The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-01-27
What Ia the Use of the Mint


What Is the Use of the MfntI
Under this caption, the True Delta of yesterday
charges the Secretary of the Treasury with wiiful
neglect of the Mint in this city, and consequent de-
rangement of business. The charge is that the
Mint has been closed /" for nearly, II not quite,
three months of the nine last past" And that this
is owing to the Secretary ofthe Treasury. Let Us
see what story dates will tell. Mr.. Macmurdo re-
signed the office Of Treasurer of the Mint on March
81, 1850. Immediately the late w. NJ. Beale was
appointed. The fitness of that selection was uni
versaly admitted, but unfortunately he declined
The bond required being 1000, the salary
$780, the duties very onerous and responsible The
same reasons operated on the mind OF Mr. Michel
Anne, who was the second appointed. The Sc
cretary reduced the bond one half, and permitted
securities TO be liable for specified amounts, instead
of for the entire sum. Mr. J. J. Wickes was quail
fed, took possession on May 25, and remained
Treasurer until January Z, when Gen. Wm.
Debuys was qualified. During the administration
of Mr.. Wckes he was absent from November % till
January 5. This absence was without the permits
sion of the Secretary Of the Treasury, who wrote
to Mr.. Wickes in repyto his application for leave
Of absence, that the law did not vest such power
in the department, and that if he left, it must be at
his own responsibility. Mr.. Wickes did assume the
responsibility, and for six weeks no deposits could
be received at the Mint, the law only authorizing
the Treasurer to receive them, and not recognizing
a deputy. The True Delta thus speaks of the di-
version Of the deposits from the Mint to the State
Bank during the absence of the Treasurer:
other which say; that dur
the distinguished ex-Colector of the port always keeny
svs hs SsS,sd e depbt whs her i wa:
this bubble diverted the Of the
s Th %
made necessary to have the funds transferred to the Mint
doemen of certificates of the Mint the required
by which means, that institution managed anticipate her
detrment Of The interests Of those who had fairly calculated
receiving the amount Of their certificates, in the order in
Dates prove the gross error of this accusation
Mr.. Peters went out of office Sept. 80 Mr.. Frerel
was qualified Nov. 25. During the interim Mr.. J.
w. Hincks acted as Collector.
| During the absence of the Treasurer, from Nov
! IS, to January s. the Collector could not make
the deposits in the Mint. There was no one quail.
| fed to receive them. The vault of the Custom
house was deemed by him too insecure for the pur
pose. He procured the use of vault from the
State Bank he made his own deposits took the
only key, and placed his own Waterman in the
Bank AT one period the amount thus deposited
was $309,616 The State Bank had no use, ane
derived no profit from this loan OF vault. w,
think the editors, before they made this assault
the ex-Coector, should have ascertained the facts
| As to the charge that the money was transferred
to the Mint, by check of the State Bank, we stat,
these facts
On January 90, General Debuys' received tn,
first public moneys, which were the identical coin
deposited in the vault Of the Bank by Mr.. Freret
He had taken possession on the Goth, Mr. Wicke
having retained possession until instructions b,
| telegraph from the Department required him t.
surrender the office. On that day, January 90
| the Cashier Of the Custom house transferred tn
identical COINS from the State Bank vault to tn
Mint, as expressed by the annexed receipt:
| Office of the T'reasuer Of the Branch Mint,
I No. 80. NEW ORLEANS, Jan. %, 1851.
certify that William Frere Collector of the Port of Ne,
Orleans has this day deposited the credit of the Treasure
of the United States three hundred and nine thousand 81
hundred and sixteen dollars imports and ton
rom I'd December, 1885, 18th January, 1851 10
| which have 81 ned receipts. WILLIAM DEBuYs,
| $3O9,6l6 j Assistant Treasurer United States
| The next charge is that the law, which require
| million of dollars to be on deposit for the purpos
OF exchanging coins for bullion, was not complies
with. We say that the money was on deposit
but the late Treasurer, Mr.. Wickes, did not choos
to publish the fact, although it was known to a
least one extensive brokerage establishment in tn
city-who awaited themselves of the information t
a very large amount.
The True Delta euogizes the conduct of Robe
J. Walker, the late Secretary. We have no wis
to detract from the reputation of that distinguish
Statesman, but we are unwilling to stand by
| silence while the reputation of Mr.. Corwin
| unjustiy assailed. In what manner has he embar
rassed the business of this city through the Mint
The delay of fifty-ve days between the resignao,
mot removal mind YOU of Mr.. Macmurdo, anc
the qualification of Mr.. Wickes, was during tn,
administration of Mr. Meredith, and is fairl,
accounted for. The closing of the Mint for 81,
weeks, was occasioned by the act of Mr. Wickes
against the opinion and without the authority o
| Mr. Corwin. Will the True Delta point out thu
specific acts of the Secretary, which show prefer
ence for other cities at the expense of New Orleans
The Mint is now in full operation, coming som.
| $4,000 day. The inconvenience resulting from
| the suspension during the absence OF Mr. Wickes
will pass away. The bullion is here tn
| produce of the West is here; merchants dis
tinguished for their enterprise and knowledge, al
| here and think understand the law
political economy too well to be alarmed by Il
antcipations OF bankruptcy and ruin, which distui
the minds of the True Delta. For the momel
there is scarcity of money-but all of its elemen
are in the greatest abundance-and this bids fair
be the most prosperous season ever known in Ne
, Orleans.
The Census Returns exhibit some curious facts
regard to population. For instance, in Pike count