The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-04-14
TIE BRANCH MINIS.

TIE BRANCH MINIS.
In the House Of Representatives on the
3lst ult. Mr.. Green, by general consent,
reported from the Committee on Public
Expenditures bill to abolish the Branch
MINIS, which was read twice and referred
to the committee Of the whole on the state
of the Union. In the House on the 4th
instant, while the General Appropriation
Bill was under discussion, the following
proceedings occurred, as reported in the
Globe Of that day.
On the clause making appropriations for the
I mint at Philadelphia and the branch minis at
Charlotte aud Dahlonega, Georgia, coming up
Mr.. Willis Green intimated his intention, when
the proper time came, 10 move to strike out all
appropriations foy these branch minis
The committee then proceeded, and when tho
clause appropristing sum for the payment ofthe
wor' men at the Dahlonega branch mint was un.
der consideration,
Mr. Garrett DAVIS mored 10 strike out that ap
preparation, and contended that the mint at Phil
adel phil was able TO make all the coinage requir-
Cd AID ,ha, the expenses Of coming at the branch
mints we're greater in proportion than al the mint
al Philadelphia.
Nj G. ". Caldwell inquired how the gentle.
man from Kentucky proposed to accomplish the
reform aud retfenchment about wliIc,. be
talked SO much Suppose his motion now pre-
vailed, would be abolish this mint No Would
he save one cent to the Government No.
Would he then deprive the officers Of their sala-
ries No. Why then should he consume the
time Of the committee with these projects Of " re
t,enchmeut and reform" when his motion, if 1t
should prevail, would save nothing al all Was
not is effect 10 be merely TO show 10 the country
that such a motion had been made, that credit
may be obtained for proposing reforms al.
though II is known at the time that by Il no re-
form can be effected The gautleman talked
about the savings that would be effected by all
the coinage being done at Philadelphia, but he
should be glad TO see it demonstrated by figures
! lie could snow that the coinage costs less at the
I branch minis than at Philadelphia, and il any
should be abolished, he could show that il should
/ be the mint at Philadelphia That mint cost
4 100000 per annum TO keep il up, which was
$4,000 more than the expense OF tho mint at
Charlotte, aud more than the expense Of the
branch mints altogether lie, however, did not
now propose TO 60 into an argument on this ques
ton, but whenever ii properly came up on prop.
osltion to repeal the law establishing the branch
] l.
gumenis of the gentleman from kentucky were
nothing.
Mr.. Willis Green having madc some obscrva-
tons,
Mr.. Black said the gentleman from Kentucky
was behind The proper time With his motion il
| should have been made al earlier period, and
not object TO an appropriation for tie payment Of
tho workmen of one branch when the committee
had passed the appropriation for others without
objection.
Mr. B. went on 10 give the amount Of Gold
coined at the minis of Georgia aud North Caro-
lima and the amount coined at the principal mint
at Philadelphia, from which he showed that the
annual expense of the branch minis was less in
proportion TO their amount of coinage than that
OF the principal mint. He then went on to show
the impocy of abolishing the minis in the region
where the gold was produced, when the expense
and risk of transportation, together with the great
inconvenience of the producers, was taken into
consideration. Take away, said he, the gold Of
Georgia the CaroliRas, and Virginia, from the
!. principal mint, and what would ii have to depend
on Merely the foreign bullion brought into the
country. And il the foreign Importation was any
consideration, the mint at New Orleans should
be retained, or one established in New York, and
the principal commercial cities where the most
bullion is received, instead Of depending alone on
contended that on the score of economy, the
branch minis should be retained, as the ex ponso
of keeping them up was less, in proportion to the
amount oE coinage, than that of the Philadelphia
mint, Mr.. r. showed the great inconveniences
and losses that would be sustained by the owners
of tho mines, and the aborers employed on them,
BY abolishing the mntS, in consequence Of the
Spectators who surrounded the mines, and who
spoculoted on them to ruinous extent.
Mr.. Carrot Davis explained
Mr.. Black said the gentlemln's intentions were
one thing, and his act another. Tie then drew
parallel between the Contleman's conduct 10 this
instance, and what it would be on a question for
the protection of domestic manufactures THIS
however, was not question Of protection but OF
the rendition of equal and evonhanded justice
The question was further debated by Messrs.
Black, Habersham. Morgan, and Caldwell.
Mr.. A. V Brown opposed the amendment, and
commended that the minis should be kept in the
region in which the gold was found and if any
were pulled down. they should begin and pull
down at Philadelphia.
MIR. Graham also opposed the amendment, and
; spoke in favor of the branch minis
On the same day, the Committee on
Manufactures reported bill for revision
of the Tariff which was referred to the
committee of the whole on the state of
the Union.
RF The President has ordered troops
to the frontiers between this country and
, Texas TO prevent our citizens from taking
, any part in the war between Texas and
Mexico, and also to keep the Indians in
, check if they should have hostile inten-
ton in view, and also to prevent them from
crossing into Texas.