Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-01-04
VOL. XH-.No. COZ

TRUTH IL, that these gentleman who have
the public purse in their hands are all so in
the habit of using the public money that
they do it as thing of course, and alwsys
with the hope Of ultimately being able to
replace it. But this furnishes a curious
commentary on the official assurance
that since the sub Treasury system bas
Notwithstanding any lamentations here or
elsewhere" been in practical operation,
the public money has no longer been ap-
piled TO private purposes. Oh, no. 1t
never has been applied to the purchase Of
canvassback ducks nor venson, nor ever
given to turn bonds into gold. Never
These good and faithful, these pure enc
immaculate sub>Treasuries, while taking
the peoples money" little by little, as
they needed it, have always felt sure that
they should he able TO refund it to the last
dollar out ostheir speCulations in the pub-
lie lands, or in mulberry trees. Indeed,
! have seen somewhere lately the account Of
stump speech in which this was honestly a.
vowed. The orator, with melancholy face,
saiu - the crowd, "Genteman, | have
been very unfor -Sate did, to be sure,
use little of the public vfos,;; ., ipvest-
ed II IN public lands at Government pfice!
but honestly thought should be able to
return 1t all and SO | should, gentlemen,
SO should, BUT, by the operation of these
odlous banks, these ovcrgrown and grasp
ing corporations, and their dishonest sus-
pension OF specie payments, ali nv fair
prospects Of speculation have been com.
pletely cut up by the roots! 7 am very
unfortunate, very! and now, instead Of
being esteemed felon and a candidate for
the pententIary, | respectfully present
myself as candidate for your votes as
member Of Congress-" And thew voted
for him with accamalion!
inns Is the moral effect Of such state
OF things. We always claimed and held
that the public money was sacred trust,
and that they who held it were The Peoples
servants, accountable TO them. This wac
our doctrine in 1886, when we wanted an
investigation of accounts. We held that
an officer entrusted with the keeping of
pubic moneys must always be ready TO
meet the demand for them. The United
States Bank, ay, sir, that horrd monster,
which collected and distributed more than
three hundred millions of our money with
out charge and without the loss Of one
cent, was ready, always ready, to meet
ydur demands and meet them any where
you pleased 10 say: ifom Maine to Geor-
gia; from the Atlantic TO the Oregon, she
paid on demand. But what do we see nowl
One after another of The certified servants
OF the President all honest, all above
suspicion, and certified to be so-now
| explode, one another, till before the report
| OF one deiaIcation mas died upon the ear.
we hear another. and a greater, 90 off!
How many more are 10 follow, who can tells
The whole posse comta,us OF the Adminls-
lration seem not unlikely to 60 off in q body
and at such moment it is that the legs
Treasury scheme is now, again, for the
fourth time to be forced upon the Repre-
sen,atives of the People | feel it a pub
lie disgrace that the country should have
fallen into this slough of dedication; and
there lies the worst part of the evil.
care, comparatively. nothing for the money:
but feel for the public morals and for the
national character,
And now we are to raise committee to
whitewash Mr.. Secretary Woodbury. Sir,
justified as am by the case Of Reckless
it is all Of record-all on your files
justified as am by that case, will hold
Mr.. Woodbury. responsible. Admit him
to have been ignorant Of this enormous,
this long continued. this growing fraud on
the Treasury, will hold him responsible for
his ignorance, The common law excuses
no man for ignorance. Why should he be
excused whose business it was 10 know?
How could such a process Of embezz'e-
ment be going on for eight years undetect-
ed, and that at spot where there ought TO
have been the most lynX.eyed vigilance?
Surely there must have been something TO
excite suspicion.
Sir, these are lessons. They are prac-
teal illustrations, home felt arguments on
the scheme OF m independent Treasury
Yes, sir, independent enough! We know
Of at least two very independent sub.
Treasures indeed. If the Secretary was
really ignorant ofths defalcation as things
now are, how could he have known it any
better if this blessed sub. Treasury system
had been legally adopted? You might
have declared such embezz ement a peni-
tentinry offence, but now will you catch The
bird that flies on the wings of steam, and
mocks at your pursuit.! How can you
catch the delaulter who has laid his plan
beforehand, and has all things in readiness
even his venson and his canvass. ba cks
! and has only to slip on board the Grea,
Western or The Victoria, and bid you good
night?
Sir instead of this select committee,
will tell you what would be my plan ia
save the public money. would employ o
detachment oftroors, say the marine corps
if you will, to keep guard round the Presis
dents house and Mr.. Woodbury's office,
| would spare his dwelling house., and
: round your custom houses and your land,
offices, and would in this way try to keep
any more leg Treasures from running a
way Ia laugh till the People get majority
IN the next Congress. Sir, remember .
We have been notified that one of our pub
lie Departments is inhamable; two have
been burnt down during this democratic