Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-01-02

courts composing HE ninth circuit, the distances
between the places OF which they sit, and from
thence To the seat Of Government, sre Represented
20 be such as to render il impossible for the judge
OF that circuit to perform, 10 a manner correspond
ing with the public exigencies, his term Bnd ciicn't
duties. A revision, therefore, OF the present ar
raugement oil the circuits seems to be called ioF'
AID il recommended 70 your notice
think il proper to call your attention 10 the
power assumed by Territorial Legislatures 60 au-
thorize The Issue OF bonds by corporate companies
on the guarantee Of the Territory. Congress passed
a law IL 1896. providing tlai no ACT If TeuitoTi-
Al Legislature incorporating banks should have the
force Of law until approved b Congress, but acts
ofa very exceptionabie character previously passed
by the Legislature Of Florida, we're suffered to re-
main in fgice, BY virtue q which bonds may b. is-
sued to a very large amount by those institutions,
upon tbs faith Of Ire Territory. A resolution in
tending 10 be a joint one passed the Senate at the
same session, expressing the sense Of Congress that
the laws in question ought not 10 be permitted 10
remain in force unless amended in many material
respects, but il failed in the Hou,e Of Representa-
tives for want of time, ard the desired amendments
have not been made. The interests involved are
Of great importance, and the subject deserves your
early and careful attention.
The continued agitation OF The question relative
10 the best mode Of keeping and disbursing the pub.
~ 'PH > StNf f#IhHt8NtI
the country. The suspension Of specie payments
in 1897, rendered the use Of deposite banks, "a pre-
scrlbed by the act OF 1896, 3 source rather d en-
barIhssment than aid, aud Of necessity placed The
custody IF most Of The pubic money afterwards
collected il charge Of the public officers. The new
securities for lis safety, which this reqgircd, werea
principal cause FOR my c0nseging an extra session
Of Congress; but in consequence Of a disagreement
between the two Houses, neither then, nor at any
1 aubgeottaNf yariod hos tba.e tean apv I.0f.f4lton
on the subject. The effort made at the LAST session
TO obtain The authority Of Congress TO punish the
use OF public money for private purposes Is a crime,
a measure attended under other Governments with
signal advantage, was also unsuccessful. from d.
versities Of opinion in that body, notwithstanding
the anxiety donbtless felt by il 10 afford every prac-
ticoble seeufity. Tie result Of this is sill 10 leave
the custody of the public money without those safe
guards which have been foi several years earnestly
desired by the Executive; and as the remedy is on
ly TO be found in the action Of the Legislature, il
imposes on me the duty of again submitting 10 y,u
the proFriely of passing a law providing for the
safe keeping OF tie public moneys, and especially 10
ask that ITS use for private purposes by any diners
entrusted with it, may be declared 10 be a felony,
punishable with penalties proportioEed to lle mag
aitude Of the offence.
These circumstance, added to known defect, in
the existing laws, aud unusual arrangement in the
SEHtidi oIcfHtlbNS HI lFhle, nave, uufl ~Ftlr idst
tbree years, much increased The difficulties attend
ant on the collection, keeping, and disbursement; OF
the revenue, and called forth co, responding exer-
lions from those having them in charge. Happily
these hnye been successful beyond expectation
Vast sums have been C elected aud discussed by
the aeeefal Department. vita unexpected cheap.
ness and ease; transfers have been readily made To
every part Of the Union, however distant and de
'alcations have been far less than might have been
anticipated, from the absence of nd, qnate legal ne
straints. Since the officers of the Treasury and
Posi- Office Departments were engaged with the
custody Of most of the pubic moneys received ~
them, there have been collected sixu six millions
Of dollars, and, excluding the case Of the late col
lector at New York, the aggregate amount Of los.
ses sustained IN the collection cannot, it is believed,
exceed sixty hoafand dollars. The defalcaliun Of
the late collector al that city, ofthe extent and cir.
cumstances OF which Congress has been full, infar-
med, ran through all tho modes ofkeeping the pub.
Hc money shat have been hitherto in use, and was
distinguished by an aggravated disregard Of duty.
that broke through the restrain = of every system.
and cannot, therefore, be %usefully referred 10 as
test OF the comparative safety of either. Addition
al Information will also be furnished BY the report
OF the Secretary of the Treasury, in reply to a cali
made upon thar officer by The House Of Rodre.eB-
tstives at the last session, requiring detailed lnfuf.
nation on The subject of defaults BY public officers
or agents under each Administration, from 1859 TO
1887. This document will be submitted 70 you in
a lew days. The general re,ulis (indepenaent Of
the Post Office, which is kept desperately, and will
be stated BY itsclf) so Far as they bear upon TIN,
subject, are, that the losses which have been. and
are likely TO be, sustained, by any class Of agents,
have been-ihe greatest by banks, including, as re
1ulred IN the resolution, their appreciated paper re-
ceived for public dues hat the next largest have
been by Disturbing oficers, and the least by collie.
tors and receivers. If the losses on duty bonds are
included, they alone will be threefold those BY both
collectors and receivers. Our whole experience,
therefore, furnishes the strongest evidence that the
desired legislation Of Congress is alone wanting to
insure in those operations the highest degree Of Sc
cuu'y ard facility. Such also appears to have been
the experience of other nations. From the results
of inquiries made by the Secretary Of The Treasury
IN regard TO the practice among them. | am enabled
to state that IN twenty-five out Of iwarty-seven for.
elsn Governments, from which urdoubted informs.
tlon has been obtained the public moneys are kept
IN charge OF public officers. This concurrence of
opinion in favor Of that system is perhaps as great
az exists on any question of internal admIni.tra-
ton.
In The modes of business and Official restraints
on discussing officers, no legal change was produ.
ced Oy the suspension of specie payments. The
report last referred to will re found to contain also
much useful Information in relation to this sub
ject.
have heretofore assigned TO Congress my rea.
sons for believing that the establishment Of an In
dependent National Treasury, ne contemplated by
the Constitution, is necessary To the safe action Of
'ne feder"i government. The suspension Of pc.
'e payments IN 1887, by the banks having the Gus.
tody OF The public money. show ed in so alarming a
degree our dependence on those in.litutions for Inc
performance of the duties required by law. that
then the entire de solution nh hat con.
nectlon. This recommendation has been ,uliec.
ted, as | desired it should be, to severe sc,u1i,y
and animated discussion; and allow myself tn be-
neye that, notwithstanding the natural diyersities al
opinion which may be anticipated IN all subjects in.
Vo'ing such Important considerations, it has secu.
red ~ IT'S favoi rs general a concurrence If public
sentiment as could be expected on one Of such mao
nitude. ""s