Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-06-18

secretary Guutrae and The Sub Treasure.
1t seems that Mr.. Secretary Guthrie very
soon ran his head against a wall in attempting
to execute the provisions of that much Landed
Democratic measure, the Sub Treasury law
NO sooner had this gentleman taken charge of
the Treasury Department. ,han it was announced
with great flourish of trumpets, that he intend.
ed to Introduce many important reforms in the
administration thereof Mr. Guthrie's frat seep
was IN attempt to effect n change in the mode
adopted by his predecessors of transferring the
public funds from one place to another. Mr..
Walker, Secretary of the Treasury under Folks
administration, finding it wholly impracticabe to
wagon the public money about tho country, from
city to city, resorted to the expedieut of selling
drafts to responsible persons at the points from
which he wanted the funds removed. This plan
had been followed since, but the now Soc.
rotary, regarding it, we suppose, as impotic
and illegal, determined to discard it. and to enforce
the provisions of the Subl'Treasury act to the
very letter. The Baltimore Patriot notices the
progress OF the experiment and its result rs fol-
lows:
The change, of course, attracted attention, and
the objections to 1t ed fufcibly and conclusive
and demonstrated to its own satisfaction that it
was decidedly the best plan, and that the work
ing OF it would prove it. The experiment went
on, and one of the first things done under it, was
to send from New York to St. Louis $4,000
in gold, Mt an expense of $3.50, at the very mo.
ment when the merchants of St. Louis, in conse.
quenee Of the scarcity of Eastern exchange and
the premium upon it, were shipping gold to New
York to pay for their new purchases, or to lqui-
date their previous Indebtedness
This and other transfers were made, and the
Secretary seemed bent earring the public
money from city to city. But the thing would
not work satisfactorily despite all his efforts. and
even what he had insisted the law required. So
he abandoned it, and returned to the old mode of
selling transfer drafts to parties who pay the mo-
ney down for them. SO the cnrting is stopped,
the carriers discharged, and the old system res
tored. Well, Mr.. Guthrie deserves credit for
this He made the experiment of carting under
mistaken notions of its feasibility and advantage.
The trial OF the experiment has demonstrated lis
error, and this he has the manliness and indie.
pendence to acknowledge by abandoning it, To
his credit, let this be said; and may his example
be not without effect upon others who may be-
tempted as he was, to try useless experiments to
make good better.
lhis mode OF transferring the public money
which Mr. Guthrie sought to abolish, is doubles.
contrary to the spirit if the letter of the Sub
Treasury law, and we presume that the Seereta.
ry regarded it in this light. Ii so we cannot
agree with the Patriot that Mr. Guthrie de-
serves credit tor abandoning his experiment,
when he founl that it did not work we'll. If he
believes that the transfer draft system conflicts
with the law. we hold that he is bound to relin-
q'ilsh 1t, let the consequences be what they may,
and to Adept that mode of elfecting the transport
alton OF the government funds which, in his OPT
nlon' was contemplated by the trainers of the
Sus-treasury act. 1.-THE goyornment should suf-
Ter losses In consequence OF such course. the
blame would rest, not on The Secretary that ex-
ecuted, but on the Congress that enacted the
law.
We hear great deal of high sounding stuff
about the 'beautiful aud harmonious operation
of Democratic principles" and yet we see this
Democratic administra ton refusing to carry out
those principles to their Legitimate length. Tho
Sub-Treasury law should be executed precisely
as it stands, and if it works beneficaly, the De-
hocrasc party may then rightfuliy claim the
credit OF its success; hut so long as its provisions
are evaded or violated by those charged with the
duty of executing them, and Democratic Sec
rotary of the Treasury virtually acknowl lodges
their impracticabity it is the climax of absurd
ty and impudence to speak of tho Sub-Treasury
as illustrating the benefcent operation of Demo>
cratic principles.
Board Of Public Works.
The EnOuirer of yestarjav nuhlishas tI,a "a;