Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-07-07

4
BY d resolution, passed the 3lst ultimo,
Congress has declared, "That it shall not
be lawful for the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry to make or continue in force any gener.
al order, which shall create any difference
between thea1ifferent branches OF the rev.
enue, as the money or medium ofpayment
In which debts or dues, accruing to the
United States may be paid"
To carry this resolution into effect, it
has become necessary TO issue new instruc-
tons to Collectors and Receivers of Pub
lie Money.
BY the present laws specie and Treas
ury notes alone are expressly made re-
ceiyable for all kinds of public dues, and
you will of course continue to take them
till otherwise instructed.
A circular was issued under the direc-
ton Of the United States, on the 18th Of
July, 1886, which, after certain period
prohibited any currency from being taken
in payment of the public lands except spe-
cie--no authority for the issue of Treasu-
ry notes being then in existence.
This circular did not order any differ
ent medium to be taken for duties-yet,
the various reasons contained in it were
not applicable to the revenue from customs,
and practice had existed before, and has
been continued since, to receive bank notes
of certain character in payment ofduties.
| In this condition of things, and without
any new legislation, either to extend the
provisions Of that circular to every branch
ofthe revenue, or to abolish the practice of
taking bank notes for any branch of it,,
Congress directed, by the resolution above
quoted, that no difference or discrimina-
ton shall be created or continued in force
by any general order emanating from this
Department. II has been made the imper-
alive duty of the Secretary of the Trea-
sury, either to require the collection of the
whole revenue, in all its branches In gold
or silver, or Treasury notes, or to permit,
under such restrictions as the existing laws
impose, and as the safety of the public
money may seem to require, the accept
ance ofbank notes, for lands sold as well as
for other public dues.
However desirable it may be on some
accounts, that the receipts and payment;
of the General Government shall be in the
currency provided by the Constitution
and however inexpedient it may be to give
undue encouragement to different curren-
CIV, which by its fluctuations in quantity
and value often renders the wages of la.
Dor uncertain, gives instability to the val
ue of property, and thus enables the artful
to accumulate wealth at the expense of the
unwary, it is not believed that this Depart
ment can find sufficient warrant in the
proceedings of Congress, or in the public
opinion, to Justify the sudden and total ex-
clusion at this time of the notes of specie
paying banks from reception for public
dues of every description.
Important changes have also taken place
since July 1886 in the conditions OF the
banks and of business generally, which
have diminished the necessity of unusual
checks on excuses and over actions.
Influenced by overactions, and by a de-
sire to accommodate the public debtors as
far as compatible with the restrictions OF
law and the safety Of the pecuniary inter-
ests committed to my care, feel bound to
enforce uniformity now required, by avail
ing myself Of the permission given In the
resolution Of 1916, to receive the notes OF
banks, and by extending, under suitable
limitations, the receipt ofsuch notes equal
| ly to all branches ofthe public revenue.
| The limitations as to the character OF
the notes receivable, will be such as are re-
quifed by express laws, or by necessary
implication. Some Of these limitations
have always; except at one brief interval,
been adopted in practice since the forma-
ltion of the Constitution, are deemed essen
tial to maintain sound currency, so indis-
pensable to the prosperity Of trade and q
healthy state Of public morals. Others
have been introduced more recently to pro.
mote fiscal convenience the public securl'
| y, and an equal standard Of value.
LIST. You will, in conformity, to the IN
tent Of the resolution Of 1875, take such
bank notes only as are "payable, and paid
on demand, in legal currency ofths United
States"
Cd. You will receive none Of a less de-
nomination than twenty dollars; the receP-
ton Of all smaller denomination being viz
tually prohibited by the second section q
the Act Of April 18th, 1886, which torblds
their being paid out to any creditor OF the
United States Though smaller notes Of,
fered Tor duties could, from the nearness q
banks in most seaports be taken, and east
ly exchanged before making payments,
yet, from the remoteness of many land OF.
fees from banks, this could not DO effected
There without much delay and expense
and as uniformity is now required, the pro
vision must DO made general.