The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-28
The question being then taken upon the passage Of the
bill Il was passed
MINT OF THE UNITED STATE.


bill, II was passed
MKT OF THE UNITED STATES
The Senate then, as in committee OF the whole, re-
sumed the consideration Of the bill TO establish branch
Of the mint OF the United States, in the city of New
Mr. DAVIS. Of Mississippi, moved to amend the bill
by sddng the following new sections
SEC T. ASd be IL farther smacsd That there shall be es-
,abi. he'd two assaying ocesone Stockton, the San
river, in California for each Of which sad offices
there shall be aPpon,ed on !he nomination q the Presi
dent and with The advice and consent Of the Senate
treasurer and one asaye and meter and rener and
each OF said shall be authorized to employ and
engage one clerk and as many subordinate wokmen and
servants io the service OF his office may be provided by
law
SIC 8. And DC Il further s~aeied That each Of said as
saying offices shall be place of deposte for such public
the Secretary OF the Treasury may direc. and
the treasurer thereof shall have the custody Of same
and shall perform the duties OF assistant OF
United States and shalt be subject all the provisions
The se approved oh Angasi 1886 ened n &C. %
vide fo the better organization OF the treasury and for the
collection safe kerpng ansis and disbursement the
aaeSo SaO ~Ss Sn s sppSsss g s m
services an annual compensation q 5000.
meers, and retnes, authorized by this shall perform
such duties In assaying and fixing the vaae Of gold
bullion n grains Of Ia Jumps, and in forming the into
shall be prescribed The Secretary o the Treasury and
shall each receive for his services annual
SIc TO- 4nd BE- further enacted That all deposies Of
gold bullion in either Of said offices for assay shall with
he treasurer theieo who shaiesae the whole value OF
deposie deliver 70 The do under his hand
certificate q such value; which cer,hc. shall ene
iec such charges and deductions any may be pre-
scrlbed by the Secretary Of the Treasury.
lowed % each Of The clerks authorized by this
al compensation OF $4,000 and each the subordinate
and allowances customary and reasonable,
ing TO their respective and duties and as shah be
SIC IL And be Jrihsr snacied. Tha, lie officers and
herein provided for shall previously entering
make affirmation before some justice Of the peace 10
support the Constitution OF the United STATES; which oath
ment
SIC - And b it further s~aetsd. That the sum or
sny money in he easary no, ohe2wss for
he purpose OF establishing the assayng Offices Aforesaid
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President. I am anxious to
establish mint in San Francisco. and al the tne,
i We establish mint there, to me that we can
very well do without the establishment OF the two
saying Offices. am anxious to have the question taken
q some shape or form upon the original amendmept OF
The honorable senator from MissouTiT(M BEHroH1 j
was informed the other day that il could not be done at
his stage of the bill ! rise now for the purpose OF
asceraining what will be the condition Of the bill if
rom Mississippi lMr. DAvIs,l and agree to establish
hese two assay Offices according to the proposition II
he original proposition OF the honorable senator from
Missouri Mr.. BEEToSl should be preferred, and the
Of the honorable senator from Mississippi
should now be voted on, how are We to get clear Of il
or the purpose Of getting the Of the Senate the
The VICE PRESIDENT II will be in order, when
he bill comes TO the Senae 10 strike out all after
he enactng clause, and insert the other amendment
MI. DICKINSON. hope the Chair will reserve its
opinion upon that point do not think it will be in
Ter 10 TO strike out all after the enacing clause Tor
he PaFpose OF inserting something else for any other
purpose. Is no more IN order TO move 10 strike out
bis bill after the enactng clause and TO insert provision
or mint in California, than il would be to insert land
,lll tor California Il certainly is not in order
MIR, DAVIS. Of Mississippi. do not think that the
Arnan hova tvxtrf1
nent of assay Offices all incompatible with the pur
poses OF the senator from Kentucky establish mint
Il San Francisco. l. is far otherwise, il 10 me.
hat the assaying Offices which propose would come
10 aid OF the mint Of San Francisco, If should be
abshed. Indeed, my amendment was originally brought
forward as an amend nen 10 the amendment OF the hon
ID by him. II is for the establishment OF assay Offices
II the mines at which the miner will have chance to
obtain the true value OF his gold dust from oice
brought into his vicinity, instead OF being compelled
employ an intermediate agent to go himself great
distance to a mint established at San Francisco.
II for the benefit oil the sborer the mines estab
ish assay Offices 10 the mines understand that
now they lose upon every ounce OF gold dust not less
han two dollars My amendment IL intended 10 relieve
ne aborer OF that country of that loss Boh the mint
md The assayng Offices may be necessary bu. think
tse as stated when this subject was up for consdera
ion the other day.
II I'VE coin the gold in California with the American
stamp upon il, gives tendency to come TO the United
States and it will 20 the less readily into foreign COM
nerce The gold bar is the currency Of the world; il
goes equally into all countres II goes into all channels
1f commerce. This some persons may consider unfa
yorable circumstance | do not think 10. have never
iesred large quantities of gold accumulate in the
United States in excess over other countries believe
hat in all time the experience OF all countries has proved
now undesirable is such state of afairsi and never
srkngly than Spain, IN the times OF Ferdinand
Ind Isabella prefer natural and equitable distrbu
ion OF the gold throughout all countries S there may
necessity for mint al San francisco and as have
aid, my proposition does not come in conflict with IT
believe AT any rate, that three mints are amply enough
or the whole United Sates-say one at New York, one
II New Orleans, and in California, although, as
aid the other day. do know enough OF that coun-
ry determine very confidently at what point ought
o be established In relation 10 that question, rely,
,owever with good deal OF confidence, upon the better
Information Of the honorable from Missouri, tMr
Mr. UNDERWOOD. did not intend at this time TO
make any remarks upon the merits OF this proposhon
,ut, after the suggestion Of the senator from Mississippi,
will make one or two. This gold dust which is fur
,ished by California has TO be coined somewhere, either
n the United States or out OF the United States prefer
having il coined in the United States, and giving the
American stamp to all the currency which grow out
,f the discoveries OF gold in California II II be coined
the United States, the Text question which presents
tself is Where is il be coined presume that most
u the senators will agree with me as 10 the prcHrey Of
what place shall il be conedi II must either be coined
California. be brought to the Atlantic shores
% be coined. Now, to 10 be to the interest
,, those who dig the gold the mines to have some con-
vcnen place where II be converted into coin Tor
heir own benefit But there seems 10 be some limit TO
:annot have mint in all the various diKgings in Cali
ornia The government cad scarcely be called upon 10
rect mint for the accommodation OF these people every
hundred miles, or every two hundred miles, when