Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850Benton, Thomas Hart
History
Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850
Benton, Thomas Hart
United States -- Politics and government -- 1815-1861
of the trustee to cancel and not to put forth the notes of an
institution, whose concerns it had undertaken to wind up. If
the trustee has a right to reissue these notes now, I can see
no reason why it may not continue to do so after the expiration
of the two years. As no one could have anticipated a course
so extraordinary, the prohibitory clause of the charter above
quoted was not accompanied by any penalty or other special
provision for enforcing it; nor have we any general law for the
prevention of similar acts in future.
"But it is not in this view of the subject alone that your
interposition is required. The United States, in settling with
the trustee for their stock, have withdrawn their funds from
their former direct ability to the creditors of the old bank,
yet notes of the institution continue to be sent forth in its
name, and apparently upon the authority of the United States.
The transactions connected with the employment of the bills
of the old bank are of vast extent; and should they result
unfortunately, the interests of individuals may be deeply
compromised. Without undertaking to decide how far, or in what
form, if any, the trustee could be made liable for notes which
contain no obligation on its part; or the old bank, for such
as are put in circulation after the expiration of its charter,
and without its authority; or the government for indemnity,
in case of loss, the question still presses itself upon your
consideration, whether it is consistent with duty and good
faith on the part of the government, to witness this proceeding
without a single effort to arrest it."
On the subject of the public lands, and the most judicious mode
of disposing of them--a question of so much interest to the new
States--the message took the view of those who looked to the
domain less as a source of revenue than as a means of settling and
improving the country. He recommended graduated prices according to
the value of the different classes of lands in order to facilitate
their sale; and a prospective permanent pre-emption act to give
encouragement to settlers. On the first of these points he said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account