The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-01

receiver of the land Office al that place, and TO re-
ceiye other money which may be payable 10 the
United States in hi, diariet" We should like TO
know what constitutes "Ais distyIetT Is the en-
uire about 10 be divided into districts, as the Roman
RepubIic was under the triumvirate Of Cesar, Pom
pey and Crassus; and If SO, who ." DC INC uiun''
vir Of the "district" OF 81. Louis
Will changing the names OF the olhcefs a. Dos'on'
New York, Charleston, and 81. LOUIS, "ho arc "
collect and keep the public money undef .n,'
scheme increase the safety ofihe same In ms
Common sense Iidicules such an idea "ni no'
the "cashier Of the customs" al New York, have
the same facilities Of Ascending with all Inc puohc
moneys in his possession on board one Of The sieam
ships, that Collector Swauwout or District Attorney
Price had1 Will the mere change Of name deter
themf Surely not. And suppose he were to DO So
with one or two millions Of money in his hands,
what will all his bonds be WORTH and what will all
The Sub-treasury BILL penitenlarp sareerers, avail
the Government or the country Nothing Nothing!
Whereas If these millions were placed with two or
three banks, in that city, each with capitals Of Two
millions Of dollars, and all The Presidents and
Cashiers of the whole Of them were to ab>cond,
there would be left behind the banks and their CAPT.
quired, 10 answer for the amount due the Govern
ment for public money placed in their hands for
safe-keeping.
The Secretary OF the Treasury, in his report TO
the Senate of the 24h inst. invokes Congress to
adopt some specific legislation respecting the
keeping Of the public money, that may lead 10 the
representation Of public morality'' and yet he urges
a scheme that places constantly before the eyes OF
|
morality and law for which he would make Them
felons. Talk Of preservation Of public morality"
WHY this precept, and the practice pointed out IN
the scheme now before us, is like placing gag oi
gold before man in whom you have no confidence
and telling him no, 10 steal it, and that If he does,
YOU will send him to the penitenliary II you can
catch him. We can tell the Secretary that the best
preservation Of public morality" will be, to appoint
moral men 10 Office in place OF brawling partisans,
as reward for services rendered or expected. Let
that policy be adopted, and the existing laws anu
regulations will be found ample tor securing 'he
collection and safe-keeping OF the PuDhc money
A New Year! HAPPY" we hope il is and may
continue for our friends and country. But aas
for human sorrow" how many there are to whom
the congratulation brings no cheer But the num-
Der of the wretched here, grea, though 1t may be-
favoraby contrasts with the population OF other coun
tries where there is more misery, more government,
and less Of good We have less restraints upon me
pursuit of happiness, wider freedom, greater priVi-
leges but we have abused them much, and we lear
we shall abuse them more. If the people are cor
rupt," said Machiavel, "good laws do no good -
And if the rulers are corrupt as we fear ours are
the people are exposed to their seductions and good
laws will not be executed, and bad ones VIII DC ae-
yised. We have confidence in the greatest numoer
of ouy pcop and believe that they cannot be corrupt
ed themselves and that they will not long tolerate
corruption in their servants
They have not enjoyed in thirty-eight the creates.
good even within their reach and we fear they VIII
be no better off through ,hrtynne and forty for'y
one. But as they mus, suffer the evils imposed upon
Them. until the Constitution permits them 10 remove
them, we heartily wish them all the virtues Oh pa
thence hope charity and forbearance which lheir long
suffering will permit them to cherish. Asior ourSei,'
we stand in our harness. and shall persevere through
hrtynine, in the high projects OF 'hiryeigh'. Lei
our friends persevere-let there be union harmony
concession and self-denal among them,and we know
that 1910, will bring them happier new year
than '39.