The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-15
For the Union
THE CONSTITUTIONAL TREASURY,

No measure of the present. or of any former ad
mlnlstraton, has ever been more violently opposed
and with less array of argument, than the estab.
lishment of an independent treasury is by the
wings; and their abuse of it is the more viruent the
more they are puzzled to find arguments to bring
against It, 1t Is truly very important for them, as
party, to oppose it with might and man to de.
feat it, if possible, at all hazards for they well know
that their very existence, party hangs upon the
issue. Let this great measure go fully into effect
let its operations DO extended and felt completely
throughout the land, and it will take the lead in
popularity ofall the great measures that have been
devised since the days of Washington,
The principal ground they assume, and on which
they chiefly rely, ia, thai the effect Of an indepen-
dent treasury will be, to cause "hco curencies--
specie and pnper-the first for the government,
and the second for the people"
Now, nothing can be more irrational and absurd
than this. They have never undertaken To show
how such thing could be effected; but there is no
difficulty IN demonstrating that the idea is a faIacy.
Let us examine the operation. The government Of
hcers, appointed for the purpcao receive the ma
tona revenue and inaoad Of placing it in the vaults
of banks. toe Keys of which are kept by persons
over whom the government has no authority-it is
put into places provided for it by arc Well, what
is then done with IL 1t is kept there huggsT
m,tggtr, and issued only to government Off
Gers, as the wings strive to induce Ge people to be-
hcNC ny Ho WtuIS' IL 10 l5sueu udlIy 10 We peO-
pie, in payment of the various expenses of the gov
eminent. And for what are those expenses They
are chiefly, for the support of the national defence
the army, and navy; q considera-
BILE amount in aid Of commerce, viz the improve
ment Of harbors and rivers, the establishment and
support OF light houses, sc. These things consti-
tute the principal objects of expenditure. The civil
list is not to be compared with them Butono asks
Who are these people who receive the money, but
officers Of the government They are, for the most
part soldiers and sailors, besides several thousands
Of persons employed at the navy-yards in the build
ing OF ships of war, and vast number Of contract
nrs for arming and equipping them with large guns
and small arms, canvass and cordage, vast amount
provisions, clothing, &C. and for arms, transpora
lion, provisions, and clothing for the army; for
structing and repairing Notifications for our immense
coast, and furnishing them with provisions, and
with large guns, gun-carriages, muskets, bayones,
sabres, pixies, pistols, &c, for defence; removing
Instructions from rivers and harbors, &c, &c.
These are the great objects of public EXPENSE and
all these, with the exception Of the product OF few
national armories, which cannot supply half the de-
mand, furnished as before said, under CONTRACTS
lcith Individuals from the ranks Of the people.
Well, The money is paid out Of the treasury to all
these and to the officers Of the government-Con-
gress, the Executive and subordnates diplomatiss,