The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-01
establish branch a.inss At New York and San

I
Francisco.
Nxw yoaK AND SAN FRANCISCO M.nrs
Mr.. CARTIER, chairman, stated the question
TO be upon the amendment of Mr. VAs Dvxr
proposing 70 establish the branch mints at Jersey
City instead Of New York.
Mr.. j. q. KING being entitled to the floor.
spoke Of the history Of the Phitadelphs mint, and
proceeded at length to demonstrate tina, it was in
capable Of coming all the bullion required to be
coined. The coinage Of last year was not fair
test. Had II Issued an equal number Of pieces of
every denomination, there would have been an
Immense amount Of bullion uncoined.
Mr.. DISNEY appealed to theH House whether this
was ume 70 appropriate quarter Of a million
dollars, ia addition To the other heavy appropria.
tons proposed to be passed at the present session
The complaints against the Philadelphia mint
arose from the fact, that vest amount Of bullion
from California had suddenly accumulated there
at. The mint was then unprepared, but if we are
to believe those who best know, it il now pro-
posed to meet all requirements. Mr. ID. was un-
derstood to favor the establishment Of mint in
California II necessary, which would do away
with the necessity Of ono at New York Az to
! the alleged expense of Transporting bullion from
New York to Philadelphia, hs stated that compe-
| tent persons were to contract to do all that for
$4,000: He concluded with remarks in opposi-
ton to further expenditures In New York. Seven
millions of dollars had been expended there, but
the cry IL still give, give He referred the ne.
cessity Of expenditures TO render navigabe the
great rivers Of the West, and hoped members
would 60 for policy that should give the benefit
arising from expenditures Of the Government TO
every portion OF the country.
Mr.. HOLMES was understood TO express him
self an less favorable to this measure, because cal
cuated to add 70 the homegrown influence of
| New York. The whole argument in favor of III q
latter place was that inasmuch as most OF tho bull
ton was imported there, mint should also be e,
tabl'shed for coming on the spot. Expense Of
| trans .ortatiOn and loss of time, were the main
reasons operating against the mint at PhiIadel-
phia. Mr.. Fl. objected to an expenditure of
million OF dollars for a mint at New York, be-
cause OF the loss Of two days in transporting be-
tween that place and Philadelphia. lie also re-
ferred to the expense OF carrying on new branch
mint. Mr. H. went on to show the greater ne
cessity Of mint in California than New York
| referring to the per centage paid by miners Fl
transports from the former to the latter place. -
The policy Of the Government had been to estat-
lish mnts were gold was mined He went on at
great length to give the reasons of the greatness
and power Of New York, as compared with other
portions OF the country which she attributed to her
immense capital by which she extended long credits
to purchasers. He also alluded to the vari GUS in
| tluences brought to bear from New York and New
England to effect legislation. If the advantages
government afforded were taken from New York,
| she might renal n respectable town, but only the
equal Of Charleston or New Orleans. Direct tax
alton would restore the state Of things existing
previous to the revolution when New York and
New England, together, imported less than
| Charleston. The South now contributes thirty
millions towards government expenditures, and
receive but ten. The North contributes ten mil
| lions, and receives thirty. Mr.. H. thought the
great rivera and lakes of the West presented
stronger case FOR appropriations than New Eng
land and New York. Gentlemen from the sections
last named tell the West you shall not have such
appropriations unless going, with US for an in
! crease of the tariff.
| Mr.. PHOENIX corrected statements of gentle
men relative to an alleged cost Of new mint at
New York. The mint at Philadelphia cost, with
machinery, some two and sixty thousand dollars
One at New York would not exceed that sum-
All money ever expended at that port WINS for
the henedt Of commerce, which resulted to the
advantage Of the whole country. He went on to
| speak OF the premiums paid small coins Of
gold and upon silver, on account Of the incapacty
of the mint at Philadelphia. Twenty dollar pieces
were Of no more advantage for the purposes of
commerce than were bars Of gold. Had the mint
at Philadelphia confined its coinage to equal pro-
portions Of each denominations, it would be three
years behind the bullion on hand. The cost OF
transportation and the loss Of interest from the
necessary time taken in coming amounted to a
quarter Of million Of dollars snnaualIy. On the
five million uncnined at Philadelphia. the owners
were losing at the rate of ak per cent
Mr.. JAMES THOMPSON made some re.
marks, combating the statements as to the ex
pense af transportation between New York and
Philadelphia. He thought ton of bullion might
be transported between The two places for some
thing like four dollars, Mr. T. was understood
az expressing himself opposed to an appropra
ton for mint at New York at time when the
expenditures Of the Government were so great as
at present
Mr.. BAYLY regretted to find that this question
had degenerated into n contest for spoils between
New York and Pennsylvania. Out ofthose States,
he hoped members would not vote with a refer
ence to such considerations. A majority Of The
Committee Of Ways and Means were opposed
at this time, 10 the establishment Of mint at
New York, on account Of the condition of the f.
nances. lie said at the last session, that If Con-
gress went on appropriating money at the rate
they were, resort would have TO be had either TO
tax tea or coffee, or to raise money by loan
He had no doubt the French spoliation bill was
to pass. Meanwhile, any effort at retrenchment
seems absolutely impossible. Unless nppropria-
! tons are confined to the absolute wants Of the
country, articles now free will have to be taxed,
or loan raised. He was apprehensive that the
legislation of this session would involve debt of
ninety millions Of dollars
| AT the close of the remarks of Mr.. BAYLY, the
question was taken on the amendment locating
The branch mint at Jersey City instead Of New
York, and it was rejected.
| mr. liable moved an amendment requiring
one-fourh of the pieces hereafter issued to be dol
lar pieces, one-fourth quarter eagles, efourth
half eagles, one-eighth eagles, and one-eighth
double eagles. Mr.. C. considered the immense
coinage Of double eagles ns species Of rascality
at the mint, to benefit banks. The amendment
was adopted.
Mr.. HOLMES proposed an amendment esiab-
! fishing branch mint at ChaIleston.
/ Mr.. BAYLY said that the Committee Of Ways
and Means had agreed upon proposition, which
If sanctioned by Congress, would supersede the
necessity of an additional mint anywhere. II
was for the issue Of bars and ngo,s OF gold vary
! ing in value from fifty dollars to one thousand
For commercial purposes they were preferable To
common coIna. They we're transported cheaper
and we're counted easier. They were desirable 70
banks as the basis Of issues. The effect would
be TO throw the coin now deposited in banks into
general circulation.
The amendment Of Mr.. HOLMES was decided
out of order. because not going to carry out the
intention of the bill. Mr., II. appealed, but the
i Chair was SUSTAINED.