Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-05-25
Fwcmty-fifth ConSrcss---2d scss.
IN SENATE-.Nay IL, 1882.
MIR. WRIGHT submitted the following
REPORT.

following words: "Rcsousd, bY the Senate AID House
Of Representatives, IF the United States cf .3msrca
| IN Congress assembled, That no discrimination shall
be made us to the currency or medium of payment IN
the several branches of the public revenue in debts
| dues TO the Government; and that until otherwise
ordered BY Congress- the notes Of sound backs, which
ere payable and paid demand in the legal currency
Of the United States under suitable restrictions 10 be
forthwith prescribed anil promulgated by the Secreia
ry of the Treasury, shall be received in payment OF
the and of debts and dues to the Government
and shall be subsequently disbursed, in course Of
| public expenditures, TO all public creditors who
willing TO receive thsm respectfully submit the fol-
lowing Report:
The resolution has three distinct objects first TO pro.
hib any discrimination in 1.-THE currency or medium OF
| payment' in which all public dues shall be collected
and received second establish by the force Of law,
that currency medium OF payment to be she notes
Of sound banks, which payable and paid on demand
| in the legal currency of the United States; third TO
compel the disbursement of those banks to all public
creditors who are willing TO receive them" The vari.
paris of it, therefore, relating TO these several OBJ
iocis will be considered in the order they hold IN the
| resolution.
The first clause prohibiting discrimination in the
rency, medium OF payment: for the pubic dues, Is
! in these words:
"That no discrimination shall be made 10 The cur.
rency medium Of payment in the several branches OF
the public revenue, in debts dues TO the Govern
| ment"
In 50 far any public interest may be supposed to be
involved in the of the Senate upon this branch of
the resolution it would 10 the committee to be
sufficient say, that this body has already adopted,
and sent the House of Representatives. part Of
law provision supposed to have the gene raj OBJ
jet, though not in the form here presented The nur
nal of the Senate shows that the 9th day of March
last, bill entitled An act to impose additional duties
Repositories upon certain public officers, TO appoint
recevcrs-gcnera Of public money, and TO regulate the
safe Keeping transfer and disbursement Of tine public
moneys OF the United States being under consdera.
ton an amendment 10 stand the twenty,hrd section
/ oT hiatt lin bn "a
"SEC %. ind be further enacted, That it shall not
be lawful for the Secretary Of the Treasury make
TO continue in force any general order which shall
difference between the different branches of
venue to the funds or medium OF payment, in which
debts dues accrung TO the United States may be
paid
The same journal shows that this nGnenl as here
given, the day, adopted by the Senate by
very strong vote, thus made part OF the bill 10 which
II proposed as amendment and that the bill, in
GLIDING this amendment It's I'D section finally passed
the Senate the 2Gl day OF May last, and
the House of Representatives, with request that that
! House would concur therein.
That these provisions are similar in the influence pro-
posed be exerted upon the currency Of the public Trea
suy, in the object proposed 10 be accomplished will
BE questioned and that large ma nrity Of the Senate
are favorable TO the primo e embraced in BOTH proved
ny the references the Journal which have Just
been made With this evidence before them, the com.
mitiee would not consider it proper in them, they
otherwise disposed 10 do so, to offer arguments against
The principle has been adopted when it has been put
form and made pnrt of a law, and when the Senate
has in THIS manner, done al! il do without the action
Of the other Legislative branches of the Government
make it part Of the law of the land, they would not
feel excusabe in OCng 10 bring this fact to lis notice,
nor they believe that doing will he construed into
disposition resist its ascerta ned and feeling
The necessity for this legislation has been referred.
In The debates the Senate and elsewhere 10 the exist
ence Of the Treasury order of the lth Of July, 1886,
making discrimination between the currency, or me
dunn Of payment, TO be received for the public lands
md that to be received in other branches OF the public
revenue and for other dues to the Government, This
order is believed by the committee have been the first
md only discrimination, by the order of the Treasury
Department, made either permanent or general as TO
The currency medium OF payment receivable he tween
The different branches OF the public revenue; and hence
no doubt the order has engrossed attention, and It's
peal has been considered the sole object and purpose Of
| the provision under consideration.
As, however, the reference calls upon the committee
for careful examination Of the laws in any way affect
ing The currency of The public Treasury, and any
dunn of payment made receivable by law, in any branch
of the public revenue and rs the legislation in relation
10 the public lands is found 10 contain various and
porant provisions relative 10 the media of payment in
this branch of the revenue they have considered pro
per TO review those laws under this head and 10 see
how far OF their provisions may be material 10 this
part of the inquiry.
The first general law 10 regulate the sale Of III" pub
lie lands which has met the notice of the committee is
an act passed on the 18th day of May, 1876, entitled
| ~
in the Territory north west Of the river Ohio, and above
the mouth of the Kentucky river This act fixed the
price Of the public lands at two dollars per acre. but
did not specify the currency medium Of payment in
| which purchases 10 be made. The law of 1889
therefore, which required all payments dervable from
the 10 be made in gold and silver CON- and the
10th of the charter Of the old Bank of the u s.
passed in l79l which declared that the bills notes
Of the corporaIion payable on demand in gold and sill
YER con should be receivable in all payments 10 the U
States must, as the committee suppose, have been held
prescribe the currency, or medium of payment, for
| the public domain, as well as other public dues.
! On the Sd Of March, 1877, another act was passed
entitled can act authorize the receipt Of evidences of
the public debt in payment for The lands of the U. s."
This act provided THAT the evidences Of the public debt
of the u S., should be receivable payment for any of
the lands which might be sold in conformity TO the act
entitled AN act providing for the sale OF The lands OF the
u States in the Territory North west of the Ohio river
and above the mouth Of the Kentucky river, )" being
the act of 1876, last above referred Here then evil
dences Of the public debt added 10 gold and silver
coin. and the bills and notes OF the Bank of the u S.
payable demand in gold and silver con as the cur.
rency, media, in which payment might be made for
! the public lands.
The next act which seems TO be material to this point
was passed the 10Th day Of May 1900 and was emit.
tied an act 10 amend The act entitled ian act providing
for the sale of the lands of The United States in the
rtory northwest of the Ohio and above the mouth Of The
Kentucky rver This act provided for the establish.
ment of land Offices within the land districts; for the ap
poin,ment of registers Of the land Offices and of receivers
of public money for lands for the sale Of the lands with
in the land DISTRICTS both at public and private SALE and
in sections and half sections and many other respects
established what is the present land system of the u s
The first clause Of The 9Th section Of this the
following words:
"SEc 5 find be ii further enacted That no lands shall
be sold by virtue of this ac nj either pubic private
SALE for less than 81 per and payment may be made
for the same by all purchasers, either in specie in evil
dences of the public debt Of The u S. the pre-
scrbed by the entitled IAN act to authorize the receipt
of evidences of the public debt in payment Tor the lands
of the U. States.
Here is new enumeration of the currency, or medi.
In he mnde the nuhlc