The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-06
To his Excellency Col r. B. Mason,
Governor OF California.
HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,
Monterey California july 81 1915

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,
Monterey, California, July 81, 1915.
GENTLEMEN: Your communication OF The 22i, together
with It's enclosure, has been duly received.
will instruct the collector at San Francisco TO receive
gold dust in payment OF duties al the custom house, with
the privilege reserved 10 the payer Of reieemng
by payment TO the collector in gold silver coin, any
time within ninety days, AMI the other half b. like pay
ment any time within hundred and eighty days.
THIS however, Us 10 be temporary arrangement,
owing TO the present scarcity OF coin in the country
1t would give me pleasure to comply fully with the
wishes expressed By the public meeting held San Fran
cisco the night OF the BIS, instant BY making the
whole leenahle in hundred and eighty days but
it would have the effect OF entirely cutting of the receipt
OF any available funds in the custom house for six
months TO come. That is longer time than If will be
prudent TO dry up the only source OF revenue that the
country Affords and would be wide departure from
my instructions, which are very positive TO collect the
duties Exclusively in gold and silver CON-, before the
goods, wares, merchandise leave the custody OF the
collector, In other words before they suffered TO
go into market | am willing to allow the goods 10 60
al once into the market and 10 wait three and sx months
for the duties, although ordered 10 collect them in
cash, provided the gold dus, taken low rate enough
to make certain that the merchant will redeem at the
stipulated time and ii he does not that there will be no
doubt that The duties can be realized at once by put
ting II up at auction, if the money be Immediately
required You will readily perceive the situation in
which am placed A large amount OF dutie. viii be
received al San Francisco. Should some ten or twenty
thousand dollars OF this gold dust received al the custom
housereckonng al the rate per ounce at which It Will
be received-fa be redeemed al the stipulated time,
and should be forced by the want OF funds TO throw
suddenly tins large amount INTO market TO be sofa Tor
cash. and should not bring that sum, at once become
and held personally and individually responsible and
accountable the department al Washington for the loss
sustained consequence OF the departure from my orders
and instructions.
| am very sure that none OF the merchants OF your
town would desire assume risk of becoming
pecunialy involved by departing from my instructions
Tor their accommodations; and therefore feel, by depart
ing from my orders IN this instance, permitting goods,
wares and merchandise TO 60 at into the market,
and waiting three and six months before the duties can
be realized. that the guard both the
public and myself from any loss no, unreasonable
greater than the occasion calls for
| shall strongly recommend IN my first communication
to the department. the immediate establishment OF mint
IN Upper California
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant.
X. B. MASON,
Colonel Isl Dragons Governor of California.
To w D NJ HowARD, c. " GILLESPIE, JAS. C..
WARD, San Francisco, California