Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-29
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY Is
gg SEE FIRST PAGE.
Branch MINIS in NeD York, San Francisco and
(MnrloSt0n

sidered one of no mean Importance. 1t was the
bill to establish branch mint in the city of New
York, measure which has been very earnestly
pressed by the commercial and mercantile nte-
rests of that city, and is zealously advocated by
the two Senators from the Empire State. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Dawson, of Georgia, the bill
makes an appropriation of $500,000, in the first
instance, for the erection of the proposed branch
mint, and thirty or forty thousand dollars will have
to be appropriated annually to sustain it.
Mr. Benton submitted an amendment to the
bill, providing for branch mint at San Francis
co, in California, and approprating 100000 for
the cost of the building and necessary machinery.
The amendment provides, however, for the mme-
date erection of temporary buildings to carry on
this business and for the appointment, by the Pre-
sident of the following officers, viz a superin-
tendent, treasurer an assayer melter and re-
fiEer, and coiner, and as many clerks as may be
authorized by law-the superintendent and trea-
surer to have salaries of $4,000 each, and the
assayer, meter and refiner, and coiner, $4,000
each The assayer to be appointed Immediately,
and to perform such duties in assaying and fixing
the value of gold in grain or Jumps and in form
ing it into bars, as may be prescribed by the Sc
cretary of the Treasury-to which object $4,000
is specially appropriated for the year ending 3oth
June, 1851.
Mr.. Butler moved an amendment, providing for
branch mint at Charleston, making the assistant
treasurer there director, without additional salary,
and adopting apartments in the new Custom House
for the use of the m Mt.
There was good deal of debate on these three
propositions. Mr.. Dickinson and Mr.. Seward ad-
vocated the bill. Mr.. Cooper, of Pennsylvania,
opposed it, urging that the mint at Philadelphia
was fully adequate to the wants of the country.
Mr.. Pearce, of Maryland, made sensible speech
against the New York branch, contending that it
was only wanted to promote the interests of one
city to the disparagement of others. Mr.. Webster
spoke few words for the bill, and against en-
barrassing it with amendments Touching these,
in the course of the discussion, Mr.. Clay gave
the anti-tacking Senator from Missouri a very
happy hit:
Mr. CLAY. 1t is not exactly to point Of order, Mr.
President, that rise but want make suggestion
rather for the ear OF the Senator from Missouri There
s proposition made for the establishment of mint
New York, which am very much inclined to favor
as far my may go but that believe the Senator
from Missouri proposes attach to it provision tol
the establishment of mint at San Francisco, and
very much inclined to go for that measure But let
be lacking Qaughter,) and whether it will not be in
violation Of parliamentary law to bring together two
subjects of the kind in this bill2 Sir will not the
dignity of New York, or more likely the dignity of Ca
tona be affected by such strange and unnatural and
incongruous association? The one is State-the
proud Empire State the other I am sorry to say
yet am obliged to say it, is yet Territory. There
points Of resemblance, it true; but, at the
time, there points of discord. Now, sir,
do not to insist strenuousy upon these incon-
gruites, but propose to the honorable Senator from
Missouri that if he will waive all objection to the
promise bill, and the association which is contained
'hat bill OF certain measures, tor one will with plea
waive all objection to the incongruity which seems
te to be rather apparent between the two measures
now under cons deration.
Mr.. PRATT, the new Maryland Senator, who
seems to be a gentleman of much practical good
sense, made the following objections to the amend
ment for mint in California, which are certainly
worthy of consideration:
Mr. PRATT. The subject embraced in the bill of the
Senator from Missouri is which have reflected
before came here, and desire to say few words,
be altogether inudeous and impotic to establish a
branch mint at this time in California The great OBJ
lect which it seems 10 me we should have in view, in
looking that distant territory, is to connect it with us
much can by commercial and every other rela-
tionship OF interest which we may be able TO throw
around it. Now, sir If a branch mint is established in
will he coined there and thence II would 90 for dstrihn
zion fom he oyners Of i, hrouohonr the world As
an, inormed # annears that efonrths Of the GOLD
fund in CaIorn;a nov goes 10 other sections az The
world heS;des tho Jni,ed States ha major mart nj II
goas o Fngland and is there coined has anneared
that Il an Office ofassav was established in alior
MIA win me mower given m The ASSAY ocer wlen oold
is denosted and lite vane ascerta ned IN ssue IN The
owner ~ tho aoId cart;fcate ofdenosie which would
he navabIe in Some other mart Of the Inted States
wond have two resnlts both of which wonld he bene
cial IN the country In The 6rst Mace II wond ensure
.hat Ill .h e id ih s ,ia ; = i 5
be brought to the United States for distribution and in
m G en oe tba @ M %
less expense to themselves to transmit to the United
Stltes-the point to which most OF them would desire