Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-09-05
Number 81.


Sc From the Cineunat Daily Atlas.
il The SUB-TEEasrEy Lh,v-lrs fkNaL-
n riEs.-Ihe present Law teeuatin. the
.!Deposi:e. and safe Keeping OF The Public
y Monies is considered. by lis supporters.
N as containing the Gi.n:gSsence o. Domes-
tic Wisdom: hut. by Us. the quin,es-
m sencc of something very din rctt from
= wisdom The Law is founded upon al,
idea. which all human experience has
n found false. This is. that man VINO is
If 10, honest can be made homes, by iron
/ bolts. bars. and safes! II. this Be the case.
i the Penitentiary ough, 10 sen! forth 10 the
5 world set, OF uucosnmonly honest men:
i for they have certainly tried The expert
o ment of bolts. and bars. as IL means OF pro-
{ noting honesty. pretty etitctualy upon
!. them! Alast-our experience shows 1t
: tie benefit from this SOFT OF safe keeping.
{ The Grace of God may make the wors,
II convict repentant. honest. and righteous
,Iman; but. ihis seldom happens. and we
e are left 10 the general experience. that
a when the man himself is wrong. all exteri-
h or laws are vain 10 make aim upright.
Y OF the little effort of over.care in the
way of iron safes. AMI stringent, laws, we
Il have a strong illustration in the case OF
a the Bank OF Missouri. That Bank as
sumes to be one of the most selt-right-
5 eous concerns. in the [ Mon. 1t consider
l. cd itself very smart. in having made 1t
II impossible 10 diminish It's property. or in
validate lis credit Yet. we see. that one
of the rellers of that Bank has abstrac-
eted from It's iron vaults Sl1Oo 900 TO lavish
l. upon mistress. and that this has been
e the work Of years: during which the com
5 placen, holders of safes and bolts remain
. ed in happy ignorance Of this transaction.
l. There is much wisdom in the honely
&c saying-"he may be trusted with uncoun-
at ted gold" 1t bases trust upon the Integ-
IT r,y OF the Man, and not the impo,cnt
lie claims OF the Law.
l. The Congress of the United States.
It. however. have made a law. the principle
re of which is that no man is honest. except
IN he be put N bonds. locked up in safe.
Id and boltcd down with bars Since this
cr aw is in existence. we hope that il may
lc be enforced 10 the letter; that if il has any
~ merit, il may be known; and tina, it., it has
,ir none. that may be known also.
s. Among the features of the Sub-Trea-
e sury Law most remarkable is the violent.
and almost sauguinarv penalties, which
are attached 10 the least violation of It's
II provisions.
1876. for the better regulation Of the
" Treasury. il is declared. that if any Off
lsIccr 'shall convert to his own use. in any
ne way whatever, shall use bv way of in
'iy vestnent in any kind of property mer-
~, lchandisc. or shall loan. with without in
al terest, &c. &c. any portion of the public
~ moneys entrusted TO him for safe keeping
IN disbursement, transfer, or for any other
20. purpose. every such act shall be deemed
CT and adudged 10 be an ENLIGHTENMENT oil
"a 50 much Of the said moneys as shall be-
zee thus taken, converted, invested. used loan
nc. ed. deposited or exchanged, which is here
'iy by declared to be a felony;
eht and any officer or a
inc gent Of the United States. and all persons
advising or participating in such act, be
- ing convicted thereof before any Court o
the United States ofcompetent jurisdiction
r shall be sentenced 10 Imprisonment for
:, term Of not less than six months nor moro
- than ten years. and to fine equal to tn,
ice amount embezzled" 1t is further dcclar
up ed:
us "And the provisions Of this act shall b.
so construed as to apply TO all person,
'e charged with the safe-keoping, transfer. o
'e' disbursement ofthc public money. wheih
10 or such persons be indicted as receivers 0
.lNt lto vi tiic anu We IcIu5d
,,o' of such person. whether in or out Office,
- pay any draft, order. warrant which
u ','e may be drawn upon him by the proper OF
~, as ficer of the Treasury Department for an
- public money in his hands belonging Il
'',. the United States, no matter in what ca
, pacity the same may have been received
:. or may be held, or to transfer or d!sbus'
~. ~, any such money promptly. upon the lega
~ requirement of any authorized officer o
nc the United States, shall be deemed All,
ny taken. upon the trial of any Indictment
d as prinaa facie evidence of such cmbcz
element
e. e. aiark, first. if any public officer shall
: allow any portion of the public Monies
e entrusted 10 him for any purpose TO remain
u in the hands of other persons. with o
without, interest. he has by this law ernbez
oi lied the public funds, and is ..hereby do
'cf' cleared I@clon''
ave .SeconGfy If there be one body who ha
- been advising or participating IN suci
act. he is also guilty. and both the Office
, and the participant shall, on conviction b
/ slsent to the Penitentiary!
o'i' Wudfy. That the refusal Of any off
Ger, in any capacity to pay draft. orac
ny or warrant. ilo matter IN what capacity h.
may have received, or held their funds. i
-, an efnDeZZ'cfnent. W cle'|his, BOZ WI
", reference TO any particular case. but. tina
ea, our readers may have clear idea of VIII
- sort Of law this Sub Treasury Law is
- Suppose. for example, that the Collectc
3res Of New Orleans should allow part of til
~, Revenue Duties TO remain in the hand
tso of Merchants. on heir Bonds. wifhou
as .ware-housing, how would this law act up
oi on them,
,ors
ADamITEs-There is said 70 be ne,
association Of maniacs. we must suppos
formed in Bohemia under the title q