The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-11-16
r. as Editor " as New YorE S1n; ~

By permission Of the Hon Charles 9ilpin, mayor Of
Philadelphia have examined the twenty one counter
felt plates lately recovered by the yganl police, aud also
all the stock which has accumulated for years With
lew unimpoanl exceptions all the plates were The gen.
uine work OF bank mole engfayers This fact will mol
appear strange when consider that all bank plates
are stamped by means OF dies which used and
over again Tor various banks aud when bank fails
the assets sold. and The plates OF the institution
often disposed OF also. Very many OF these plates are
in use among eounierieefs and many OF them now
IN possession OF the mayor OF Philadelphia will only
describe two IN order 10 give your readers idea oil the
utter worthessness OF the present patchwork system oil
engraving. and OF the utter useessness OF attempting 10
detect counterfeit note by the quality OF the engraving
There was steel bank plate OF The denomination ihree
dollars original engraving OF Messrs Caslieur oafsnd
Barton Edmonds. The title OF this plate Mad oeen
erased tor The purpose Of printing Without any Title
There also copper plate, having engraved upon II
in mastery style The names OF eight different banks
Now The reitefs. by printing these plates
in combination, could produce Two hundred thousand dol
lars of spurious money, on eight different banksall the
engraving upon which would be recognised as the genu-
inc work OF our best artists
When The work OF such men as Durand Casieur can
be BY any trick obtained on counterfeit plate, is Il not
positive evidence that there Is something wrong This
patchwork system of stamping bank plates has been
tolerated TOO long is the grand source OF all The mis-
chief There IS law governing the engraving OF bank
note 10 give the utmost security against imitation which
is less certain than any law OF Nature lii precisely
the that which gives security against the I'M
la,on OF a house, painting, world, or universe.
combination OF mechanical contrvances, is worthy OF
omenis thought We must openly say 10 the counter
ieer- make my house, my pain,ing, my world, or my
universe thusio i you can We must let the genius,
The TALENT or the inspiration OF the author be employed
that the task cannot be EyADED counterfeit then
would be less perfect according to the ability OF
the counterielter.
How is il with our bank notes now? They are CON-
posed OF many parts; the parts varously
bned the engraver stamps the plates by OF dies
the dies used for multitude oil banks; the combina
tons varied 10 suit The fancy OF customers The
names OF the banks and The denominations OF The notes
are changed and altered with the greatest care. A
counerfeller OF The least tact and ingenuity OBJ
lain the original work OF the engravers piece by piece
he obtains old bank plates and alters The little 10 good
banks he elecirotypes the vignetles demon
nations, medal heads Nc aud composes bank plates ul
perfectly the original engtavers he evades the
OF the transfer press and cylinder die by employing The
in quart pot Thus he produces wellengraved bank
plates without being able 10 engrave one single ioa oil
them with his own hands The business OF counterfeit.
ing is now open 10 the whole world By adopting 4
engravers alone in order 10 effect passabe counterfeit
and then his work would be recognised readily as
the handwriting OF familiar friend.
Let there be but design upon note with the letter
ing and engraved by the hand OF the engra
YER Let the banks employ the young and talented
who. without cent OF capital, qualified to
bank plate difficult OF imitation, according to natures
fixed laws. The works OF Durand, Casileur, Jones,
Burt, Emile, Hnshelwood, Rice Hanks, Dewitt, Smith,
Buie Andrews, Duthe, aud hundreds OF others, when
properly laid out upon The original plate never could
pear upon counterfeit, without guilty Knowledge on
The part OF him whose work should SO appear Let the
banks study their interest, and learn 10 Judge for
themselves what the best method system OF engraving
is, and they will no longer be deceived and humbugged
by false theories, and patchwork contrvances Of
genious mechanics, which may for few years 10
afford little protscton, but which will prove in the end
what the present system is--a curse 10 the country
w I. ORMSBY 10 yesev :,