Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-11-05
ROBERT ]. WALKERS OPINIONS
OF THE SUB.TR EASURY.

We do not often call upon Mr.. Walker
for arguments. but he has furnished Us one
against the sub-treasury which is so much
better than any thing we can offer, and
which at the same time expresses our own
views of that odious measure so fully that
we unhesitatingly adopt it. 10 September,
1887, it win be remembered that Mr. Wal.
ker was violently opposed to metallic
currency and the sub.treasury, and during
the called session of that year he delivered
a speech from whichwe nuke the follow.
ing extract, which contains the best argu.
ment we have ever heard against it. In
the course Of bis speech Mr.. Walker, in
reply to Col. Benton, said: 'tSir, to carry
out the gentleman's doctrines he should
discard the deposiie Banks as fiscal agents,
and employ HUNDREDS of individual
agents, constantly trGuerSing the countrv
in all directions lCith mules or aoagons
loaded vith gold and siluer, Such a sys.
tenn, and to this IL ICouId come, would re.
quIre an ARMY OF AGENTS GREA.
TER THAN OUR WHOLE STAND.
ING ARMY, to receive, transfer, and dis
burse the forty-seven millions of gold and
silver, the amount of this years federal
revenue. Such a system would EN-.
LARGE THE PATRONAGE and
power Of the General Government to an
almost UNLIMITED extent, and, if sue.
cessful, Pdralyze the State Government,
By the destruction of StG'e Banks, State
credit, and State institutions"
Such was the language held by Robert
]. Walker in 1887, in relation to the SUBJ
treasury scheme Such was the language
held by the man who now pirates of the
blessings of the sub..reasury and metallic
currency and who whnes most pneously
of the immortal and irreligious tendencies
of banking. What do the people of Mis-.
sissippi think of the sub.treasury, as ex-
planned by Mr.. Walker. Is that what
they want! Do the people of this State
want an ''army of agents greater than our
whole standing army" to traverse the
country hunting up gold and silver for the
government Are state rights men willing
TO support a measure which Mr.. Walker
declares will increase the power and pa.
tronage of the genaraI government TO an
unlimited eTtemt? Is not that government
already grown too strong for the states
Docs not its mighty power even now over.
shadow them, reducing them from the
dignity and power of sovereign states to
petty provinces1 Will states rights men
aid in strengthening the giant arm which
threatens to break down every barrier
reared by the states against its encroach.
ments? Mr.. Walker declares that if it is
carried into successful operation, it will
'paralize the state governments, by the
destruction of state banks, state credit and
state institutions" And will states rights
men support q measure, which if success.
full will bring the states to the very feet of
the general government! Will they sup
port measure which destroys every yes.
| tige of states rights-concentraiesa all pow.
er IN the general government, already too
strong, and renders the President of the
United States almost supreme?-This, Mr..
Walker declares will be the inevitable re.
suit, and yet we hear men say that it is the
only measure which can preserve the
rights of the states, and check the over
grown power of the general government.
In the face of this speech too in which he
has so ably exposed the dangerous tenden-
cies of the sub-treasury, we find Robert j.
Walker himself supporting this very mea.
sure-a measure which only two years
since he declared would, if carried into
operation, require an ''army of agents
greater than our whole standing army
a measure which he said would "increast
the patronage and power of the genera
government to an unlimited extent
measure which would 'paralIze the state
governments, by the destruction of state
banks, state credit and state institutions.
Is Mr.. Walker now a states rights man
Does he wish TO see ian army" of Office
holders traversing the country eating GU
the substance Of the people? Does he wisI
to see the state governments paralyzed?-
State Institutions and state credit destroy
J edl He will doubtless answer no, and We
! he is advocating and supporting measur
I which he has declared will bring about al
4 the evil consequences we have named.
D remains for the people to judge. Mr.. Wal
0 ker has given the true character of the sub
treasury, and has marked with maste
hand its inevitable consequences.-Yi ckS
buro WhiO,