The Democratic Whig., 1843-08-03
TUCKER AND THE SECRE'
TARY OF u. s. TREASURY.

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tGOVERNOR TUCKER AND THE SECRE'
TARY OF U. s. TREASURY.
1fany degree of absurdIty or political profit
gacy from Governor Tucker could surprise US
we should have been no little astonished at the
position. which he assumes IN regard to the pay
ment of @144, 4,2l4. .33 by the u. s. Treasurer tc
Graves on account of the State of Mississippi
and the Recommendation, which he makes to the
Legislature, TO Rcpudiate the whole transaction
and require the payment of the money a second
time from The General Government. OF al
persons, with the exception Of our late Repudi.
ating Treasurer Graves, such course upon
this subject, and such recommendation, come
with tn worst grace from Governor Tucker
Really we pity the man on account Of the false
position, in which he is placed. Nature has
bestowed upon him very narrow and circum-
scribed powers of perception, and even these, as
limited as they are, have been rendered still
more obscure and confused by his party con-
nection. In ibis personal relations, Governor
Tucker is generally disposed to act correctly
and according to the best lights, which he can
obtain upon a subject; but when he merges the
individual in the partizan he seems at once to
lose all moral discrimination, and to think il the
duty of citizen to promote his political views,
at the expense Of every virtue. Witness his
late call of the Legislature at a most unseason>
able period of the year and at an enormous ex-
pense to the State; then refer tolhis message,
and see whether there is u recommendation con-
tanned in it of any measure requiring such IN
extraordinary course on the part of the execu-
tive. In the first sentence Of this profound doc>
ument he says ain consequence of DEFECTS IN
the act creating the Vice Chancery Court and
the WANT Of proper and adequate LAWS to insure
the collection Of the revenue and the safe keep
ing Of the public funds, / have been reluctantly
compelled to subject you to the trouble of assema
bling before the regular period your meeting.'
The act creating the Vice Chancery Court
was passed since the election ofGoye.nor Tuck.
er, and received his signature; and the defects
were apparent on its face and ought to have
been suggested at that time, - as to have re-
ceivcd immediate correction. But as the vision
of the Governor had not then had sufficient
taining his new position to be practlsed TO such
nice discrimination of Constitutional questions
as it has subsequently attained, he did not dis
cover the defects at the time; but we would ask
any rational man if he can see why this correc-
ton could not have been postponed without ei-
ther injury or even inconvenience TO the State
until the regular period for the legislature TO as
semble? Nor has the other induceme Mt,
which he mentions, for c0nvening the leglsia-
ture, supervened since its last session, but might
then, as well as now, have been perceived and
pointed out as a subject of legislative action.
This iIl-timed call of the legislature cannot re.
store the money to theTreasury, which has been
stolen from it nor make honest men Of knaves.
1t is like incurring an enormous expense in ats
tempting TO fasten the stable door after the hor-
ses have been stolen out. But the truth is, ev>
cry body believes that there were motives oper>
aflng upon Governor Tucker much stronger
than those mentioned in his message for the
course, which he has thought proper to pursue
in convening the legislature; and as we think it
probable that he has partially succeeded in his
object, in having his name pasaded as candid>
ate for Congress, we will now proceed to furnish
some facts 70 the public in regard to the means,
by which Graves was enabled to obtain the mo-
ney due the State of Mississippi from the U. s.
Treasury, that they may contrast Governor
fuckers agency in that transaction with his
present position in maintaining that the Gen.
eral Government is still liable for the money
which has once been paid to the officers of this
State.
In the act Of the legislature of Mississippi
sccePting certain provisions of law of Congress
aPPropriating the proceeds of the sales of the
public lands, which act was passed Feb'y. 2.th
1912, and signed By Governor Tucker, there 10 |
this provision:
sAnd the Treasurer, of this State shall be. |
ana 70 hereby authorised and required to draw /
On tne Treas urer Of the United states for said /
iund (tfe two per cent) as in the opinion of the
Governor OF this State. and on his requisition,
slsi os required 20 carry the provisions Of this
act into effect, AND NO MORE"
We have referred to this clause Of this act. in /
the history of this transaction. 70 shew the pecu-
liar restrictions, which lie IegisIature desired
to place upon the use Of th1s fund. Taken in
connection with the act Of Congress nothing il
more obvious than that il was the obiect of fhis
prevision that THE fund ahould not IS eonsider>
60 part Of the General Treasury &C the stata
but - peculiar fund designed for particnlar
purposes and requiring express enactmenta orl
me legislature b be brought into the hands al
lne state Treasurer. Aud 30 particularly was
Ehs desire manifested in the aet By tho lerisla.
nre 70 preserve this fand entire, and 60 distin.
rush Il tom the general treasury of.ths STATE
MAJ provision was incorporated in this act /.