The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-04-29
BYsrELEGRAPH.
Commissioned.
WASHINGTON, April "a.

inquire what measures it may be most ex.
pedient tosadopt TO facilitate and increase
the coinage Of the United States.
MIR. Webster supported hisresolution in
some brief remarks. By the existing law
a million Of coin was allowed to be placed
in the mint to be exchanged for bullion,
and much Inconvenience had been expe.
rienced Of late in consequence Of the in.
sulficiency Of this sum to meet require
ments Of the mint, in consequence Of the
time consumed here before bullion from
California left at the mint can be transfer
red to coins. Much of it was likely to go
to England for coinage. where large a.
mounts of coin could be procured from
the Bank Of England within "a hours after
the deposite Of the bullion. Many orders
sending gold to England for coinage had al
ready began to be made. There was said
TO be now in the mint about $8, 900, 900 of
bullion awaiting coinage. There was in
the Treasury Of the United Stotes about
$4,000, 600 of bullion Of coin, this making
an amount of $l7,OO0,0O0 lying id.e-a
state of things injurious to the business of
the country.
Having thus stated to the Senate facts
with reference to the subject, Mr.. Web
ster commented upon the necessity ofearly
acting in the premises, and asked the adop-
ton Of his resolution. %- -
MIR. Downs approved Of oil that Mr..
Webster had said, and submitted some re.
marks in relation 10 the circumstances
growing out Of the resignation Of the Sub
Treasurer at New OrIeans mint, and the
failure Of his successor TO be qualified. He
referred to the necessity fesA m additional
force in the nssaying dctartpient Of the
mint in that city. ~ .,Y,n s,
Mr.. Hunter said the subject w6s under
consideration Of the committee on Finance,
He stated that one great cause of the de-
lays complained of resulted from CaliGor-
MIA gold, the separation of the alloy from
the gold. ~
MIR. Cooper submitted few remarks in
explanation Of the causes of delay at the
Philadelphia mint. They did not arise
from the lnadequacy Of the mint to any
service which might be required of it. Il
was competent to coin all the bullion that
might be sent it. M X
Mr.. Maugum expressed himself strong.
ly Of the conviction that mint should be
established at New York. He also sug.
gested the necessity and the propriety Of
establishing un assaying Office in Califor-
mia. IT 4s
Mr.. Dawson suggested the propriety of
providing for the deposit of the public mo-
ney in N. Orleans in some safe bank in
that city,.
Mr.. Downs objected to this proposition.
The deposite of the public funds in. any
bank in his State. would be considered de.
cidedly unsafe. The Sdb.lreasury sys.
tenn in N. Q. had worked perfectly, andhe
hoped there was no disposition to change
that system, instead of remedying its trif
ling defects.
Mr.. Dawson designed to suggest the re-
moyal of the old bunk issue. The sug-
gestion was made simply with the idea 10
call out from the Senators more tangible
propositions calculated TO temporarily re-,
iieve the people Of New Orleans from the
condition resulting from the absence of
Sub-Treasury.. He hoped that some meas.
ure Of immediate temporary relief would
not be defeated by those who might dare to
arouse party prejudice on. the old party is
sue Of the Sub-Treasury has found to work
well. lie was ready 10 assist the Senator
from, La. TO render it more perfect.
NJ. Hunter submitted some remarks
against lie banking system, and in support
Of the Spb!Treasury:
Mr.. p%siS !Silowtd with some remarks
Lpon&e Presia.nt forhaving failed to ap-
point q suceeessor 10 the late Ss0- -Tfeasu.
rer at N. O., ahd inlimatcd the suspicion
that this neglect might be part Of scheme
to result in the abandonment of The sys-
tenn. tf.. .8
Mr.. Dawson defended the admiDistra.
tion from the implication. The difficulty
had arisen from the amountsof bonds re.
quired from the Sub-Treasurer and surely
il was not to be expected that the Presi.
dent would have felt authorized to re.
duce the amount Of bonds, when the sums
placed in the hands Of the Treasurers have
greatly increased. The President sent to
the Senate the nomination of Sub-Treas.
urcr on the ll;h of March, and why was
it That the nomination was not acted on. He
called upon MIR. Downs to withdraw the
implication upon the integrity Of the Pres.
ident, -..h a., .-r i,
Mr., Downs denied any attempt to in
iure the President, and regretted That the
Senator from Georgia had verified the
scriptures, 4" the wicked flee when no man
pursueth."
After some further remarks the resolu.
tion was adopted. ,s.esa,,f i !.
The Senate then went into Executive
session, shortly after which they ADJOURN
ed. a4i 4'te ~. s'a Il
House, Mr.. Evans Of Md. asked to
be and was excused from serving on the
Ewing investigation. The vacancy was
ordered be filled. q r .'d
.4E lH fitsf- ----- Ai t't'7tN