Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-02-17

Of competent Jurisdiction, shall, Tor eV' =
cry such IF nee forfeit and pay TO the u
United Sates a fine equal 10 the amount 7,
Of the money embezz ed, and shall SUI :, y
fer imprisonment for term not less than \
six months nor more than FIVE years" v
There continued Mr.. F J was the law {,
as il now stood. Were not these pro u
visions penal enough 10 satisfy gentle =
men that the committee Of Ways and
/ Means had omitted none Of their du!y
BY not imposing greaIer penalties Tor
The violation ol official trusts? Was
that cause Of complaint? II so, he
would point them 10 tho provisions OF
the famous Excheguer bill, and show
them how that compared with The exs.
ing law on the sub leci, and thar, instead
OF prohibiting the officer from ioaa'Tg
or using or embezzlbg The public no
nsy he was expressly aulhonzed o buy
drafts from his friends or enemies, and
10 that way making use Of The pub &c mo
, ney. He therefore asked Whether the
committee Of Ways and Means had omit
ted any part ol their duty rothe country
or 10 The House, when he had showed
that these penalties for The purpose oi
n protecting the public treasure were am
: pie, and far better than those contained
to the Exchequer blil3
BuI he had occupied more time on this
y part Of the subject han he had intended
, ffe had one word 10 say 10 reference toI
n the remarks Of the gentleman from Mes,
4 sachusells, IMr. Cushlng) and some 9th
a ef gentlemen, They had said that the
n Excheuuer was not a National or 60
Il vernment bank. That he might not
misrepresent the honorable gentleman
m from Massachusetts, who had denied that
~ this was Government bank, he would
=, read from his remarks, os published,
, that. if there was any mistake in the
# publication Of them, the gentleman may
r correct il. The gentleman had said:
,( There existed now no bank OF the
Al United States, and very few specie pay.
ne ,ng banks of any sort; so that now the
he public dues were received either IN gold
,r. and silver or 10 Treasury notes. The
lp. whole subject was placed at absolute dis
re crelion in tho hands Of the Treasurer
MS subject 10 The fUei discretion Of tht
IRE President Under these circumstance
e- the President came 10 Congress and ask
ow ed 10 be relieved from this discretion
ca asked that Congress would define an
,lic limit it. Now, 10 an appeal like thi
the from the Executive Of the country. wha
in d,d the committee of Ways and Mean
Gu replys Their reply was, mo, you sha
for retain this discretion; we will not n
ieve you from il unless tn one specih
CO. way, and that only, viz: in the form
and q Joint sock charter tor Bank Of th
avs Unned States. This is the poin;
,eir which the House was now brought"
law Mr.. F. wanted 10 pause here and So
,;va one word on the assertion that The Pr
nen sidenl had come 10 this House and askt
hev 10 be relieved Of the responsibility Of
an. king care o(the public treasure. Ho
This had he asked 10 be relieved? The la'
an. as he had just shown, required the pa
70 lie treasure 10 be kept in the custody
N o( The Treasurer OF the United Staieo, a
Tho declared that If that Treasurer or al
,od other officer Of the United States shot
1 all. loan or convert one dollar oil This pub
IN treasure 10 his own use, he should
this deemed guilty ol embezalemenI, and
heal imprisoned not exceeding FIVE years
,;.h, And what did this bill recommended
t tc the Executive proposeH Did it propC
,,o,s to put This ircasure lnlo the hands
'o ' any other petrca ,hsn 'ha officers
a ro pointed by The President? No. On
nen. contrary. it proposed that set Of n
a o,. officers should be appointed either
,;ect rec,Iy or indirectly by the President
,1,o, the United States, and then 10 trans
r,o., This treasure into their possession.
bo not only this. but 10 invite the hoa
,,o- INTO The hands of private individual
, ssr. be deposited ID the same place,
Tho which the Government wes 10 be liza
, ,ho, aud over which the President, thro'
-, or his officers, was to have CONTROL
= lin. that look like q desire Oh The part oI
, nro. Executive to get rid Of this respons'
, b,ve ityp Thrice did Mark Antony, u
wing the Luperca, offer The crown to Cte
and thrice did he refuse il; but tMr
.,,,J apprehended) with no such feelings
"''Iu lhoee with which the Executive cam
- 'S's this House and asked them, through
:" W gentlemen who sustained him herr
u ,"o relieve him from this fesPonsibllt.
,o'' " W The President only asked that 1t sh'
~ y. be increased in teniold proporIlo
y u"y no, only TO have control Of all The T
S"u'' nues of Government, but Of all The
y por' "u,s au E,,d.ond oIl,hs banking opera,
,eu ~ of the country. That was the way
W a, 50 which no asked TO be relieved
,sd ~ But the gentleman SAID farther'
Of the "Agan, the committee insisted
j, COO. the Treasury board was virtually a
which vernment bank. Mr. c. had often
,ford ,,rnrisnd vac md humbled, too