The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-22
EXTRACTS from the
SPEECH OF MR.. RAYNER,
or NORTH CAROLINA,
ON THE SUB-TREASURY BILL.


when Congress was convened at the Extra
session, The country was suffering under the
most intense distress; and a beam of hope
| alighted on the public mind when il was an
nounced that the Legislative power Of the
Union was TO be assembled. But 10, and be-
hold the Representatives of the People were
told that Il was not for the purpose Of ahording
relief TO their suffering constituents that they
were convened, but for the purpose Of providing
means to relieve the wants OF the Government.
They were told:
IL the debts of our merchants have accumulated,
or their credit is impaired these are fluctuations al
ways incident to extensive extravagant mercantile
transactions"
As 10 the real purpose for which Congress
iods convened, the President explains il in
very few words. The whole secret is told in
one short sentence, as follows:
The sum necessary for the service of the year,
beyond the probable receipts, and the amount which
1t was intended should be reserved in the Treasury
at the commencement Of the year. will be about six
millions"
As to the sufIerings of the People, they are
given TO understand that they must wait for
time and economy to effect cure. And do we
come here merely for the purpose of minis
terlng to the wants Of Executive agents Really,
il seems that such is the theory Of the party in
power, not only from the language Of the mes
sage above CITED, but from the course Of le-
glslauon here during the present session. Sir,
you are in majorty-you have been in session
for near seven months, and what have you done?
You have DISTINGUISHED State, il is true but
that was only prelude TO what has since fol-
lowed. You have passed an appropriation bill
TO pay the office-holder his salary You have
passed Treasury note bill to raise the means
OF paying him; and now you are about to pass
Sub Treasury bill TO enhance the profits Of
his salary at least ten per cent II this theory
be true, then is this Government the merest
farce on earth, and it presents the ridiculous
spectacle of one set of the peoples agents meet
ing together annually at great inconvenience and
expense, simply for the purpose of providing for
the support and maintenance of another set.
This discrimination between the People and
the officers oftheir Government is anti-republican,
and dangerous TO the permanency of our free
institutions. That the Government has sepa-
rate and distinct interest from that of the Peo-
pie savors too much of the divine right of Kings
to suit my fancy. 1t strikes at that responsible
ty of public agents which is the basis of our
system. For if the Government is entitled to
different currency from that of the People,
and that better currency too then il is not re-
sponsble for the consequences growing out of
the exercise of this privilege, or for the manner
in which they may choose to enjoy it. One of
the beauties of our system is, that il recognises
no privileges TO the governors, different from
| those OF the governed, except those which the
law has prescribed as incident TO the nature of
their offices, and as necessary to faithful dis
charge of the same. The surest guaranty against
oppression is in having the interests of the Peo-
pie and their officers nseparaby identified
Restrict them to the same medium of circula-
ton, and they will feel the same fluctuations in
trade, and the same desire to remedy the evils
| of disordered currency. You thus make those
who administer the Government sensibly alive
10 the sufferings of the People, because it is
their interest TO be so. But by making dis
| elimination between them, whilst you render
the public agents calous and Indifferent to the
grievances of the People, you weaken the al
fections of the People for the Government it.
| self-those affections which are the surest basis
of the Government, and on which it must RELY
for support.
You have already, by the privileges and ia
vors showered upon the officeholders, weakened
the bonds of union between the Government
and the People. Who can say that he non feels
that same regard and veneration for the Govern
ment and its institutions which he did a few
years since? BY system of servty and
obedience, the Executive has become pampered
into lawless tyrant; and is now the master, in
stead of the servant, as he should be, of the
People The legislature, instead of being g the
high inquest of the nation," has become hum
bled into mere registry Of imperial rescripts.-
The Judiciary, instead Of being the guardians
of the Constitution and the laws has become
corrupted and de6led, from being filled with the
mere tools and pmps of power. The Govern
ment, in all its departments, instead of posses
sing the affection and confidence of the People,
now excites no other feeling but those Of con-
tempt and disgust. ] do not speak of the insti-
tutions of the country as they exist in theory,
but as they are administered in practice. And
now you propose to sever the last remaining tie,
by giving a gold and silver currency to the off
GERS of the Government, and leaving the Peo-
pie nothing but rags-yes, rags, to use your own
modern description Of your own favorite money,
with which you have flooded the land.
And sir, why is this2 Why is it, | ask, that
these offceholders, these mere fawning syco-
plants, are TO be entitled to these special privi-
leges? These men have no sympathies in COM
mon with the great mass of the hardy yeomanry
Of the country What matters it to them if the
honest laborer is turned out of employment? If
the suffering widow is reduced to poverty, or the
friendless orphan deprived of bread2 What is
it TO them If the country is writing in distress.
If commercial embarrassment does prevail, if
every branch of business is depressed2 They
may still look on, ''calm as summers morn,o
and enjoy the golden rewards of their venal la
bors. Is there any proposition to reduce their
salarles--to reduce the wages of their baseness?
None whatever While, on the other hand the
ground is boldly taken by prominent advocate
of this measure in the other House, (Mr. Blu
cnANAN,) that one Of its happy effects will be to
bring down the wages Of labor. You thus lessen
the profits OF the aboring man, while you in
crease the wages of the public officer for as la
boris lessened in value, the medium of that value
must be enhanced. Sir, who are these office
holders, that they should be thus favoredl Do
they come from the ranks of the splain honest
peopie,n with whom the advocates of this mea-
sure ALWAYS fall so much in love just on the eve
of an election2 Where does this Admnsira