Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-20

arrestng the receipt OF those ingots al tne
in San Francisco by his former order Was not that sta
tute to take instant effect What he then to do bu
precisely he did doto say TO the Collector OF SaI
Francisco, Previous TO this time you nave received
California ngots for dues TO the United states py my or
ders and under what supposed TO DC just
of the law establishing the assay Office but to-day Con
gress has especially prohibited their further receipt
/ am bound to obey the law you must stop at once
The law gives time for notice 10 your merchants
prepare and obtain CON- but is imperative and instant
YOU can take no more" Such the only course under
the law which he could take; and submit the Question
to the merchants of San Francisco and leave them TO
swer Was the Secretary right in executing law of Con
Congress wrong IN not enforcing the law al
fuure time when coin could have been brought here in
exchange for ingotsg Another question is propounded
to merchants Suppose the Secretary had NOT issued
this circular but the Representative had brought the law
with him and had it laid before the Collector would he
1.-THE Coector have been bound to have obeyed II
without the circular Of the Secretary Does circular
letter from the Secretary add any force to the duties OF
collector obey the law? submit to the merchants OF
Francisco if the summing of the on this point
is simply this Congress knew that ngots were re-
ceved by order Of the Secretary for duties at the custom
house in San Francisco and that although not possess
ing the legal characteristics of legal con they equal
in value to legal coin that they were paid out at the
house received by every body as legal COIN
This thing they determined to arrest at once without any
notice whatsoever to California and your own kepresen-
tatye inserted this positive absolute prohibition 10 the
Secretary in the law. I'VE forbid your receiving any
gold San Francisco except current coin after
this date Stop those receipts" The Secretary obeyed
this order he to do; and now the servant
is charged with derecton of duty by his master, be-
he obeyed the orders issued by that
master Is this justice? As between man and man what
would it be?
But again, the Representative charges that while the
Secretary in hot haste to obey his the Representa-
ves mandate arrest the practice Of receiving these
ngots he neglected refused at the same time to issue
orders for contracting with more assay offices to
coin ingots of standard fneness ohch could hare been
Pm an operation season 10 prerent any embarrassment
Such is grave charge coming from American Repre-
sentative and if true on behalf of the Secretary
ture to enter plea of guilty and submit that he de-
the apprehension Of the merchants of this city
Let us try him on the law and the evidence
Now, then, have in my possession evidence that by
the very mail that brought the circular the Secre
ry gave notice that he desired to contract for
assay offices to assay coin at price not exceeding one
per cent that the person to whom the statement was
sent directed to make the fact known that he was
anxious to contract for such assay offices, at such
price Zone per cent; that the fact made known to
eminent bankers, who made every possible investigation
into the subject and reported that the assay required @
lar could not be done for per cent 1t happens accord
ing TO law that it requires two persons to make con-
tract and further they must be able and willing to con-
tract The Secretary then instituted instant inquiry for
to contract with; and the answer was, as am
informed 1t must continue to be, from all who would or
could entertain such proposition that assay of gold
required under this law be done at per cent
and although the Secretary should advertise for bids
he will do, yet that sc contract 10 assay,
according to law at that price, These are the facts and
yet the Secretary is blamed for executing the order OF
Congress- far he could do, and for not making a
contract when he could find nobody to contract with him.
Now, if this contract to have remeded the evil Gre
ated by the prohibition to receive ngos CON- it should
have been simultaneous with the prohibition and though
dozen had said they ready contract for
saying the terms proposed yet could
have been consummated until signed by the Secretary
and returned here from Washington which must have
IL
such assay Offices would have prevented the embarrass
ment from the order them let ask why did not Con-
provide that until the Secretary could thus contract
for assayng the existing practice to receive ugots should
continue? Then there would have been evil for which
a remedy required.
The remedy" says Mr. McCorkle 'swas under his
eyeit could not escape him." 1t did not escape his
eye He made every possible exertion to ascertain first
whether contract could be made to assay at per
cent, and the answer was, it cannot be done. When
your Representative find person who is able and
willing make such contract at that price then per-
haps If the Secretary has been datory to effect such
contract he be subjected to AS the
stands now, ask all candid men, is he guilty 1t il
true he did not make contract because nobody viii
tract with him the terms proposed and because he ha
had time, if he could find any with him
There is another grave charge made in the letter o
your Representative TO which shall furnish brief bu
trust sufficient reply. The charge is in these words
The bill establishing branch the United States Mint caor
passed the senate Of the United states the 18th day fDcembe
the House Representatives srugg
duration against the opposition Of those interested
The present assay once and their agents. the bill passed the House On
what has been by Acting Secretary
King establishing the Mint
appears that yet he has neither plan specification under
sage Mint through Congress am satisfied my
mind that the and influences delay its execution
1t quite that the Mint Bill finally passed Con-
gress the 18th Of June last but let ask when did
the appropriation pass build that Mint How much was
H. and how and with what guards Is the Secretary
blame that he has not yet plans specifications One
would suppose that such plans would follow the June
preparation and not precede it. the plan Of building
costing million Of money would be very inconvenient to
build an establishment costing three hundred thousand
dollars Now then, on the 3lst Of August, 1852, the
President signed the appropriation BILL which contains
the following:
For establishing the branch Of the United
CISCO California In accordance with provisions approved
third day oJny eighteen hundred ana 6ywo the sum of three
hundred thousand dollars or contract for materials
eep % the lowest bidder amer xy days advertisement
California o SSs THAT THAT &c PSs S1sD .ous s s1s
prevent the transfer Of machinery
States Mint BrAnhes % the San Francisco
valuation TrorSd ~ contract or contracts for the
building and machinery ad gr,h Mint not
for the completion ercced the
lars"
If Governor Corvin has plans or specifications for
the Mint il would that the reason was simply be-
he did not know what Congress would appro-
pirate 10 whom they would con6de the appropriation
when made This is plain statement Of the facts.
Other and conclusive will presume be fur
nished the public which will satisfy the intelligent
chants Of San Francisco that whatever be the evils from
this law Governor Corwn, the law and the evil
dence, stands entirely acquitted Let those who made
the law for its consequences the Secretary Of the
Treasury has nothing do but obey the orders OF Con-
gress. he has done He positively forbidden 70
receive California ngos for duties and he at obeyed
He told 10 contract for assay Offices at per
He made immediate efforts do So but could find no one