The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-25


Senate al he head OF the committee, that they VIII lose
no time 10 providing and recommending some measure 10
prevent the further Increase OF this evil,
honorable senator from Massach has brought this
subject forward for il is one which = very deeply inter-
esng shall speak oil the situation Of the mint gen.
eray but OF that very important branch Of i situated at
New Orleans MOI only am sensible Of the evils and
disad yanages which the senator has depicted. arising
from the situation Of the coinage OF the United States but
Orleans which has become very important one, es.
pecaly since much gold has from California aud
landed at that pace and think il requires the prompt
than the extraordinary fact that, ut this time OF Office
seeking there has been difficulty in OF the most
important Offices in the mint of New Orleansthat Of
subtreasurer and do not think i has set been over
come, in obtaining man TO accept The Office who is
qualified to give the required bonds.
Why, so far from there being any question about re-
movas among the officials al the mi0t at New Orleans
the treasurer of the nthere would have resigned except
that at the most urgent request Of the officers Of govern
ment here be consented 20 hold on nnui sncccssoF
could be appointed The Office was, have understood
offered to several individuals who would not accept OF It
The salary is entirely incompatible with the RESPONSE
by attached that Office. The duties 10 be performed
the number oil the hands which required, and all
these circumstances sufficient absolutely TO prevent
suitable persons from accepting such ofce AT LENGTH
sir the incumbent Of this Office, having held on as long
as convenience would allow, finally sent in formal no.
tce to the that he could positively no longer
perform he duties Of the Office, and that he must close
the Office OF assistant treasurer and the mint unless sue
was not appointed and qualified in season, and
the Offices closed A man has been appointed but
have not learned that he has qualified, and afraid
that there is some doubt whether he will be able to
qualify under the laws and instructions as they
now stand. The salary for this important Office,
where the bonds to be given $20o,O0o, and the
sSs very y % e auy q
from customs at the port Of New Orleans-having to
have his clerks around him bis books with the respon
sibes OF these vast sums OF money he has but very
~ and
in country, where il il known that all salaries are
large, compared with those in States further North The
sums OF money which pass through his hands amount to
millions annuay and the responsibility is. consequent
y very great There il also difficulty about giving the
bond The law understand, requires present, that
all bonds for ofce shall be given jointly and severally
ell now, bonds OF very large amount make extreme
ly difficult to obtain bondsmen with such obligation
The bond in this case is for $200000 and there is great
difficulty in finding persons who are willing to involve
themselves in so large an amount II would be much
easier for the parties required To- give the bonds and in
opinion much better and safer for the government
require bonds merely several in their obligation We
have felt 30 much difficulty in this matter, that all
the Louisiana delegation have been recently press-
ing upon the proper officer OF the government, If
he fees himself At liberty to do so. 70 reduce the
amount Of security to be given, in order to put it within
the possibility OF the person appointed to qualify for
the Office hope he will consider himself authorized
by law 10 do So The mint at New Orleans has been
closed for some time, and, II he does not feel himself
thozed o DO must remain closed until Congress acts
the subject Not only sir left without any one
with whom 10 make desposesfor the law requires the
from day daybu there is bullion deposited in the
mint amounting to million more, and which cannot be
drawn out for want OF any officer authorized to deliver
il. No business whatever can be done.
have mentioned these points, Mr.. President, for
the purpose OF calling the attention OF the Commit
tee on Finance to them, with the hope Of inducing
them to take up the subject and provide some prop.
er remedy for the evils in question. Il think the
suggestions Of the honorable senator from Massachu-
setis lMr. WE9sTERl are worthy OF immediate con-
sidersiion and hope that the proper steps will also
be taken for increasing the salaries perhaps elsewhere,
but certainly at New Orleans will also remark that
there is another difficulty which has arisen in New Or
leans In consequence OF the increase of the business at
The MINT there is not force competent 10 carry IL
The necessary amount oil coinage cannot be performed.
The officers IN the assaying department are, believe,
very competent and able to do the work OF their de-
partment IN ordinary times; but now, when II has in
creased TO DOUBLE perhaps quadruple what il was
when they were appointed they not at all adequate
10 the performance OF it. would, therefore, suggest TO
The committee the propnety oil increasing the permanent
force OF the mint, so 10 carry on the coinage,
the Secretary of the Treasury reduce the
bonds OF the treasurer oil the mint or to receive them in
obligations and hope that they will find il in their po wer
10 give il their attention al an early day.
Mr.. HUNTER. The subject, sir, which the honorable
senator's from Massachusetts, MIR. WEBsTER] and Lou
siana Mr. Dowssl have discussed is one OF great i'm
portance and has been already partly submitted the
Finance Committee. So much has been submitted to
them has been already considered and the result Of
been lying upon your table for time past One OF
the means ofrelievng the mnts from the surplus quan
y Of bullion which has accumulated, and which is likely
accumulate, TO increase the number OF mInts and
there s bill already reported for establishing mint at
the city Of New York We have under consideration a
proposition for the establishment OF mint in California
This will be another OF keeping down the
mutation OF bullion. This whole subject is under the
consideration, and will secure the continuous attention,
OF the Committee on Finance. know that i is affair
in which my friend from New York. the chairman OF the
committee, who is now absent, takes deep interest
but was not aware OF the difficulties in New Orleans,
stated by the honorable senator from Louisiana. /
did not know that there ahy deficiency OF salary,
or any difficulty in obtaining persons 10 discharge the
duties Of the Offices there, for the compensation
now given. concur with him that that is a matter
which demands The attention 81 the committee under
stand sir not from any Official source, but from one in
which put entire confidence, that al the mint at Phila
iephia there has been some difficulty some chemical
iicuIfy in separating the alloy from the gold which has
come from California and thai that has been
,f the delay which has occurred The Committee on FL
nance have the whole subject under consideration.
Mr. COOPER Mr. President, I have but a word to
,ay sir upon this subject have been 10 correspondence
with very worthy gentleman in Philadelphia IN relation
o H. and that correspondence shall take the liberty oil
handing 10 the Committee Finance. shall not say
word in relation to that part OF the subject now under
but desire to say word IN reference 70 tne
mint Philadelphia, and s capacity to perform the WORK
hat s necessary to be done. II s rue a. the honorable
senator from Virginia has said, that there has been some
xold which has come from California The mint has
capacity 10 coin much more than is likely 10 come
from California or any other quarters al any time.
Arrangements are now being made which will greatly
increase it's capacity that respect and will add that
IN the assayers Office. where the difficulty which pro-