Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FarpAY, JANUARY 81, 1851


On motion Of Mr.. McCLERNAND, the House then went
into Committee of the Whole the state Of the Union,
(Mr CARrER Of Ohio, in the chair and resumed the con-
sieraon Of the bill of the Senate entitled can act to estab-
sh branch mint Of the United States in the city of New
York. and branch mint and assayers office at San Fran
cisco, in California.
Mr. KING of New Jersey, (being entitled to The foor said
established in Phiiadephaby the act OF 1892
for the that that city the seat Of Government The
law establishing it PROVISIONAL and in 1928 law was
passed establishing the mint in that place manenlythe
for which that the Bank Of the United States
also located there He believed that both the mint and the
bank would have been useful to the and less
liable objection, il they had been placed in New York.
He then proceeded argue that the min. Philadelphia
incapable Of coming the requisite Of bullion, and
combaed the statement of Mr. CHANDLER thai could coin
from seventy five to hundred millions Of dollars year.
He did not think the capacity the mint be tested by
the coinage of last year. which consisted Of ten and twenty
dollar pieces and expressed his opinion that smaller pieces
issued the mint could not coin thirty millions Of dollars
yeara
Mr. DISNEY said that there seemed to be more than or
binary exerion press this bill through the House, and he
would submit word against IT, He conended that
this the time involve the country in the expend
tue which this bill proposed to infict upon it, they had
been informed that the necessary for carrying on the
Government during The present fiscal year would be six
millions Of dollars than the receipts into the ea
sury He desired gentlemen to reflect the present cond
ton Of the treasury before they sanctioned expenditure
which, it admitted would amount to quarter Of mil
lion of dollars and would ultimately involve millions Refer
ring to the charge OF the ncapacy OF the mint at Philade
pha TO coin the bullion accumulat here from California, he
said that at that time il for great Influx,
but since then its capacity had be- creased and the Drec
tor declared that com Fl coin all the bullion
which might be required of it. relied this statement
The treasury not in cond TO sustain the expense Of
the establishment of mint at New York, while all the work
required could be done by the existing of the
Government. Moreover, by the establishment Of mint in
California the pressure would be taken off the mint Pha
deDha and there hp in
York The cost of transporting gold dust between Phlade
pha and New York would not amount TO much as respon-
sble had sgni6ed his wngnesto do this
for year In conclusion, be referred to the
y Of Improving the rivers of the West make them
gable, and thought it would be crying injustice to appropr
ate much money for the city Of New York. in addition to
Me millions heretofore appropriated when there were so many
| obstacles TO commerce on the Western waters.
Mr. HOLMES also opposed the establishment Of mint in
the city Of New York He thought that besides sujectDg
The Government TO great expense would add TO the already
ovegewn influence of that city, He advocated the
Of mint at San Francisco, and contended that mint
established at that place, there would be need for
New York. He then referred to the greatness power Of
New York. which he attributed her immense capital by
of which she enabled to extend long credit to
chaser He thought that the great rivers and lakes Of the
West presented stronger for appropriations than New
England and New York.
Mr. THOMPSON, OF Mississippi, moved that the com
mitee rise and report The BILL with recommendation that
do not pass.
| Mr.. McCLERNAND moved that The committee rise and
report the BILL wi the Recommendation that do pass.
| The CHAIRMAN said that both motions 10 order,
bu, could not be acted on ill the bill perfected
| The question was then taken the pending amend
ment--tnat moved yesterday by Mr. VAN DIXIE to amend
the bill Ike it provide for the establishment Of
min. in Jersey Ciy, N.J, in lieu of New York and il
was disagreed to.
Mr. CABLE moved to add proviso 10 the first section
the BILL providing that onequarer Of the aggregate
of gold coined shall be ia gold dollars onequsrter quare
eases one-half in balfesgles eneeighth in esges sn,
one eighth in double eagles
The question being taken The amendment, i, va
agreed TO.
Mr. HOLMES moved to odd TO the bill the following
And be IL further enacfeS, That branch mint OF th
United States be established Charleston South Carolina
that the class Of officers provided By the bill for
branch New York. be provided for branch Chareston
and st the 100000 be appropriated for The purchase
| OF the Site"
Mr. HOLMES remarked that if branch IN mt should b
established in California, he did not think thar would b.
necessary the CITY d Charleston but il established
New York. ttenone would be necessary Charleston
The CHAIRMAN ruled the amendment Of Mr. HoLnE
out Of order.
Mt. HOLMES said that be did no, abo1t the amend
meO bat he cared sbout decsion Of the Chair wou
,skeAn sppea from this decision.
M BURT said that he would be glad 10 hear the Chai
make distinction between this amendment and the one
/ estabiish q mint st Jersey city.
4 The-CHalRMAN cafed the gentleman TO order Stain,
chat all debate was out Of order.