Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-11-05
EOK l.iLE E.rGriRER.


4 FISCAL AGENT, &C.
The scheme Of IA Fiscal Agent Tor the Government
and Currency Agent for The People, published III the
tladsonian and Globe over the signature Of ~ Mean
her OF the 18th Congress, is regarded, lar the
question ot consi;utionalty IL concerned, AZ beng
sricHg necessary and proper t. the practical main
enancc Of the constitutional prohibition upon he
power Of the States, 10 .nIake any thing bal gold and
silver coin tender in The payment Of debts = lath
Section, Isl Article Of The Constitution ii the United
S:atesl-as vel 10 the preservation al TIE uaiiar-
NIFTY and equality Of al duties imports, and excuses,
enninrd BY the Constitution 18th Section, i, At'cie
d; the constitutional
Under The operations of The Banking System -ihr
offspring Of Federal and State legislation the FTac-
cablli.y Of employing the constitutional tender IN the
business Of tie country has otcn BEEN and Is, at this
time in many portions Of the Union totally destroyed
The precious metals have, IN great measure, been
kept "ul of or expelled from the county, and great
part OF the amount renainirg i inaccessible and dead
the community, being locked the vaults nj non
specie. paying Banks. The unavoidable consequence
- the employ If spurious and uneqnaiy denFc
GATED Rauk note currency. In such STATE ~ Things,
lie pa yment If debts, in the constitutional tender, Mhen
exacrd by The creditor, impossible; and but Tor the
use Of The Treasury notes, by Government, the uni.
Fsrnity and equality OF taxes could net be preserved
The condition If lie country bears strong slmhudr,
# he not identical, with HAT which existed bcio-e
the adoption OF the Constitution whist hills oicrtd
emitted rs tie different States, constituted The currency
10 RETURN which tie great purpose 81 inserting
The tender clause, and Of comforting nnua the Gnrera
mcnt power 20 coin money, and regulate the value
thereof, Of foreign coin. And all tLis IS the conse
ouencc Of Federal and State misunderstanding con-
cusively that have been guided by false principles
he cfJrc or that tie undan5 na principles oi The
Constitution Itself a.. wrong The alternative, no one
presume, would be wiling TO assume Vow, Il seems
clear aud indispu;ab!e that any means which are
strictly incidental and subordinate III Their mature, wl'ch
do not involve the exercise oil any oi Tie gh icadih9
powers o. Government, and which do MT infringe upon
The reserved rights Of the States or lead 70 clicr I'M
portant substantial results apart from or beyond the
constitutional object aimed al might with proPriey be
r.sor,ed 10 when we'll calculated 10 remedy the eTil-
The employment of system q! agency whose essence,
whose movers and existence would be Limited to, iden
rd with, and adequate To- this purpose anu no more
than adequate To il, he regarded as lItle SNORT o
necessary means Of good goyernmcnt-necfssaty 10
give effect lie policy and principles expressly sci
torih IN the Consultation. If IL he feature Of suss:
system to employ truthful paper representative 'ha'-
cstiny the prt scnce deposit Of The gold and silver
tender dollar for dollar without fraud or !aise"od, ana
calcua,ed to maintain tie Fundamental Ia" OF the conn
lry IN relation to that tender it should not be held as
,,ruund Of objection, but rather Of commcndaon me
n,g cjaracrT the portability and cnuScnicnce o! such
paner prcse NATIVE Tor purposes oil currency aiu IA
change would render potent instrument III INC pro-
rress Of time for the eiltctuatlon oi Tie purpose III
view nasnuch il u 10 pe the greet, e;HG, c'shc'
eE.rni! pTl..Ci.t Cl t.ias
REPRESENTATIVE Is ever 10 continue aepresehat''e III
fact dollar Tor dollar OF tie constitutional lcnicr de-
nosird l,s character OI convenience would cause II
10 he mare extensively employed in the business o. e
country aud a necessary corse a"cnte result i!
cor-csponiin .sasc q. the combinations! tender
Md here would be tie object aimed al necessarily pro.
dced 70 secure The gold and :ser s'Gnaa'' oi Saue
and medium for ",hc plJ .ifnt Of debts, "beyohd ue
reach d contingencies Is that object, and The use OF
r paper representative under The national authu'
,i,y The means Tor accomplishing It. Specie teGasis
:. the first Las. end vital principle q tie scls:3 pa
nor represcn,a.,.ss ;;r evidence IL these deIosts
b.. III iair:e lille inslheT IN general We" OF
f,c subject surpose the Government were involved
- wer or any great emergency, putting 10 severe
fest lis own resources and atitctng seriously .ie 60
neral operations of hnslnesa a'ang9t 'ne people, ''
result 0! w.ic eould be, from the loss ot confidence
IL Banks and distractions 10 business, general suS
penson Of specie payments This has happened III III!
conditions oil the county esce apa Wa.--ps"sPei
IL ard adversely ecco.dinG to the auilohtohs :"
and reason likely ever 10 occur under the
opcrations OF The Banking system as al present organ
;zed or under any form IT has been made To assume
since its first Introduction into our country. Ia s"ch
condition of the currency, IL ~caid DC u't!y 'poss
lie 10 employ the constitutional tender r tae payment
of debts between man e.: nan, OF IN Inc coiec'o, u
revenue 10. tie support of Government IL would oe
orea, huTdsp upun The payers to pay The i'"Icsi
dnties in spccit- much greater wouia - tAe dfus"p
under system of direct taxes Which the emergencies
Of Government Cor : eesson might call io7 Govern
could unt consequently give &c its tax laws UNI
form and equal operation, unless ny Tue ISSUE u
srv notes ar Treasury paper Of some SOFT for purposes
nj circulation amongst The people; and The eSeFsi'e q
such power, distinctly and separately 9Oas'e'sd, ~
yoses more Of doubt aaA i,i..c1iJ than an"e' any
view or tie sac ach to sHg ieai"'e oil .e sy,en
nj apanry recommended over the signature or \ ne'
Der OF the 9th Congress-
What are The powers exercised in the establishment
of t!.at scheme Simply the powss7 .. providing a
place for the safehseaaE OF the ''aas oil Government,
Of receiving and keeping the funds Of individuals
edeu those unds consist ne neaiLe COINS Of The t,f
s,nan. Now, il this additional fcalig, sSsis,
per Sc, (n lse no ln!.e::at rase' Of action Or con-
eo at 'sa or interest Of 'ne Pe"p'
o,rn roianry ae"n, of realizing the rights and hene-
guaranteed TO them BY the Constitution, 'h'Ough The
maintenance of the constitutional tender and standard
Of value, which in the progress Of time would be the
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