The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-16

of light TO conduct us in the pathway OF duty
to ourselves and TO that community whose d. 8
TIMES, for ''weal or for woe" have been COM
mitted 10 our care. Had |, as one of the re-
representatives. of the people, no other objection
| TO the resolution under consideration than that
named, it would, of itself, forever prevent It's
| receiving the sanction of my vote.
| Again, sir, | object to this Sub-Treasury
| project, if is to be what the friends OF this
| measure declare; because it will increase, TO a
/ vast extent, the executive patronage. This po-
sition has been denied, we are fully aware, by
many the friends of the administration. II
has been said that the deSpoSite bank system
afforded as great facilities TO the President, Tor
| the exercise of patronage, as will the Sub
| Treasury scheme, fpermitted to 90 into effect.
The fallacy of this position cannot fail TO evnce
| itself to all, who, for an instant, will dispas
sionately examine the subject The banks and
| the bank officers derive their existence and
their countenance in power from sources far
| beyond the reach of the extreme arm. They
the banks-sir, are the creatures of your
| State Legislatures; and the officers ofthe banks
do not receive their appointments from the
President, nor are they at all dependent upon
him for their continuance in power. Not so
with this army of Sub Treasurers. They are to
derive their very existence from the President
himself; to be dependent upon his favor their ell
ton To office and their continuance in power.
They will be the creatures of eXecutiveiavor-
the willing vasSals of the Prince of the White
House-dependent upon the executive nod for
the very bread upon which they subsist, and
by which their wives and their children are ted
from day 10 day. Now, sir, every page OF your
history goes to show, and daily brings to light,
the immense-the irresistible influence which
can be exerted over men thus circun stanced.
Men, who under other circumstances, would
blush at the very thought OF the performance
of a diShonorable act, when brought themselves
and those around them, to whom they are
bound bv the strongest ties OF conSaDguinity,
to be solely dependent for their every comfort
upon executive power, cannot fail, in the end,
to become The willing vaSsals of the Presidents;
yea, sir. and made 10 perform acts diSgraceul
10 themselves and subversive of the best inter-
ests of that country which they profess TO love
andsto serve. |, said Mr.. P Il have no design
10 mpugn the motives of the present chief ma.
ristrate of this nation. | diSclaim all intention
to charge upon him the desire to destroy and TO
trample upon the liberties and the privileges OF
the American people. The time, sir, has not
yet arrived when the people of this country
wonId yield up their long cherished rights and
liberties, without a determined, dreadful and
bloody struggle. But we are not now legis-
lating in our places for the present period-Ihe
present generation alone. With the eye of
statesmen, we should look down the long line
of time-should remember that this project, if
carried into effect, must exert lasting Infiu-
ence upon the character and the stability OF our
republican Institutions; will be felt and ackHow-
lodged, long after we shall have ceased to ex-
ist-lOng after our brief days shall have passed
away. Should some ambitious Cazar or Crom-
well, at future period ascend the chair of
state, armed with the sword and the purse, how
easy would it be for him to destroy the fair ia
brick of liberty and independence which is now
the boast of every American citizen, and the
pride and admiration of the oppressed of every
nation. Sir, should that dark and dreadful day
ever arrive, land this very measure is well cal
culated to.invite it, this land of liberty will be
clothed in sorrow and sadness;-this nation of
freemen, which is Justly regarded as the ''last
hope of all men" will be made TO bow--the de
graded vasses of an ambitious and unprlnci-
pied Executive.
object again, Mr.. Chairman to this Sub
Treasury scheme because of lis increased ex-
pensiveness. have shown you in the course
of this argument, that during the existence of
LIle Dirk Ol l0e CHlteu dii lflt EcNCulc
of the government was collected and disbursed
from every section of the country, without the
slightest expense or loss to the people. What
this favorite project of the administration is to
cost, no mortal man can tell. Fancy may de-
pict, or imagination may conjecture, but the
truth can be ascertained only when this ignis-
fatuus of the present dynasty shall have been
accomplished. From small beginnings, often
the most important consequences are made to
follow. This, no doubt, will characterize the
scheme now under consideration. New build-
ings are to be erected; locks, bolts and safes are
to be procured; new host of salared officers
are to be brought into requisition; and although
sir, this may, to some, appear to be small
matter-a consideration of no importance-yet
in my humble estimation, it is a fit subject for
grave deliberation. have, said Mr.. p, an
utter horror for all innovations--more especial
ly, sir, if you call them experiments. This ma
ton, for years that are passed by, has suffered
yea, been made to groan and bleed, by these
ever varying and successive changes. The
lowest estimate which have seen for the es.
Enlistment of these new buildings and the ne
cessary appendages, is sixty thousand dollars
| and others whose opinions are entitled to the
| highest consideration, say six hunded thousand
| dollars. Now, sir, is the revenue of this coun.
try, at this time, in such fiourishing condl-
ton as for these items to cease to be matter
of Importance to the American people This
Administration, it will be recolIected, has en-.
rntf tod