pass into tic hands Of or be toaehtd at
all by the Treasurer, but that they should be paid d.
recliy into Bank 10 the credit OF the Commonwealth,
and upon the production OF The cashier receipt Tor NE
payment the Treasurer grants discharge TO the pubic
debtor &c. 10 payments by the Treasurer, the snn
be paid first ascealned and sailIrd b. The Auditor
Of public accounts, who draws his warrant 'or the
amount upon the Treasurer and the Treasurer then en-
dorses on the rGran order of payment addressed To
the cashier of the Bank where The public monies
deposited by whom the money is actually paid TO the
public creditor. Thus both in tie 'ctPtS payments
Il the public money DO, dollar Us ever touched ",
n l-it under the individual control o The Treasurer
This the system, gentlemen. which, under the
Irl authority o! the experience OF Virginia, respect.
ally rendered 10 tie friends OF the Administrator 70
furdnr practical and cfcicn; sscurii: for the public
monies The bill which ! offered, pursuing the very
language Of statute, with such notifications a.
difference OF circumstance required. provided mat iic
public dues instead cf being paid nio Inc hands =" tc
Executive agents, should, wherever practicable, bc
paid directly into The Banks employed as repositories
Of The public MONIES, md there placed Al once -
The crcdn RI tie TREASURER Of The tat'cd States
Beinr paid directly iatu Bank. they would be secured
against The risks which experience had so fully demon
sirared he nsepnrlbe IRON IN" personal custody :"
tho collectors and receivers and berg placed there to
the c,edu oi the TREASURER of the t. s they could 40
lone Or be drawn out controlled, in any manner by
The subordinate agents OF the Executive, but could he
reached only By The Treasurer under neysem Of checE'
nrd counter checks prescribed by law in wcrant 10
be drq,rn by hc Sccrcary attic Treasury 10 tc e""rttr
sign,I I'm HE Coprotr and IN b.: rCc0'dtd by the E'
gisi,r which Rad been found 70 furns! complete Sect
rify the ruh:c monies when standing TO the credit ~
The Treasurer Bat recommended rs THIS system WA
hy the ample and signal success which had attended III
cper ration in virginia. well - sustained by the most
obvious suggestions Of PRACTICAL common sense, II ieH
beneath senscess party ra'rh1c0Td cue dtrorre ~
Eant and State, aud wac uncsremoninusIy rejected,
because il WIS said iorsoOih, TO draw the connection
closer rlnn ever with the Banks in other words, fc
low citizens because removed The public monies farther
i1n from The possession and control me txecuve
and lis agents The proposition had offered thus iai'
mo my sauacous md patriotic friend, Mr.. Ialmadge.
storm and bold defender of the peoples rights as Of
his own dignity and independence submitted one which
proved an eJprrimcru cTucis in testing the views %
the party Without requiring The public dues TO be PAID
or eposted in Banks II simply provided that Whenever
this should BIZ done by The free rW and pleasure OF ~"
Executive or its agents, the public monies go paid Or
deposited should b" passed at once 10 me fTfht ~ ie
Tsasurtr ef thc Uajrd Hats instead Of the credit oi
the Collector or Receiver THIS proposition, most M
ou s,ionaby inst in itself and liberal 10 the views
OF The Executive, shared The sne fate with ny own,
and was nlmp dialely and drciSivey reI"cled. Does
moi this prove. gentlemen. 10 demonstration, that ne
policy Of the Administration ard s friends -, under
all circumstances, 10 keep the public money ~ sncl
s;,r,,n lha, !, will be subject the absolute dispcS
lion md control or The Executive md is SCENTS; that II
Banks be employed. lis obj CT is 10 employ thrnl IN
such manner Oeaying the public d"pos'es IN them
liable 10 be drawn out nj tine, by The "!!cers MAX
pp those deposss 10 bt- The none yed institutions
of The county under dangerous dependence on
Executive. discretion. Such is the iwoold ond alarm
ng policy plainly indicated in The President Message
a, the commencement Of The la'e session "f Congress,
and which his party have hitherto pursued With aiih-
ful and unerrirg instinct.
Bu, interesting ard mpor,an, as these subjects %
all OF ~ and mrtng much fuller dtvt iogemrni u
lie occasion admitted must not abuse your Parnc"
By dwelling them longer. hasten no" TO the NJ xi,
and IN happy tell you gentlemen The last rount 5"
far as am informed, in The indictment, for high crimes
and misie meanors which has been fled against me-
have been charged fellow citizens, with supporting ard
voting for rag iaF' II have supported sog ia1e
have 10 tell you then. gentlemen, that Mr. }, tsrson
supported gag lawfor the proposition winch lnlieffc
and supported was, shall presently shc" you, IN The
rery ,ccrds Of that great Republican s'aesman. But I"
The facts Mir CtiIcnten Of Kentucky had introduced
Bill "in prevent the interference oi fedPfa ONCE h"d
ers in elections. The Bill wis referred 10 The Judiciary
Committee Of the SENATE Of which Mr. Wall oil NJ"
Jersey was Chairman. The Committc", after holdpg
the Bin under their consideration for several weeks at
length made very elaborate Report, discussing very
much al large the genera! question ii The TGhis ana
du,ies Of Federal Office holders in regard 10 popular
elections The doctrines OF the Report were to my
mind OF the mos, startling and extraordinary character,
utterly with every principle OF 're' representa-
tive Government and most dangerous 10 ihe liberties
of The people boldly nded Tia, was not mere
10 The ripk bu, HE dyfy Of Office holders, 10 busy the
selves in elections TO shape public opinion and 20 in
cnce and trsc, The people IN The choice Ct their repre-
sen,,,,ves In lis whole spirit and reasoning not
univ justification Of the interference Of office holders
in ibis great vital function Of popular sovereignty.
bu, j, was plainly On Indictment 10 the whole corps Il
official dependents tc exert he. eIectIoneeng activity
IN the political contests which the fate Of their
players depended They were told, in so many words,