The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-28

efeciualy 10 secure public money in the hands Of
officers and agents Of the Government, and TO pun
ish public deiauliers." After the passage Of the
bill al last session by the Senate was dexierously
substituted in the public prints for the Sub-reasury
BILL 1t was published at large in the State OF ind-
ana aud believe In other States the Sub-treasu-
~ bill. IL was called BY that name, was read and
commented upon by candidates such, and the peo-
pie were called upon 10 make up their minds upon
ms great measure OF the Administration; many Of
Them said they could see harm in il; in vain did
they look for the Objectionable clauses and they ac-
tuay began to conclude that the provisions that had
been attached 70 the Sub-reasury bill by lhespeeches
they had read, not contained in II. When
called upon stated then, and now repeat that the
Subtreasnry bill was not acted on in the Senate last
session a. ALL that the bill which passed the Senate
at last session was what its title purported aud II
avowed at the time by the chairman, (Mr. WrighD
who will now correct me il am mistaken, thatthe
bill had no SnbIreasury feature in II.
Mr. WRloHr nodded assent.
was more than once called upon to give my rea-
sons for voting against this Sub Treasury Bill"
and then gave silent vote, and as The same ques-
tions may be repeated will briefly stale one or TWO
OF the many objections have tothe bill which admit
contains some unexcep ionable provisions Among
other provisions, think the following clause very
Objectionable, il relates TO the proceedings In court
upon the trial Of suit against supposed defaulIer,
and reads Nor shall any such coart receive evidence
in any such suit ANY claim against the u s., by
way of sci Of which has not been first presented TO,
and passed upon by the proper accounting officers OF
the Treasury; and for the payment OF which, the
necessary appropriations had been made by law, be-
fore its rejection BY said accounting officers, and
were in existence and force al the time OF said re-
lection" think that provision may work great In
Justice have objection to require the officer TO
submit his matter of set off to the defendant for its
allowance or rejection, before il is received as evi-
dence on the trial as The law stands; but 10
require an appropriation by law, before the set on
can be received puts il into the power Of an admins
tration so disposed TO select and make victim
of any officer before Congress could come to
his relief; as we all know that years frequently
| expire, in fruitless attempts 10 get through Con-
gress the most unqueslinnable claims, l am not
afraid to leave the justice Of set off TO the court
upon the trial can no good rea 'on TO exclude
the defence these cases that would not with equal
force apply in all others. If we cannot rely on the
honesty Of and Jury to DO justice we can
not expect TO receive at the hands OF mere account
ing officers.
But, sir, | have no confidence in this remedy for
the disease This idea Of LOCKING THE DOOR AFTER
THE HORSE is STOLEN will be found to be wholly de-
lusiye The remedy is not the true one, admit
the necessity Of protecting the public Treasury by
all the guards you can benehcially throw around H.
But do not believe that the safey of the public funds
will be increased by the penalties of this bill You
must recollect that catching comes before hang'ngi
and does il moi strike Senator'S al once, that the high
er the penalty the greater the indictment to The DIS
honest officer, who resolves on seiZing The pubic
moneys to fly his country, as Price and SwarWout
did, before detection and how easy il is for them to
do So No, sir, il there are no religious or moral
restraints operating upon the oficer-ft regard Tor
himself his family and his surees will not restrain
him-your penalties of confinement in The peniten-
tiary will moi do it. have observed that fewer de-
faults are commi,ted by persons who give the pubic
no other security than that of the possession OF a
high moral sense OF duty and honor, Than by those
who are bound with personal snreties, or punished
| bv fines and amercemenls | addnce this as illus
,atiye OF my position thai is in bonds penal
lies that the securities the public funds iso be found
But il is in the selection Of honest men for public
trusts; let the questions be, " is he honest, is he
capable lis he faithful TO the constitutions" and
moi ais he the noisesi, the most INSCRIPTIONS, and
the most violent of the party and fewer defaulters
will be heard Of do not believe that the penalties
of this bill will add to the security the public now
has BY law and the regulations and powers OF the
Executive department. and as il contains features
which object to, must vote against il, not, how
ever, upon any OF the principles that governed my
vote against the Sub.lreasury bill; ! rose merely TO
make these statements and not to 60 into an argu-
ment en- the bill.
Mr.. Henderson, OF Mississippi, followed on the
same side and in conclusion, moved to recommit
the bill
The motion was rejected Ayes TO- nays u. The
bill was then finally passed. and sent to the House
for concurrence.
CUMBERLAND ROAD
The bill TO provide fer the continuance of the
Cumberland road through the Stales'of Ohio, lndi-
ana and Illinois, was next taken up, and discus
sion of certain proposed amendments was begun,
which had not terminated when this package was
closed
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
FRIpAY, March 81, 1910.
TREASURY NOTE BILL.
Immediately after the journal was read, the House
resolved itself into Committee OF the Whole, (Mr.
Dawson, Of Georgia, in the Chair) and resumed
the consideration of the Bill authorizing the issue
of FIVE MILLIONS OF DoLL,Rs OF Treasury NOTES.