The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-25
THE UNION.

Where ought the mint to be, then II anywhere 1t
ought 10 be as near possible 10 the wharves from
which 1t Is to be exported and imported and where the sx
changes OF which It ID the medium TO be made But
instead OF that in point OF fact we have the mint
hundred miles from the place of transactng business
and every argument which be brought for maintain.
ing that the mint furnishing the means OF exchange
for the chief commercial port the Union, shall be kept
al distance OF one hundred miles from the wharves
where the exchanges are TO be made will operate equally
tion of the customs 10 that distance that should
have our custom houses in Philadelphia for transacing
business 70 the city OF New York.
think that the senator from Maryland MR. PEARcEl
has already conceded the whole point when he said that
II the question was now about establishing one mint IN
the first instance for the United States be should say that
Il ought TO be established in New York. He should
think the convenience of the location conclusive that 1t
ought to be in the city OF New York. And the agu-
ment Of the senator from Pennsylvania Mr.. CoopERl
brings precisely the conclusion, when he urges
that mint established in the city Of New York would
conduct the business much advantageousy to the
commercial interests of the country that the institution
al Philadelphia although paionized and sustained by the
government and possessing all the advantages Dcdentto
its position, must necessarily expire These two arguments
TO me to concede the whole question We are told by
the honorable senator from Maryland that the loss to the
mercantile country, in expense OF transportation between
New York and Philadelphia, only $50. 900 year But
sir that expense is more than the government has
right than il is just for the government to subject the
people to, nasmuch they have undertaken TO furnish
coin for mercantile uses at the cheapest possible cost or
coined But sir no one can estimate the amount oil gold
dust and OF bullion exported TO foreign countries, by
who prefer to bear the losses incident 70 direct
delays and risks OF procuring the coinage and assay
to be made at the mint maintained for no other purpose
by the government.
Sir let US come directly to the just and only conclusion
Of all this matter. When the mint was established at
Philadelphia, il was rightly established there: The mint
That commerce at Philadelphia, and the agent was
established there with all the functions and capacity re-
quired.
And now commerce is no longer there. The commerce
OF the nation has concentrated itself at New York the
commerce OF the world is coming there A mint, the
necessary government agent, ought to be found where
that commerce is Sooner or later must be found there
say nothing in prejudice against Philadelphia nothing
hostile to the mint there. Let it stand there-perform
whatever functions it may have occasion or-blt let us
be wise well just and establish al New York the
agency which the interests OF the country and OF uni
versal commerce demand
Mr., PRATT It is very singular, sir. that should
have the misfortune TO differ from the from New
York. even in regard to minis 1t is subject sir, upon
which reflected before came here's and desire to sub
NIT in very few words, the result OF that reflection to
the consideration OF the Senate
think sir, that it would be altogether injudicous and
impo!c at this time. at any rate to establish branch
mint in California The great object, as 1t seems to
in looking at that distant Territory, is protect il
much as we can BY commercial and every other species
country at large. II branch mint is established at San
Francisco, all the gold which is mined in California will
be carried there, and then, instead OF coming to the
United States il will be distributed from that point all
the whole world am informed that al the present
time, than three fourhs Of the gold mined in Calf
forna goes abroad The major part of IT, at any rate.
branch ma We sboud establish an
saying office merely, where gold may be deposited and
its value ascertaned. The institution might be
so arranged-and this is the point OF the plan TO which
wish to call the special attention OF the Senatethat
certificate OF deposie for the value of the bullion de-
posted might be issued TO the owner From this mode
OF operation, two results would follow, both OF which
would be highly beneficial to The country In the first
place, would be rendered certain that the great OF
gold mined in California would be brought into the Uni
ted States for distribution In the second place. would
be ogreat advantage TO those engaged in mining because
they would be enabled, without expense to themselves,
and with less expense than upon any other plan to those
who make the emttances, 10 avail themselves oil the
real value OF what they possess II would enable those
who engaged in commercial transactions to carry on
,hel, business with New YORK OF rnliadepnla WIN
scrip II would be vastly more convenient than TO send
gold, either coined or in the shape OF bullion You
with their own fellow counrymen. which must be much
more desirable for the Inhabitants OF that distant Terri
tory than commercial connexion with any other part
OF the world Ii would be equally beneficial to our
chants in this part Of the United States 10 be enabled to
secure their renittances in this simple and expeditions
manner. The plan is one which had the honor some
time ago oil suggesting to member OF the Committee on
Finance, and il To which hope to be able to call
the attention Of the Senate think il Of great import
ance. II appears to that there could be no serious
difficulty in the way Of such arrangement and that its
advantages obvious, and obviously great The
tifcaes should be disposed OF by the government at
rate which would leave fund sufficient TO pay the
pense Of transmitting the gold home TO the mint for
coinage.
hope, sir that the proposition for establishing branch
mint 10 California win not prevail at this time but that
instead oil II a plan like that which have suggested
will lind favor with the Senate and the country.
| MIR. DAVIS, OF Mississippi Is the question on the
amendment proposed by the senator from South Carroll.
ma, tMr BuTLER,] the amendment Of the senator
from Missouri, tMr. BENTON n
The VICE PRESIDENT. Il is on the amendment Of
the senator from South Carolina
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi Is that in the nature OF
an amendment TO amendment
The VICE PRESIDENT. is
proposing the establishment OF branch mint at Charles
ton, South Carolina was reeciedyeas 10, nays %, as
follows.
YEAS -Messrs Badger, Bell Benton, Beuien, Bohsnd
Butler, Corwiu Davis Of Mississippi, Dawson, Dodge
Iowa, Fooie Houston, Hunter, Mangum, Morton, Pearce,
Spruanee, Turney, and underwood-I9
NAYS.-Messrs. Atchlson Baldwin, bradbury, Blight,
Chase, Clay, Cooper Davis OF Msssachuseus. Dayton
Dickinfon, Dodge of Wisconsin, Downs, Felch, Greene
Hale, Hamlin, Jones King, Mason, Norris, Sebastian
Seward, Smith, Surgeon, Walker Webster, Whcomb
| and Yuee-S
The VICE PRESIDENT The question now recurs
on The amendment OF the senator IRON Missouri, Mr.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. As respects this amend.
ment have say that from the time that acquired
this Territory, and since il was known that there to
be large amount OF gold mined there have been
ous for the establishment Of mint else OF such assay
ing facilities necessary 10 the results OF
the mining operations far might he, 10 the
merce OF the United Siaies am in favor OF the estab.
shment OF mint now, for the purpose OF coming the
bullion and gold dust produced in the mines But II
l.. .l~l a.t.