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Letter to Editor
March 9, 1793
National Gazette
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Extract from a letter by a Virginia gentleman dated February 26, criticizing a financier's insolent response to a legislative inquiry on public finances. Argues that public examinations by Congress are essential for informing the people about money usage, rather than relying on the financier's unclear reports.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Virginia, dated Feb. 26.
"The first Report. which I cursorily read, breathes a spirit of reprehension of the legislature for instituting the enquiry, indecent and bordering on what may not improperly be called insolence of office, and will, I expect, undergo the severe animadversion of the legislature, unless they can submit to the imputation of neglecting to perform that duty which the constitution and the interest of their constituents required. It is very civil in the financier to tell the legislature they might have got the information called for by coming to his office, instead of giving him the trouble of bringing it to them: but should there exist between the members and the financier this tender regard for his feelings by avoiding public examination, how are the people to be informed from time to time of the application of their money?—By, I presume, those clear, concise, and perspicuous exhibitions occasionally reported by him, which may be understood by Congress and those about the seat of government, but not so by the people at large; who would be much better satisfied by the certificate of a committee of Congress having examined and passed the accounts, than by any publication of the financier."
"The first Report. which I cursorily read, breathes a spirit of reprehension of the legislature for instituting the enquiry, indecent and bordering on what may not improperly be called insolence of office, and will, I expect, undergo the severe animadversion of the legislature, unless they can submit to the imputation of neglecting to perform that duty which the constitution and the interest of their constituents required. It is very civil in the financier to tell the legislature they might have got the information called for by coming to his office, instead of giving him the trouble of bringing it to them: but should there exist between the members and the financier this tender regard for his feelings by avoiding public examination, how are the people to be informed from time to time of the application of their money?—By, I presume, those clear, concise, and perspicuous exhibitions occasionally reported by him, which may be understood by Congress and those about the seat of government, but not so by the people at large; who would be much better satisfied by the certificate of a committee of Congress having examined and passed the accounts, than by any publication of the financier."
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
What themes does it cover?
Economic Policy
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Financier Report
Legislative Inquiry
Public Accounts
Fiscal Transparency
Congress Examination
Virginia Gentleman
What entities or persons were involved?
A Gentleman In Virginia
Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Gentleman In Virginia
Main Argument
the financier's report insolently criticizes the legislature's inquiry into public accounts; public examinations by congress are necessary to inform the people of money usage, preferable to the financier's opaque reports.
Notable Details
Spirit Of Reprehension
Insolence Of Office
Duty Which The Constitution And The Interest Of Their Constituents Required
Tender Regard For His Feelings