Southern marksman. [volume] (Clinton, Miss.) 1838-1839, 1839-01-01


treats of the chief of these measures, the
Independent Treasury, places it in such
light as, we think, NUT tend to convince
the prejudiced and disarm opposition. A
grand objection TO this measure, most loud
ly and often repeated by all the varieties
of the opposition press; is that some of The
public officers have become defaulters, in
some instances for large amounts. This
argument against an excellent national
system, is now met and fairly answered by
he recommendation of the President, That
"by an early enactment, similar TO that of
other countries, the application Of public
money by an officer of Government to pri,
jvate uses, should be made felony, and
visited with severe and ignominous pun
ishment He also recommends full and
frequent exafkiuations of the "affsirs and
accounts ofsn. lie ficers, that defalca-
tions, when d nay be immedi.
ately made 49,. "a the deknquents
properly punished The goed ELECTS of
such precautions have been most satIsfac-
torily manifested in the department of the
mint. in which we believe the Government
has never yet lost::a dollar by the dishonesty
ofpersons with the treasure. So, the last
great argument against the Independent
Treasury is answered and if it is not done
so as to satisfy the wings, it is because
Lothng but Bank of the United States
fright or wrong, constitutional or unconsti-
tutional) can satisfy them.
If we are not mistaken, the conviction
is drily becoming stronger throughout the
Union, that the people ought by no means
to suffer the establishment of another such
institution. A majority have declared
their belief that such enactments are IN
constitutional, while great many who sd-
nit the opposite doctrine, or leave it ss
doubtful question are well convinced of is
expediency. ALI have seen that the pro-
missed advantages Of the late u g. Bank
were in some important respects delusive,
and that its advantages were not only un,
seen, but greatly overballanced the former
and were totally without any remedy with
in the fuaciiaas Of the Bank itself
1t WIS darling object with The Wings
that Mr.. Biddle's Bank, to Prove that il
was Indispensable to the country, should
take the lead in resumiug specie payments;
or rather, what would equally prove lis i'm
poriancc, should rein in all the ether banks
which were anxious to return TO their duty,
till the President of that institution should
pronounce the word which was to restore
prosperity 10 the country. AS il was sp-
pareat from the section bale" manifesto
that MIR. B. was in no hurry to resume,
some OF the other banks began to pay spe.
Gle, and the example was Immediately Sc
conded from many distant points of the
Union SO that the "regulator" soon found
himself merely an humble follower against
his will instead Of dictator to ration
These facts Of course put an end to The
empty Boosting with which the federal pas
pers were crowded. that "no'hing could
be done itbout u. 8. Bank-that there
could be no resumption. no prosperity"
without the magic aid of Mr.. Biddle. All
these assertions vanished into shin air.
But the Bank party would do any thing
not amounting to self destruction, to ses
cure their ultimate object, Hence their
public movements relative TO the State
bank deposite system. They would re:
ceive that Is a substitute, because they
knew it would soon fail, and have no al
tercative but their favorite scheme. So
they would accept the Sub Treasury, or
any thing else, if they thought they could
work it TO their purpose. This State bank
proposition is but lame and hopeless re-
sort, and can serve no other purpose but
TO confer little extra Importance upon a
few leading politicians who have originated
ana sustained it, and to lie used as nucle
US for the votes of such as choose to call
themselves conservatives, until they sha |
think it safe TO come out upon the only
true national issue in financial politics, VIZ:
the Independent Treasury, or National
Bank.
In spite of all the faints and subterfuges,
the winnings and turnings of The opposi
ton, the President has held an undertaking
course, and we heartily commend his firm
ness in urging that most republican mea-
sure, without the success of which the f.
nancial interests of the country must re.
man, as now, in an unstable and suffering
condition, the national treasury without
sufficient protection, and commerce SUBJ
iected 10 the same adverse influence which
before controlled it.
That portion of the Message relating to
the removal of the Indian tribes west of
the Mississippi, vindicates the persevering
and praisewnrthy policy of the Govern
ment in urging forward this important and
most difficult enterprise. A portion of the
Seminoles now form the only exception to
entire success in this work, and we antici-
pate much trouble and comparatively large
before these lurking and
treacherous savages can be entirely dIss