Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-27

which believe has worked SO well should be departed from
II VIII take much less time improve the present SYSTEM
and remedy the evils that exist under IT, than make
tire cnaDge and have doubt that remedy may be made
with much less trouble than to undertake to alter the whole
sysem OF finance indeed, have doubt il may be
remedied that it will work admirably, and hope the Con-
gress OF the United States will be found willing to apply this
remedy It seems to to be small natter, and that
can easily be remeded by legsa.iDg particular bill
3 MI WEBSTER. The Senate will observe that my
Of the operations Of the mint should be very unwilling
be dran into the discussion at this time of any Of the ques
tons respecting the general financial operations Of the
y modfcaons Of the subteasury pan any thing else.
Here Is present existing evil of considerable magnitude and
easily remeded. The law provides remedy for
tam extent One part of the proposition certainly, II il
ceives the sanction Of the Government be adopted i'm
edaiey and that is to increase the quantity of coin in the
mint 10 be exchanged for bullion Another at the sugges
on Of the honorable member from North Carolina, is to
tsblish an Office Of assay in California and it thing which
done and ought to be done without any considerable
elsy But for the present trust shall conne atten
fon TO the subject of con that is the immediate question
el0re US and is which think requires timely action
kt..'art ofthe Government
sXNrs DOWNS. certainly, Mr. President had nten.
tSd charging the gentleman from Georgia with
say bringing before the Senate the old question which he
referred but think he WILL when he considers the natter
the conclusion that he has made remark which
uncaed for true, there has been difficulties the mint
New Orleans but am not that they be remedied
the Treasury had notice ng ago that this officer of the mint
intended resign, and that appointed lie
should close The office on the last Of March.
Notwithstanding that sir, appointment made until
the time had expired OF course delay necessarily
incurred before the officer could qualify SO as to ELL his place
That appointment has been made ten DAYS or more
Other difficulties in the way, which think might have
been removed The Government assured beforehand that
the person could not and would give bond certain
amount There is Discretionary power resting with the
Secretary Of the Treasury fix these bonds certain
amount The whole delegation Of Louisiana few days ago
recommended that for temporary purposes this amount should
be reduced That has not been done the Office Of the
surer of the mint is shut u doubtless with view protect
the public interest but STILL sir it must be said and wish
to say it. that the mint is BOT closed in consequence of
the of the law, but IN consequence of the inacion Of
the Government here Idono throw any upon them
perhaps out of abundant still the great complaint
which get in letters is, hatthere Of action here.
Now, Mr. President although am not disposed to be very
suspicious yet aborng under feelings Of this kind must
suppose from the suggestion of the Senator from Georgia,
that there was disposition abandon the treasury SYSTEM
and return TO the old system banking That par: of the
genemans observations, however, think have been well
answered by the Senator from Virginia. (Mr. HUNTER
The remedy which propose that the salary Of the officer
shall be increased This will require very large
Perhaps four five thousand dbas would the
vices of officer who would discharge all the duties of the
Office; that could easily be adopted
In the time must say, and regret 10 it, that
do not consider the public funds safe in New Orleans now
because there legal place OF depoe But that is not
the fault of the law; the fault lies elsewhere If the sub
treasurer of the mint had been appointed in due season. and
then, when found mprsccabe that be should give his
bond in the way prescribed the modification had been made,
the evil of vacancy would have been remeded But this
not done, and long not done, and the evil
exists, wish it be understood that the evil lies here.
Mr.. DAWSON. decline TO enter into any controversy on
this subject but it is said that the fault somewhere, and it
s implied that it sin the office Of the Treasury. Now there
is proposition suggested by way of remedy. AS the
amount OF the dePoses in the subeasuy at New Orleans
increase the Senator from Louisiana proposes to diminish
the bonds. thought that, the amount increased, we
should increase the security by bond out here is held
charge against the Government that they have diminish
ed the bond Now, submit in propriety and justice to all
and all pares whether if the present Administration
had diminished that bond and there had been failure de-
falcaon would have been said that the Administration
bad acted incorrectly and that they ought to have increased
the bond, in their discretion, the Of deposes
creased What is bond of fifty thousand dollars for the
sake Of two and half millions What is bond Of two hun
dred thousand dollars deposte of three millions hich
often found there And yet the fault is somewhere because
the bond diminished from hundred thousand dol
lars down, to induce somebody to accept the Office
The object Of the law is 10 secure the public funds
1t is said that the fault Is somewhere. Really 10
there great want fmagnanmity and beraly toward
this Government 1t is said that this Government noi
fed that the incumbent of that office, the snbeasurer in the
city of New Orleans would absolutely resign from and after
the last day Of March, and that there must be appoint
by the Government, but that it not made Now,
cir, before make charges calculated to impule
want OF energy or want o aenon 10 puoc uutes ny me
public agents. whether the President Others ought to
understand precisely the condition and the grounds upon
which We are actiog. The President of the United
States made the nomination about the middle of March, and
sent it to US for confirmation. Whose fault it, then,
that the nomination of the President taken up and
acted upon in time He has discharged his duty. The
fault is here with u.s.
Mr. DOWNS. Will the gentleman allow me to state that
did not know when the nomination sent in. As
as it was mentioned by the chairman of the Committee
Finance took the first moment that could to urge that
il be taken up.
Mr.. DAWSON. / have doubt the President discharg
ed bis duty with ability and proprety All that claim is
that Justice should be done others well him. The
nomination sent in about the 18th of March, and not
taken up till the 10th Of April and yet the fault is
where and go before the country that this Admins
surabe in the Judgment of the people, when the Chief Mags
has only discharged his duty exped cusy but
so, and the fault is with with which part of
not for to say All want is TO have the world know
what and when go wrong, whether be my
party the oher let the world and constituency under
stand it and when act right lei justice be done, whether
the action be that of Wings or Democrats.
One word further. The President has, know, heart
that is honest resolution that is firm, and patriotism that
urges him noby to the discharge of every duty ncum up
on him, TO the best of his powers and ability and when
undertake 10 him look carefully because
when honest man, Ike him. simple and unadusraed by
the influence Of party, which have all acted under for
years. acts he will act right and will discharge his duty when
he knows there is duty to be performed.
He has done his duty here. and in due time and when
said the fault Is somewhere let take 1t to oursyes for
the fault in this body Let the Executive be blamed
aud that the Senator from Louisiana, il be under
stood all the facts in the case, would be the last 10
duge any remarks from which there might be drawn any
supposition unavorabe the conduct Of the Executive