Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-03-14
Remarks Of Mr.. Pickens. Of S. C. on the
Treasury Note Bill, in The House Of

Remarks Of Mr.. Pickens Of S. c. on the
Treasury Note Bill, an the House Of
Representatives., Feb. Is, 1889.
MIR. Pickens said that the bill. if lie un-
derslood it, was to revive the bill passed
at the last sc SION, for the issue Of ten mil
lions OF Treasury nntes, and authorized The
Government 10 issue such notes, to tho
amount of two millions and quarter
Mr.. p. had been in favor Of The Treasury
note bill last year, owing 10 the peculiar
circumstances Of The country al that time
seeming to render such measure indispen-
SADLY necessary. He had, however, given
Ills vote for it, not without some reuc-
tance; Tor he held such issues by the Go
vernment little anli-republican. But
now no such necessity existed: the con-
dition OF the country was changed, aud
as The only reason for his former vote no
longer existed, he should go against the
present dill. The chief ground on which
it was held to he necessary was, to meet
the requirements of The pension bills; but
he was prepared 10 vote against those bills
in every form. He had as much interest
in voting pensions as any one-for he
might say, that there was not spot in his
district, but had been covered with the
blood and the bones of the wings of the
Revolution; but he should, nevertheless,
vute against the pension bill. A pretty
spectacle did it present TO The world, TO see
a Republican Government with pension
list larger than that Of any nation in the
world!
1t had been no part Of his intention, on
this occasion, TO harass his colleague (Mr.
Rhelt.) on the report from the Committee
of Ways and Means. Let it 20 to The
country as 1t was, aud Ietlhe people judge
of it. But, as to this bill, he could support
no such measure at present. Who did
mol know how the money would be usedl
Congress would Immediately spend it on
objects. in themselves, unconstitutional.
They had passed one pension bill but the
other day; others were yet to come in.
which would sweep millions from the
Treasury. Then there were 10 be light
house bills, and harbor bills, and last. tho
uot leas, OF all, the Cumberland road bill,
about which certain gentlemen were so
anxious. and which Of itself would swal-
low up three hundred thousand dollars of
the public money during the present Con-.
gress Thus, if The House would grant
The Government, millions upon millionsin
Treasury notes, il would all quickly 60 for
objects which the Constitution had never
placed within the power Of Congress a;
all. The only efleclual mode of control
ling these wastetnl appropriations, was to
refuse TO grant, in advance, The means of
making them. Let The Government do,
as all honest, upright man would do in pri-
vatc life; if he found himself straightened
for funds, he would contrac, no new debts.
1t was the part Of prohigaIe To spend all
he had, and then to run in debt for more.
The ground on which the first issue of
Treasury notes had been vndicatcd, was
sound aud tenable. Mr.. P. never had a.
greed with those who held the doctrine that
the Government never ought, under any
circumstances, to issue such notes. Every
one knew thai the banks had been the re-
ceptacles of the public revenue, and they
had stopped payment. This created an
extraordinary emergency in the affairs of
the country, which justified a resort to ex-
traordnary means on The part of the Gov
ernment. Congress had been disposed 10
relieve the merchants under the severe and
sudden pressure of the times, and. with
this view. had suspended the enforcement
of payment for their duty bonds. And lis
means being thus, for a time, bevond its
command, there was q valid and sufficient
reason, for its availing itself of its credit,
by the issue of paper securities. But that
day, thank Heaven, had now passed by.
There was now no universal suspension
of payments by the banks, although the
Bank Of Mobile, and perhaps some others,
had been unable to meet their bills. Now
was the time for The nation to husband its
resources, and not lavishly vote an issue
of two millions and upwards Of Treasury
notes in advance. Such an issue would
only operate, as temptation to both
Houses Of Congress, 10 make large and
unnecessary appropriations. lfthe Trea-
sury was in straits-if Congress had ap-
propriated more than ten millions beyond
the actual means of the nation, he would
90 for applying all the means it had, to
such of the objects of appropriation, as
were most conducive to the good of the
country. aud were in the most immediate
need; and, leaving the other objects un-
provided for, would report the case to
Congress al its next session. Then let the
people say whether they would sanction
this unjust and unnecessary expenditure.
Nothing but dire necessity would ever in
duce him to vote for so anti-republican
measure, as the issue of Treasury notes
at any time. Such necessity did nor, in
his opinion, now exist, and he would cur.
tail the means of the Treasury, as the on
ly effeclual mode of restraining the expen-
dilures of the Government. He was re
ioiced 10 fud that the gentleman from