The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-13

est and most jealous advocates. The Governor
always takes care to keep on the side of power.
If the president were to change his opinions eve
nv month or every day, His Excellency would
change too It would never do for Governor
Polk to disagree with the president.
In the message of Gen. jackson to Congress ~ |
1885, find, Mr.. Chairman, that he, also, in
speaking of this proposition, expresses his disap-
probation of it in the strongest terms mo one.
said he Scan be more deeply impressed than |
am, with the soundness of the doctrine which re
strains and limits, by specific provisions, eXeeu-
| tive discretion, far it be done consist |
emily with the preserV alton of its constitutional
character. In respect to the control over the |
public money this doctrine is peculiarly applica-
| BILE"
| Now, sir, by what sort of a miserable subter-
| fuge do they attempt to escape from this dilem-
ma? Sir, the gentleman from Maryland (Alr. +.
Thomas) who is exceeding adroit in the manage
ment of such cases, admitted in his explanation
Yesterday, that the entire administration party
opposed the Sub-treasury bill proposed by Gen.
Gordon in 1885; but not upon amy particular
ground of objection to the principle contained IN
it, but because they were then in the act of es-
tablishing the State bank-aeposit system, which
they believed would succeed we'll, and because
the measure then proposed, was Grade,
shapeless and indigested affair. Sir, | appeal
from the gentleman from Maryland (NIr. Tho
mas) to the record. The whole record of the
proceedings proves that they opposed it on no
such ground. This sir, is new invention
trumped up now to shield them from their incon-
sistency. The gentleman is entirely mistaken.
Look at tho extracts have read. II they had no
objection to the principle, why did they all with
one voice denounce it as disorganiZing and revo-
lutonary-calculated to augment the power and
patronage of the president-to put the public
moneys under his absolute control-to put in his
hands the means of corruption and finally enable
him to overthrow the public liberty? Sir, beg
the gentleman's pardon, he must 'pick his flint
and try i, again" The truth is the whole party
opposed the scheme in 1885, because they be-
lieyed it to be wrong in principle, and because
they had no use for it then an engine OF polit-
zeal power Gen. jackson was strong enough
without it. l have no doubt that many men now
support it from the most pure and patriotic mo-
tives. They are deceived to its consequences
and tendencies, and do not suspect the uses that
will be made of it political machine. But
sir, the leaders understand it, and they will I'M
derstand too how to use 1t to their own advan-
tage.
But, says the honorable gentleman from New York.
ir StTong) ''the browning consideration in favor OF
this bill is that proposes independent system-
Yes sir, it is TO establish ''Independent Treasury.
admit it. And am happy that in this one point can
agree with my friend from New York. But, SIR, OF what
is the Treasury to be independent Independent OF
whom have already shown that puts the treasure
OF the Nation within the control of the President-en
ables him TO draw itfrOm the Treasury without warrant
and in violation of law, and makes it fact ndepcnd
ant of Congess-puts il out of reach and beyond the
peoples and consequent
" of the people themselves. But, sir have time
TO pursue the argument on this point am decidedly
in favor o. Independent Treasury; but wuad have
it independent of the Overwhelmingly beyGnd his
reach and of his power control either directly or
indirectly. Ii Is by the existing law. The President
has this moment no more right BY law exercise
power the public moneys than you have, Mr..
Chairman. The Secretary OF the Treasury Is the otHcer
OF Congress and OF the President and the President
has more authority OF law to erect the Secretary OF
the Treasury in the performance oil his official functions.
That department is differently constructed in this re-
spect from all the Others Tho heads Of all the other
Departments OF the Government are required to report
TO the preSidcnt but is expressly made the duty of the
Treasury to report to Congress- And, sir, all the con
uol which has been exercised over the public moneys
BY the Executive since they removed from the
custody of the United States Bank, has been by glar
Ing aud palpabe usurpaton of power and in open vo
lation of the constitution of the laws OF the land
will consider for few moments Mr.. Chair
man. some of the general effects of this bill both upon
he people regards tior pecunary affairs, and upon
| the Government and Institutions OF the country
Sir, of the chief objections TO this measure,
in my Judgment, is, that it asserts and estab-
fishes a new principle in the administration of
| the government, at with the very reason and
| philosophy upon which all free governments are
| founded And what is this? 1t is, that it is no
part of the business of the government to estab-
| lish or regulate currency OF uniform value
throughout the Union which would aid and faci-
| Htate the domestic exchanges OF the country. |
That Congress possesses nc power, under the
Constitution, to exercise any control the |
subject of currency and exchanges. That it is
only the business of the government to take care
of itself, and leave TIE people to take of
themselves! This, sir, is departure from the
principles and practice of every administration Of
the government, both republican and federal, in
regard to this subject, from the foundation of the
government down to Mr.. Van Buren's accession
to power. repeat, Mr.. Chairman, that Ill pre-
cediag administrations have practsed the
principle that it was the business of Congress TO
provide the country with sound and uniform
currency, both as a of facilitating com
merce and of aiding the treasury in the admins
tration of the finances of the government. But,
sir the superior wisdom and sa sacity of Mr.. Van
Bursn has enabled him to detect the errors and
blunders of such weak and imbecile sold gran
mics" as Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe, and jackson. In his opinion, we have had
great many grannies in the public service be-
sides Gen. Harrison Sir, it is within the recol-
lection of all that Gen Jackson held and prac-
tised on this doctrine during his whole admins
tratlon One OF the first complaints, if not the
very first, he made against the United States
Bank was, that it had failed in the great end of
establishing uniform and sound currency. And
sir, during the whole war which was waged
against that institution he aid his friends CONT
nually promised the people EEbetter currency
than it had afforded. Nay, sir, more. After that
institution was destroyed, and the pet-bank sys-
ten adopted, they gave US the most fattering as
surances that the state banks had proved them
selves competent to discharge all the obligations
expected from the e. S. Bank, both in regard to
the regulation OF the currency and the exchanges
and the management of the finances, to their en-
tire satisfaction, and indeed beyond their most
sanguine anticipation. Now, sir, how these
promises were performed, and how much truth
there was IN these assertions, is a matter about
which need not now stop to euquire. l will
only appeal to the experience of the country to
decide
Sir, it is denied that the government has any
power to aid the people in their present embar-
rasscd and distressed condition It is denied that
the policy of the government has had any agency
in producing this state of things, and asserted
that it can have but little agency in correcting it,
Its not pretended by the friends of this bill that
it Is relief measure. They have changed their
tone entirely on this subject. They no longer
promise the people ''better currency" or any