Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-12

ann, They gave him rank over many an
RPno" - the result has proved, better soldier. In
odFF' a converged the rays OF popular favor upon
his thev placed the wreath OF civic distlnc'on;-
hs hea" ZEN presented him to the Democracy of the
They ia" fayorite child, and claimed for him its
na,oh - ,,r6I,nce Setting aside gratitude, the
un'na,"" ,;cht require from him III RETURN was fair
ieaI u, ,5 t,,r dealing. Have they received the irsc
IcsFe' undated the very name OF Democrat with
He h n, h,S sought etiacc it as brand upon ms
st".n OF his tair-deang we nave aifeaay haa
icfeht"" ,roois. and they multiply as We advance.
abln'an ,,r before US contains the acknowledgment
Inc r' se,aration of Mir Rivcs from his old friends
Of us and secure their personal confidence,
anu ,hs il with his name, US stamp OF us auiheh-
l. * issued save the necessity OF eNplana-
eH 20 face aud all the credit is claimed Tor 1t, TO
tons -" nch explanations are entitled. What then,
whc" - IN. norton of him who, under such solemn
sh"a1 ,c,s as he signs the deed OF eternal separa
cf'u"jL h,ra,elv attempts 10 palm gross lmpos-
tom mon his once, and perhaps yet, too conhding
ia Republicans Of Virginia, whose generous feel
i'F'a moi yr, entirely detached from old and honored
ing n behold the proofs which are now exhibited,
assocl''J sxb,hed, of the lamentahle derection of
tt"h was once vonr favorite and your pride, and
h'' c ,h, DOOM more in sorrow than in anger
: for both sides of the question, we copy the
a. Mr Rivcs letter, and appeal 10 official docu-
~. for It's contradiction:
p-rL have seem observes he, "through the whole
- his Administration, and in the conduct OF his
c'"sS systematic design to build up the practical su-
"y If iLt Exseatirs poIrcr, at the expense OF the
,.sIa,yr Department and OF the people themselves
IT, have seen this design pursued, not only by Tie
;rsr,uc efforts which have been made To secure to
p;6ent and his agents the custody and control of
H' ,blic moneys, through the medium of the Sub
-. H., scheme but also by the and alarming
i..,,ns which was preached in his annual Message al
49, commencement of the late session of Congress IN
nscember ISIS, that, in the management OF the pub
=, venue he should be left at liberty TO employ
pt or not ,cihout legal regulation and at htS mere
1on. as dcpostaries and fiscal agents of the Co
s,nmen,-Thus subjecting all the moncyed lnstitu-
,ns Of the country TO his Influence and control
Nr Riyes has repeated this allegation, as formally,
, the parallel which he has drawn with such a1ecta-
ron Of military precision, between the opinions OF IRE
n Van Buren, and those Of the great Federal states
man. Gen. Harrison The first point OF comparison Is
,,sre presented in these terms:
The Executive should have the custody and con-
o Of the public Moneys and be at liberty moreover,
mnloy banks at its discretion, without limitation of
Law See Sub-Treasury scheme and Presidents Mes
,,,- 10 Congress in December, lS3e.
TIL, passage contains the substance of the former
6F.ed and dllated paragraph, boiled down to beau
,i,l extract The language of both is too uneQulvo
cal 10 be mistaken. They are designed to impute to
The President desire and intention to employ Banks
moi as Gposi,areS and FISCAL agents, ,cthom legal re-
,,eteR and at his discretion, with view of Sc
.ny IA himself and his subordinate officers the
S and coptroso of the public moneys, and to subject
The popfysd institutions of the country to has nfu-
.,, and control We have adopted the elegant itera-
tons of Mr. Rvess phraseology for the sake of accu
r,cy and fidelity TO his language. Let plain state
mont of facts show how shameless and reckless is the
mnp,aton The Deposte Act of 1886 having fallen
"a me ground BY the suspension of the Banks in May,
l.S, the President at the extra session III that year,
recommended to Congress, general and permanent
separation Of the fiscal affairs of the Government from
ali Banks as well adequate provision Tor the safe
keeping and disbursement Of the public moneys by its
own officers In his first message after setting forth at
large, the reasons for the proposed change, he thus
spoke of the proper agency of the Executive in the
matter
The power and influence supposed to be connected
with the custody and disbursement of the public mo-
new are topics which the public mind is naturally,
and with great proprety, peculiarly sensitive. Much
has heen said upon hcm in reference to the proposed
separation Of the Government from the Banking lnStI
,u,ons and surely object to any appeals
snimadyersionS upon the subject which consistent
with the facts and evnce proper respect for the intel
irence Of the people. If Chief Magistrate may be
slowed 10 speak for himself, such point can
truly say. that me nothing would be more accepta-
be- than the withdrawal from the Executive, to the
treltasi possible extent OF all concern III the custody
sat disbursement of the public revenue; not that
would shrink from any responsibility cast upon me by
the duties Of nv office, but because it my firm be-
si, that us capacity Tor uSt1uneSS IS IN no degree
promoted BY the possession of any patronage not &C
iuy necessary TO the performance Of those duties
But under on. present form of Government the inter-
yenon OF the Executive officers, in the custody and
disbursement of the public revenue, seems 10 be una
yoica5lc
any system that may be adopted should be subjected
the fullest legal pr0r'St0aS TO teace nothing TO
ii, Ereu,ire but hat IS necessary to the discharge Of
he duties imposed han, and whatever plan may be
Ultimately established, my own part shall be so dis
charged give it fair trial and the best prospect
Of success
No legislation upon this subject having been agreed
upon the extra session. the Executive left TO his
general discretion under the old law, except in regard
10 limited amounts kept in the few Banks which had
not suspended. If an ample control the place
and manner Of keeping the public money had been de-
s'ed BY the President, the law could not have been
better adapted 10 his purpose. But such was neither
his wish intention, and knows this better
than Mr.. Rives In the December Message of the SEES
SION OF lc1-IS the subject again brought to the
attention OF Congress IN the following emphatic Ian
gCags.
"a have found no reason TO change my opinion as to
Ae expectancy OF adopting the system proposed, being
perfectly satisfied that there Will be neither stability
safety, either in the fiscal affairs of the Government,
o. IN the pecunary transactions of individuals and cor
poratcns, so long connection exists between them,
which, like the present, offers such strong inducements
10 make them the subjects of political agitation. In
deed am more than ever convinced OF the dangers
10 which the free and unbiased exercise of political OPT
aion-thc only sure foundation and safeguard of Re-
PGOscan Govcrnmen-would be exposed by any fur
AeF increase of the already overgrown influence of
corporate authorities. cannot therefore, consistent
y with my views of duty, advise renewal of con
Aecton which circumstances have dissolved
ut obviously important TO this branch of the pub
NC service, and TO the business and quiet of the coun
NY ha, the whole subject should, in some way, be set
'a amt regulated by tu", and if possible, at your pre-
sent Session
Inc result being the at the extra session, the
Executive and officers under him. once more left
!" Inc exercise OF their discretion the matter, and
hng so continued until the session Of 1888, when the
message was communicated which Mr. Riyes has made
NE subject Of so unmany and dsingenuous u criticism,
C''iher pervesion. We give the passages from that
message pertinent to the subject:
My conviction of the necessity Of further Legislature
pSto0s for the safe keeping and disbursement of the
pubic moneys and my opinion in regard to the mea
Sues best adapted TO the accomplishment of those OBJ
e's have been already submitted to you. These have
oten STRENGTHENED nv and m the full