Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-09-28
TwENTY-sEvENTH CoNGREss.-1st Session

SPEECH OF Mn. STEENROD, os VIRGINIA,
On TIC bill 10 repeal the ".7tt 10 proride for The eoi'sc
fton, safe keeping traasrr and disbursement IF the
public moneys"-Dsiirered in the House Of RepresSn-
tatt0es, august ., lSIl.
AIR. Speaker: Heretofore il has been esteemed The
PROUD prerogative of the American Representative 10
speak upon THIS floor his sentiments, those Of his
constituents on any question under consideration
nat feature IN our Representative system of Govern
meht has been long considered to power and the
oniwarK Of liberty But under the rules which you have
adopted Tor tile government of this House at the pre-
sent session, II IS favor-a privilege conceded
TO, or withheld from MEMBERS in obedience 10 the be-
nests oil Inc dominant party Of this House. This right,
then, IS no longer observed as our Inheritance; bat
whilst 1t yet remains to be conceded as favor us of
the minority, would wish 10 speak who still feels
that he Is teeas one who feels great interest in the
freedom OF the institutions of the country We have
been told, Sir, that this the concluding the
lng measure Of this extraordinary session THE he ALL
but not the end ALL of the late civil revolution through
which the country has recently passed Ridiculed be-
ttled and traduced this kas been before the
people-as statesmen here, you have been constrained
TO consider II as the great anagnnstcal TO those
series OF measures which the great Wing party OF
this country stakcd their fortunes and their all fhere
is any consideration which could commend this
sure TO the favor of friends highly than the fac,
that il has been the deyerer of the country from the
lhradom Of banks aud bankers, and was adopted OPP
position to all the appliances that money could employ
to corrupt the patriotism of the citizen and defeat this
redemption Of tie country:if any thing say, could
more highly recommend II TO its friends Than tins con-
sidcraon 1t would be the fact that it has been the
great lion in your pat the opposing system to your
tax bill, bank, and distribution; those measures,
which to be the great engine by which the
Stockholders are 10 pillage the labor OF tins coun-
try. And II does appear 10 me, SIR, that when
the smoke Of battle is dispeed, and the excitement
and fury which have characterized this controversy
sI,n hou subsi I'D tha nh
IMPARTIAL historian shall TO survey this great held
of political controversy, ie consideration which you
have gwen to this fiscal probem as one OF profit and
loss the citizen and The GoveTnncnt-t!Ie dollar and
oe nj calculation, with which 1t has been connected,
will be merged in The higher consideration OF II, as
that system which is part Of the essential policy Of
this self.government OF man, essential to the Inde
pendence Of institutions and the freedom OF our
citizens and as such, now, Sir shall cndeayor to
discuss and consider IT,
Under any system of finance yet suggested here, the
Office and disburse the revenue Of the Co.
vernment. This bill imposes upon him the additional
duty of keeping the public money How, then, does
this operate the parties interesed-as The Govern
ment, the officer, aud the citizen: The Government
appoints its officer IFS deposaryas its chest is sale
and the officer gives bond and security to the Govern
ment that he will honesty keep and dsburse the pub
lie money. But is this all? No. Sir; If he loans OUT
withhods, makes of the public money, by tins
bill his office is vacated his bonds are forfeited; lie is
rendered felon; has committed an offence which con-
signs his reputation to infamy, ard his person to the
cells Of penitentiary. The officers have imposed
upon them all the restraint and responsibility which
are suggested and warranted by our popular insltu
tons and required for the security OF the Government
and the freedom Of the citizen. The Government has
the surety that its money shall not be withheld when
required but be safely kept subject to IFS orders and
control. The taxpayer has the assurance that no
money shall be required of him than IS necessary
10 meet the specified wants of the Government and
the appropriations which may be made BY law
may be here met with the argument Of The bank
parors, and the objection HAT The public money, oy
tins system is subject the control Of the President
How does il give the President this cuntroE Am an
swered-"he appoints the officer and can remove hIm.
Admit il: STILL does this give him the control OF the
public money lie may say TO The officer, give me
much Of the public money. what does 'he olhcef
reply, "Where is your check or warrant OH me Tor
the money, Sir," 81 have check or warrant from
either of the Departments for the money; out de-
mand il of you, as my agent or otnccr Deliver II
over, or will remove you from Office, and appoint some
more plant agent in your stead what ~ the reply
Of the officer 10 this arbitrary demand of the President
He holds up this ridiculed and condemned bill as the
rule of action of his conduct mo, Sir, he says "here
am forbidden to do If give you the public mo-
ney, am rendered infamous; and you, by demanding
and receiving IT. are rendered cuipabe. Here IS tile
law which defines my duty and limits your power
By this law, if give you the public money, with
ont warrant or check from the proper department,
nv office and bonds are forfeited; and, by the very
act of Welding TO your arbitrary demand, am pun
ished as fcon, by being consigned wlthin the IRON
bars and vapory dungeons of penlcntiary and you,
Sir (the Presidency lose the power to confer ths Of
flee upon another, BY having committed an offence IN
receiving il, that subjects you to impeachment and re-
moyal from Office The public money, them cannot
be reached by The President, or be employed ny the
officer TO the prejudice of the Government or TO Tue
opuression of the citizen. The officers created under
4 thCSD NH
the bill comparatively lew; ana lnose on'eeis' Wy
The checks of the BILL are stripped OF all patronage
and power except that which pertains to them as cii
zens. This was the system designed for the Govern
ment by the trainers Of the Constitution, us SHOWN
by the character of institutions and the system
adopted by the first Congress that sat under the Con
stitution 1t was deemed necessary, Tor the ndePeno
ence ofthe Government not only that its officers should
he TINS held subordinate and responsible, but That the
revenues of the Government should be collected M
money acknow lodged by the Constitution. ne eoh
st,ution had adopted gold and silver only as It's money
as its standard of value II had gone even iurthe
than this had inhibited any thing on goia nho slse
as leunl tender in the payment OF debts The statu
tory Inv of the land then should be IN pursuance ane
obedience TO this principle of the Constitution ana re
r;,s tbot the public dues shall be paid in gold and sl
YER It's necessary to sustain the falh Oh lie Govern
ment-,hat may be ready, nj all times TO meet It's pup
lie engagements-that 1t should receive Us
the standard of value which be the only legal tende
in the paymen of debts But, Sir, the independence
this Government cannot be sustained under any system
of finance WHICH will receive any other Than the oons,
,utional money in the payment OF us Ie'e"uer' y,
known and acknowledge by it. If The paper OF Inc
State received IN the ., ,nr pap
,nent: the State Legislature may egaze the susPen
leave the national sos DS S sSer If h'
n,ner of Bank of the U. S. be received-lt, too may
suspend and refuse the payment Of its debts, as bank
ing institutions have heretofore been accustomed 70 90
in disregard of public opinion and in defiance OF law
Thus the Government may be left without dolial
Of available means 10 meet its engagements and n"b,
money in these institutions or by receiving the reve
mes Of the Government in their paper, the nation
placed in an attitude of the relation
subordnation TO these associations of capitalists les
Sir these associations by their SUSPENSION by the non
payment of their notes, Withholding the revenue
Of The Government may bring il to still pause ares
its career; and bring it 10 the feet and at the mercy
these interpretations and thus give them control owe
the Government and its destnes, greater ihan seven
teen millions of people can exercise and maintain e1
cept by revolution.