Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-12-28
DEBATE
ON THE SUBTREASURY BILL.
REMARKS OF Mn. sCHENcK


Mr.. SCHENCK wished to offer few remarks as to the OBJ
lection urged against this bill by the gentleman from Masachu
SETS Mr ADAMS and then would endeavor notice
OF those party questions which had been drawn the debate
by gentlemen either side of the House, who had chosen
TO make this party discussion. In portion Of this task
however he felt himself relieved by what had been well said
by his friend from Indiana, (Mr SNITH) Mr.. s. said he
should not ream the which had been brought for
ward against the BILL because if there any logic in the
proposition of the venerable gentleman from Massachusetts,
lay on the surface He would content himself with simply
recapituatng them The objection this The Constu-
ton provided that money should be drawn from the Trea-
suy unless in consequence Of appropriation by law leaving it
to the Legislature decide in what H asy should
sist where il should be- He had no doubt that nothing
was further from the thoughts of the first Congress than
prescribe particular locality To which the should be
confined They treated the Treasury whatever place the
public money should be in if not the money itself But this
bill went much further declared that certain and safes
and strong boxes should constitute the Treasury of the United
States Now the Constitution declaring that money should
be drawn out Of the Treasury but by appropriations and this
bill making the Treasury be certain boxes in this city, it
followed by putting the two together that money which had
not here for depose could be drawn Of the Treasury
public money placed elsewhere and drawn thence by
the Treasurer did follow that money, having been
the Treasury might be drawn out without any violation of the
Constitution His friend from Virginia. (Mr DRoMGooLE,
always asute in argument always adot in debate had made
this explanation by of rebuer that these drafts of the
Treasurer the Subtreasuers disbursements but
only transfers, and that all the difficulty in the mind of the
gentleman from Massachusetts, from his making this
distinction and he referred to the eleventh section of the bill
TO show that these moneys all placed the credit of the
Treasurer and therefore in the Treasury already Now,
these moneys be disbursed they be first
fcrcd this place where the Treasury was appfo
praons could not upon hem for they provided for pay
ing the debts of the United States only of any moneys
IN the Treasury not otherwise appropriated Mr. S. would
not dwell ON the practical operation of such provision
Mr. ADAMS here invited Mr. ScHEscK's attention to the
closing paragraph Of the 10th section which empowered the
Treasurer of the United States draw on the subeasrers
or other deposiares for the purpose Of payments
Mr. SCHENCK said it was very true moneys might be
drawn the hands of these officers not merely for trans
fer but for payments that is disbursement Now the
neys must come from all quarters the as the Treas
uy, what would be the practical effect after the 30h June,
ls47, when specie alone be the medium Of payment
All money transactions of Government after that
be in gold and silver exclusively If must first be collected at
the various points designated by law (Which not the
Treasury and brought to the safes and strong
Washington, (Which " the Treasury, y then what
good cang and recatng about of public money would be
exhibited How many wagoners be in the Treasury
establishment How guards for the protection Of the
money! and consequence of both, what of sup
Plies must be provided But the gentleman said that the
Treasurer could draw his subordnaes not only to bring
to the seat of Government but from depositary TO
other If SO, then he did the question The Ian
guage Of the bill much more than mere transfer The
Treasurer might draw for the purpose of paymens And
II So how long were these Treasurers drafts remain
ahoat Would any gentleman tell him Or what was to
prevent the Treasury from being converted grand Gov
eminent Bank, with its drafts aoat as currency But he
would not speak to the merits of bill at large but come
back to the objection he had touched on What satsac-
ton must be to the creditors of the United States that
he Treasurer could draw moneys for the purpose of trans
fer What lovely system With the Treasury in the
centre and all the Subtreasues on the outskirts around
The Treasurer might draw, not for payment only for
transfer How gratifying to the creditors of Government
see the loads OF gold floating round from place place The
whole fiscal machinery would be unlike tho -sai
theory OF the solar system The T--y IN asmneton'
the great central point stfachon towards which the de-
poses were contnuay drawn, but into which they could
be thrown the Of precious metal like many pla
nets transferred from point point and revolving round the
centre in their different orbits
In mystic dance, not without song
He doubted, however, whether the Government creditors
would be inclined to think this the music of the spheres
Then seemed him to be another difficulty attending
the plan The venerable gentleman from Massachusetts, knew
about astronomy than Mr. s. had should
know he could better estimate the force of the objection
was this that possibly of these gitterng bodies might
here and there be found moving orbits extremely
trio that las had, he believed happened regard some
them they would return again into the system ALL
Much laughter In mitigation Of this however, had just
been suggested TO him. that should Texas Of
them might perhaps be recovered. Great meninent all
sides But in all seriousness the objection brought forward
by his venerable friend from Massachusetts appeared him
be unanswerable The gentleman from Virginia Mr. Dnom
cooLE) felt its force and lodged it,
Mr. s. said he should pay his respects Of those
gentlemen who had deemed proper give this dscusona
party cast The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. DouGLAss)
ought not TO complain that such direction had been given
the debate The gauntlet had been thrown by the Wing
side Of the House The gentleman from Massachusetts, had
confined his remarks strictly the amendment and had urged
his objection in spirit of the cando The gentleman
from Virginia (Mr DRoneooLE) had, he was going 10 saw
replied but that he had not done he had however, followed
the gentleman from Massachusetts This gentleman seemed
to think that subject like this the Wings ought TO be per-
ecty SILENT and should not venture propose amend
ments to his BILL The gentleman seemed in a particular
TO have set his heart this first section perhaps be-
created Treasury for we were told on the very
highest possible authority that swhere mans treasure is
there would his heart be ALSO This section the gentleman
would not allow TO be much touched his whole bill was
sacredsornethng tabood might be served even as
young bears said TO be it might be licked into
shape. laugh II spang ike Minerva from the head Of
Jove, fularmed and in shining panopIy which no Wing
finger might profane by furnishing II be passed in all
ITS parts just as il left his pen, not pass at ALL
While the awful process proceeding the high priest from
Illinois Mr. DoUcLAss) warned all Wing spectators to pre-
serve perfect silence 81 am Sir Oracle and when ope NV
mouth, Let dog bark" However the Wings would vein
little notwithstanding twas the gentleman from Virginia (r
DRoNeooLE who first opened the party scent by referring 10
the issues which had been made before the people the last
sdena contest The gentleman from Illinois taking his note
from him, opened in full cry ably and loudly notwithstanding
he would have all Wings SILENT (doubess that they might the
better sen One Of the gentlemen had said that this issue Of
the Sueasuy had before the people at the late
ton sind the gentleman from Illinois, (Mr Ass, true
to his instincts lawyer and judge had assmated the
popular decisions upon TO two verdicts seeming admit
that the verdict in 1910 had been against the he
claimed that trial had been granted and different YER
dict rendered In 1874. But the gentleman had forgotten one
thing which judge he bound remember in the
new trial there had been amendments the pleadngs and
several new issues had been made In 1910 plea among
others the Subtreasuy, and then verdict rendered
against IT, In 1914, in the Convention held Baltimore