Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-06-03
Mr. secretary Gulhr,e-Mr. Collector Lynch.


1t charges with directing most energetic ef-
forts to defeat the law against shinpasters" Now,
this is about Ingenious we had any reason to
cxpcc-we impute thowcvcr, to an inability to com.
prehcnd the position of the Wing party this ques
ton, rather than to desire to misrcprcscnt. We
take occasion, therefore, not much to reply to the
Enquirer as to glance hastily at the position of the
Wing party on this subject.
The radical idea maintained by the advocates OF
the Subreasury from the very first, has been, 1st
That there should be total and entire separation Of
the public isc from any Government or implication
with any bank corporation private interest or that
it to be used in any way except for the direct
penditures Of the Federal Government 1t was to
take no note Of anything except the wants Of the
Federal Governmeut,-her money was to lie received
and distributed for her alone. 1t upon this idea
that all the arguments in favor Of this modern spec
men Of governmental finance proceeded. Cd, That
specie alone was to be received and specie alone paid
out by the Federal Govcrnment,-and severe penal
ti1s were imposed upon all officers and agents acting
under the law, who should officially receive any note,
bill, check or paper evidence Of debt. As corolla
~ from all this it was srcnuously maintained thai
specie would become the exclusive circulating incdi-
um of the country gold and silver would be
abundant and such thing as note would be found
only among the debis Of the past or kept curl
osity,-one might be possibly now and then eXhib-
tied to our posterity specimen Of the folly OF
mankind, just the old wall Of castle crumb!inc
and ivy-clad is looked on to remind one of bycgole
ages, but n living actual thing paper money was
gone forever 1t in vain that Mr.. Clay predicted
at the outset that the legitimate consequence of the
scheme would be gold for the Government and rags
for the people" Old Bullion met him in debate,
and predicted that gold would be so abundant that
every farmer would be seen carrying long nett
purse, with the gold cleaning through the inersti-
ces" and that like early shad, gold would flow NJ,
every river stream and brook until absolutely, tn,
visions Of gold created by his fancy threw int, the
shade Hoods famous poem Of Miss Kilmansegg with
her golden leg. "Gold, gold nothing but gold."-
All this was twelve 10 fifteen years ago-incuding
the passage repeal and re-enactment of the Subrcas
ury Law. During this period and not very remotely
the gold of California poured out upon the pub
lie with rapidity that astonished the world This,
We modestly submit, was part Of the Subtreasury
Bil-it was an accessory to the law which Old Bull
hon il" - -''""t Golden visions never foresaw Not.
withsanding all this, the country true TO Mr. Cays
prediction, has been flooded with snplasters of all
states all denominations, and all hues. No part o,
the country was more cursed than our State TIL,
Legislature of Virginia has tinkered and pottered at
the matter, until the law which took effect Yesterday
was pasSed-by which note less that S., is TO b.
received in the State.
Now the Wing party have held this opinion and
this only "The Sub-treasury has failed Shinplasters
abound Your legislation does not exclude them. II
we must have small notes, let them be ours Of on,
own Banks and not Of foreign and unknown corpo-
rations or legally irresponsible individuals" And
this the Enquirer says, is srenuously flvoring shin.
pldsters. We make no further comment than gu,
third paragraph contains. The Enquirer ATTEMPTS n,
answer to our enquiries of day before yesterday ex
cept to quote in justification Of Mr.. Guthrie Sec 4t
Of mot the Sub-treasury law proper but law passed
last year to regulate the minis There is about n,
much pertnency in the citation as if the Enquire,
had cited the song Of the "Last rose of Summer
No one disputed that the Secretary Of the Trea
sury could send money which had been coined at tn,
nts to the different assistant Treasures deposi,e
ries and other officers of tho United States" No,
that this might be done from time to time and j
Pares. Nor is any one, we presume so stupid as t.
deny that he may also send tho money of the Govern
ment from one Subtreasury to another-,ohel IL l.
needed But what need is to be consdered--the aeed
or necessity Of Richmond as n community. or the
needs and requirements Of the Gorernmsnt5 If y,
may send money here for the convenience of Rich.
mond nc may do SO for Hampton and every tow,
having port of enry in the United States and thus.
the Secretary Of the Treasury becomes not the guar
dian and custodier Of the Treasury Of the Uaited
States but the great dispenser of Government avos
10 particular places by means Of Treasury confjded
to him exclusively for FEDERAL purpoe,, and for NJ
other. To do so is viOlave Of the whole scono and
spirit Of the Subtreasury law.
Beside, IT he has the power for the convenience Of
community to end specie here, and lis /, dor @ n.
favor, he may equally Withdraw as a temporary
evidence oil his wrath, the specie from some com.
munity which maj have been so unfortunate M a.
have incurred his displeasure. We repeat. aron :,
was sent here without the shadow of law and i,s
only purpose was to help on. the Democratic ,c, r.
last winter. II yet remains to see how far II will
complish its end. few months. nj host ,,u e,d
all the specie back again in the vault of the
treasurer; and then we shall see what we shall 500
There is another feature Of this matter to Uhicl,
we did not advert We glance at il now MS n -, m.
hen' not only upon the whole law, Tut upon the con-
struction Of the Enquirer.
~ 'Ns "y SdylUg tlat JO1n Lynch lis the nor.
sohal friend OF the writer Of this article. Ye,rs y,
'n''na'e acquaintance have confirmed high ouinion
OF his integrity, and amiabity and social virtns,
Noth'ng therefore, in opinion, nor in this article
sih'ehued 10 reflect on him. But, in Arguing a nues
ton of public Law, VIC are constrained 10 sno,L or,
plainly, without referenceto private relations ,nn
~, in this case, there be no occasion for
any thing affecting the private character or onv a
Now, 1t is contenied, by the Enoui,or 49,, ~,
Secretary of The Treasury has the right Of his
mere viii, and with no Government demand oc
supply Of specie here, to send $4,000 or n. ho
fercd0 100000. Ii follows, that he NAV send
100000, or 100000 But we will not ho a1
travagant-say the 100000
Now, the Sub'treasury is law YER The SAFE l,,n-
ing and disbursement Of the UNITED States)
is ne system, par excellence. 1t is the bantlio0
o. Democracy. They shout peabs to It's praise
They declare that is not only the safest but the onl,
safe mode Of placing the public money beyond tn,
reaeh OF speculation or plumber. Let us see. Sup
pose Secretary Guthrie had sent the Custom Hous,
officer the 100000 which he proposed and III,
Enquirer says he had the right to do 3d. There /,
usually m average Of about forty to afty thousand
a'rc lmore than an average, by the way, to meet all
IL.