Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-07-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF
Mr.. WRIGHT.
IN SENATE OF UNITED STA TES.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1888.

The first law passed, after the organi
cation of the Government under the pre.
sent Constitution, touching the currency,
or medium of payment, in which the pub.
Tic dues should be collected and received,
was an act passed on the 3lst day of July,
l1o9, entitled San act to regulate the col
lection OF duties, imposed by law on the
tonnage of ships, or vessels, and on goods,
wares, and merchandise, imported into
the United States." The 30lh section OF
that act prescribed the currency to be re-
celved under it, and was in the following
words.
"Sec 80. And be il further enacted, That
the duties and fees to be collected by virtue
of this act shall be received in gold and
silver coin only, at the following rates,
that is to say: the gold coins of France,
England, Spain, and Portugal, and all 9th
er gold coins of equal fheness, at eighty
nine cents for every pennyweight; the
Mexican dollar at one hundred cents; the
crown Of France at one dollar and eleven
cents; the crown Of England at one dollar
and eleven cents; and all silver coins of
equal finencss at one dollar and eleven
cents per ounce"
This established gold and silver coin
only" as The currency of the Treasury, so
lar as the revenue from customs was con.
cerned. This act was repealed by an act
passed on the 4Ih day of August, i7eO, en-.
TITLED "An act to provide more etfectuaIy
Tor the collection Of the duties imposed by
law on goods, wares, and merchandise inn.
ported into the United States, and on the
tonnage of ships and vessels" The Seth
section was in the same words with the
3oth section OF the act of 1889 above quo.
ted, with the following addition at the end
OF the section, viz; ''and cut SLIDER of equal
hneness al one dollar and sir cents DR.
ounce"
The next law which affected the curren-
cy OF me Treasury was the act passed on
Inc S5th day OF February, 179i, entitled
'An act to incorporate the subscribers n
The Bank of the United States" The 10Th
section OF this act was in the following
words; :
"Sec. so. And b. ii further enacted. That >
ne bills or notes of the said corporation /
originally made payable, or which shall G
ave become payable, on demand, in gold i
md silver coin, shall be receivable in all r
'ayments to the United States" n
These laws constituted the currency Of a
ne Treasury "of gold and silver coin on. !
J" or ofthe bi Is or notes Of the Bank Of II
ne United States, originally made payable, b
which had become payable on demand, Fl
"gold and silver coin;" which currency O
as made receivable in all branches Of 10
'e public revenue, and for all debts and q
les of the Government.
With the exception Of the legislation as nc
the currency, or media Of payment, re- in
Ivable for the public lands, before mott NJ
d, the committee find no act OF Congress m
angling this state of the law, until the Ith
ssage Of the act Of ed May, 1899, enti- 70,
q IAN act to regulate the collection of AT
ties on imports and tonnage" This ali
repealed the act of 1890, above refer. If
10, and all prior acts and parts of ais r.
.ttcttng 10Th its provisions, and its 74th bv
'ton is in the words following: "a,
"Sec. "a. And be il further enacted, That mn