Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-20
NATIONAL NTELLIGENCER.
THE CURRENCY In CALIFORNIA.

city, and the San Francisco papers are filled with
the proceedings of public meetings and discussions
on the subject The Democratic journals attempt
ed to throw the responsibility of the measure upon
the Treasury Department; but this attempt failed so
completely as we'll in the public meetings of bank
ers and merchants as in the newspaper discussions,
that the Democratic organs had to yield the point
and they, rs we'll as the community at large, con-
ceded that the Secretary of the Treasury could not
have acted otherwise than to direct the enforcement
of the plain and undsputed provisions Of the law.
In consequence of the non-appearance of MIR. Nc
Corkle one of the Democratic Representatives from
California, at the public meeting agreeably to aI-
pointment the San Francisco Herald of the 10th
October contained some remarks on the subject,
from which we make the following extract:
cat the adjourned meeting of the merchants held at
the Exchange Monday last, resolution was passed
unanimously requesting the Senators and Representatives
Of this State to inform the people why and wherefore an
act inimica to the interests OF the merchants mHe
and throughout the State the clause In the
appropriation bin prohibiting the receipt of ngots for
public dues by the Collector of the Customs at this place.
permitted to be enacted by Congress without earn
est remonstrance their part This resolution was Of
fred in consequence of the disappointment of the assem-
bled merchants at not seeing Mr. McCorke at the meet
ing it having been understood that he the author Of
the Objectionable clause and had announced his inten
ton of publicly stating the that induced him to
act he did in the matter Doubtless when he is
yaescent sufficiently restored to health to enable him
to bear the exertion he will comply with the expressed
wishes Of the merchants and the unexpressed desire of
the whole community. Indeed Mr. McCorkle ewes it to
himself well as to the public TO make known his rea
sons for acting as he did in the matter Ex-Governor
Smith made ingenious effort TO throw the whole blame
of the embarrassment into which the mercantile COM
munity were thrown by the passage of the obnoxious
clause the shoulders of the Secretary Of the Treasury
but the discussion which ensued to show that the
Secretary bameess in the matter, and that other
tI.. raa.I - rsal. .1acxs
This brought out Mr.. McCorkle in the public
prints and the nature of his explanation, and its
prompt and complete refutaton, may be gathered
from the following reply by writer over the sigma
ture of G. G. B.:
TO the Merchants and Busiaess Men Of San Francisco.
Your Representative in Congress- the Hon Mr. Nc
Corkle in his reply to request explain personally
the second section of the Civil and Diplomatic bill passed
by Congress at its last session. in the morning papers
gives history of the bill and its authorship but charges
the injurious effects of the execution of the whole section
the Secretary of the Treasury As there
within my personal knowledge which, on Mr. McCorkle's
own showing TO establish triumphant vindication
of Gov Corwin, and wash his hands of all responsibility
for the injury to you and your from that law
and its execution venture to reply.
To you the merchants of San Francisco appeal to
decide as impartial jury of the country, whose
head the guilt of this transaction lies, if guilt there be
Let US look as business mentor make no appeal to
and the evidence to sustain the verdict which you shall
render.
The that present you is simply this that The
Secretary Of the Treasury strictly complied nth his oath
Of once IN the he took and be the law good bad
be its effects bghting and blasting or highly beneficial
and productive 10 your and yourselves that he
stands entirely acquitted Others entitled to the
good or evil that may flow from the law let justice be
awarded though the heavens fall And now to the issue
We have the law and its authorship in these words as
taken from Mr.. McCorke's letter
The law to which reference execution Of por
correctly pibs6s II the a ora Of the 9th o. 6Sobe o'''
And The Secretary q the Treasury hereby directed TO contract
EXCEEDING per cent with the propeors Of one and
grSsse with to Of more than ssr.ying establishment
discharge the duties prescribed and the designated BY
yernment for the ending treth eighteen
and hons and no gold silver other than coin Of standard
By existing laws shall b receivable q dues the United
bill received my most cordial support and not
vhstanding the warnings o. the regard IL
self but at the time justice myself
q the interests Of the state in it, ezocason.-
Thus Mr.. McCorkle avows himself the father ofe lar.
but charges the Department with utter and reckless
disregard Of the interests Of the State in s execution
He further observes:
viii Be observed that BY the section above
% or more establishments California asayng Of gold
The second clause Of the section simply reenacent Of All the
r ever pSs Sy ConsT..' Tszulang and hsins the Lind n
True and presume no one viii deny The PROPAGATION Who win pre-
Franci-col ~ y san
here then 70 find the present dis.
tres Of the commercial community
irst In the illegal and unconstitutional Of the Secretary Of
illegal and gss aO Of the assay once being the standard
hneness, for Government dues.
second In the late order q the Acting Secretary q the Treasury
~ on~Diy t0n tfU and his H11 rHad isse
go. q The standard hnenes which could have been put operation
IN se s % prevent any embarrassment
Why that IN hot haste S0 days g ne passog, eas ac,
The order Il issued to the Collector
for das % The United states under the law while
'Aa,ag 'Scrtary Tsats ~ Leter % M. Rdpgf
The Department be and distre.. would sIor
e Issuance q the ORDER hence the Acting Secretary proposed
The remedy under nj. eye Il could not e.sp him but
g ~ n9s o%gon VII, his objects and apply
The remedy provided law II properly and exrit,ouy
1 ~ . u y, have ss but one cent The
qIst~LS '''''''''' WI cost '''o ana "'''~
His charges above Of the cause Of the difficulty are
two, viz: '
First: The illegal and uneonstitstoaar' order Of the
Secretary Of the Treasury authorizing the oecto ~
Francisco TO receive illegal spurious invots ~ the
assay office anterior to the date Of the late Law
The Department, in its late communication has s,o,od
that inasmuch as Congress had legalized the sue Of
the assay once therefore they considered these npot
as made legal for purposes Of the Government by the
act which authorized the emission Of such ingots and
that its action was taken high legal advice that
true construction Of the act Without
at all TO understand this question: does il not strike the
mind OF business man strange that Congress- having
authorized by law the emission OF certain kind az cold
COIN in certain FORM which said coin or inpots are
worth at the mint, learn, a quarter per cent more
than legal CON- should refuse receive them for Govern
ernmentduesi But admitting that the Secretary has
erred in the construction Of this act and that his eminent