Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-18


ical orthodoxy This cannot be ques
toned by the most superficial observer
and we repeat, therefore, that the ques.
ton of"Sab- Treasury or no SUD. Ireasu.
! ry, is one of the most important which
the people of Virginia will soon be cal
lea upon once more'to approve or to re-
Ject:: We will not permit ourselves to
doubt that their decision will be in en-
tire conformity with the previous action
OF ViTginia-that this measure will be
again repudiated--and that the Federal
Executive will be distinctly apprised
that the people of this good old Cons
monwealth, true TO their ancient princi-
pies, and jealous. as their fathers were,
OF the inroads and encroacbments of
Power aud Prerogative upon Popular
flights, will say TO him, "Thus far may st
thou go. but no farther-Here shall tby
proud waves be stayedp'
ultimately connected with this subs
Ject, as illustrative of one of the most
Pernicious consequences (which may be
expe cted to result from its adoption, are
the heavy deialcations that have occur
red within few years past, in the
Land Offices and in the Custom Houses
-defalcations amounting. in the aggre-
gate, to millions of dollars. 1t has been
said, and we may perhaps be again told,
mat these defalcations occurred while
Banks were employed as the fiscal a.
gents OF the Government. But the OBJ
vious reply to this remark is, that these
repeated robberies were perpetrated, i'm
despite Of the checks and safeguards af.
forded by bank agency; and the lair
presumption is, that these frauds upon
the public treasury, but for the existence
OF those checks. would have been great.
iy multiplied. In every instance when.
ever defalcation has occurred, it will
De found, upon examination, that the re.
QUESTION TO deposi;e the money in Bank,
had not been complied with bv the de.
iauiter and that not cent OF the money.
so deposited. was ever purloined or lost.
IL was always distracted while it remain
ed in the custody of the Collector or
Receiver. Had it been deposited in
Bank as it was collected, it could only
have been withdrawn from It's vaults
upon the check Of the Treasurer" and
hence, could never have been reached.
except for legal and legitimate purposes,
ny The subordinate officer. Abolish
Bank agency now, and leave the public
money in the chests, safes and vaults of
individuals, and the inevitable result
will be, the multiplication of defalca-
tlons to an extent limited only in num-
Der and amount by the temptations and
facilities which this system will present
to the avarice or the necessity of the
Sub Treasures. The reply which is
generally made to this objection, is as
absurd as it is trite. We are asked if
Bank officers are more honest and trust
worthy than other individuals ? We
answer promptly in the negative but Il
intelligent men need not be told that in
banking establishments there are numer /,
Gus otilcers-each acting as check upon
the others-anc that the daily scrutiny
into their condition Affords the strongest
guarantee Of the prompt detection of
any attempt to divert any portion of
their funds to improper uses. Individ-
uais. on the other hand, entrusted with
the collection. safe.keepiDg and disburse-
ment OF large sums of public money
the exact amount of which cannot usual !
~ be ascertained. if they wish to de- |
fraud, and therefore to deceive the off. !
GERS to whom they are directly accoun- !,
table, perhaps for many months after IFS
collection, are wholly unrestrained by
these salutary checks aud safeguards /
and they may consequently elude detec- (
tion, as MIR. Swartwout did, for years,
while they are daily perpetrating extern
sive frauds. And again-while the /
Banks give the amplest security TO all
depositors, whether general or special. /
whether governments or individuals, for /
the safety Of the sums deposited in their .
vaults, 1t is impossible that individuals
always can, and very rarely that thew
DO, give security at all comparable with
the magnitude of their actual RESPONSE.
bllity. If, indeed, this assertion had
ever been Problematica!, the recent de- /,
!aicatlons IN the Western Land Offices.
ana III the New York Custom House, {,
would have placed it beyond the reach /
OF doubt: and ii is rendered absolutely
certain, when an Administration acts
upon the corrupt and demoralizing prin
cipie' openly avowed by The friends of
the present that the officers Of the coun.
try, instead Of being high and RESPONSE
ole trusts, TO be conferred upon the most
capable and worthy, are the legitimate
"spolls OF victory" to be bestowed upon
the most clamorous and influential par
tizans, who display the greatest zeal ard
activity in behalf of the President, or