The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-02

before the adjournment, and the proposition 10 employ
an assay othee by contract the most reasonable terms
Tor the assayng of gold in bars San Francisco was
presented 10 all that could be enacted for the gold
industry OF California before the end OF that session
deemed expedient TO accede 10 that enactment which
might give some commercial facilities, but without any
thought that IL could lead 10 gross usurpalion as
ury, with without the advice OF the director of the
min or any other officer OF this government, that
would have embarrassed and deferred the passage OF the
California mint bill
These memoralisis say that we intended to give them
power 70 make that which would be legally receivable
for public dues-in fact coin. deny it, No such pow
or was ever intended 10 he given. The power to coin
money is conferred BY the constitution exclusively the
Congress OF the United States. will go largely
ulary before the Senate. But, inasmuch have
been very bitterly assaed in regard TO this natter shall
now conrovert some statements which these memoriass
make Among other things, they say OF this enactment
which they ask you to repeal that its object was. and
10 prohi6 the receipt OF the issues OF the United States
assay oihce tor customs and other public dues.
Now, Will state what our object was Ii was to re-
strain the exercise OF legislative power usurped by the
Secretary OF the Treasury 10 wit the sovereign power
OF coinage; and to reduce the charge Tor doing what the
law had authorized, wit the assaying of bars from
two and three fourths per cent to per cent and to
arrest the substitution and augmentation OF debased
metallic currency for the lawful coins OF the land
Their exclusion. We never intended to confer the coin
ing power upon the Secretary OF the Treasury in the pro-
vision OF 1850; otherwise would not have passed the
act during the last session of Congress prohibiting the
cept OF ngos made under the aforesaid provision be-
cause that would have been violation OF contract: We
by the assaying office. We wished merely that bars
should be prepared for commercial purposes
The memoralsts refer to the subtrsasury act for the
authority for making these assayed bars receivable but
that law expressly enacs that all public dues shall be
paid in gold and silver coin only p and goes further
and that if any officer shall neglect. evade, or vi
oate this law, he shall be Immediately reported by the
Secretary OF The Treasury to the President with the facts
of such neglect evasion, violation, and also Con-
gress
Here is palpabe violation of the sub-treasury law,
which is brought by these memoriass the notice of
the Senate and OF the country; for they show that the
collector OF the customs at San Francisco has refused
conform to the law, and has taken the responsibility OF
receiving other gold and silver than the OF
the land and il has never been reported to Congress,
the law requires nor has he been dismissed from office
will detain the Senate, bur will permit false
statements concerning the interests of California 70
They say. for instance that the establishment OF this
saying office has raised the price OF gold dust from 6 TO
$l7 25 per ounce. This is not true. Competition and
other independent of this assay Office have in
creased said price. Two and threequarters per cent
the price this assay office allowed 10 charge about
fifty cents psr ounce; besides, the miner loses his sill
worth about fourteen cents per subject to
charge for parting and alloy, the stamping OF sugs
the miner fifty hve cents or more per ounce, which is
taken from his gold fransu to the mint at Phadel-
pha where these sugs have 10 be separated and
more valuable than the mere dust ITSELF How, then,
the assay office, independent OF other causes have made
the price OF gold dust rise from Sl6 10 $l7 25l This
Office intended to give mercbanabe form TO
The goId and therefore expected to be Of
vice.
public dues at their real value, my colleague has sug
gested, if that be asceralned The mint publishes
them TO be worth $40 80 only for the gold they Contain
and to be of irregular weight and value. They 60
in this memorial. Mr.. President, and present some
from memorials which here last session in
favor of mint connected with This assay office, and
they presume speak in the OF the people OF Cali
ornia Why, all these memorials originated at tins as
say oce and those OF the last session were sent to me
after mint bill passed the Senate. They sought to
connect The Two together in public estimation, and thus
help their speculation Of the assay office through the
popularity OF the mint As TO the views OF the people OF
California, they not given IN these memorials for
they came from the people They were got up by
paftes who have reaped enormous profits from
the order issued by the Secretary OF the Treasury But
with all their exertons sending them by express through
the country whig electoneering document, they
could not get the signatures OF more than thousand out
OF the seventy thousand cast in the late election
No coin receivable for the public dues, except that
which is made by authority OF law; and no foreign
coin be received unless its value s regulated by law,
and particularly specified The coming is Of the
highest powers Of this and other goyernments and if
had intended that ,h,s office should issue coin,
do you suppose that would not have provided pen
atty for counerfeng debasing, mutilang it, Could
have given this power without prescribing penalties
for violations OF the high trust devoyedi The ac re-
peat, was merely intended to furnish commercial faci-
lcsto determine and stamp the hneness OF gold bullion
in bars instead of leaving in grains and Jumps, and
was designed TO accomplish ,hs OBJECT, auaohae ,ns,
plenty Of in California 10 pay the public dues before
this order Issued from the Treasury Department,
making ingots receivable coin Coin always is and
ever will be- imported and exported according 10 the
wants and course OF commerce
In IsaS and 1S49 there great scarcity OF coin,
but il afterwards became abundant. And in my opinion,
il il had been for this usurfaton OF power would
have femaned so, and should have got along very
well until mint was established. But by the substitu
ton consequent upon that usurpaon OF an inferior and
debased currency for the coins expressly and exclusively
authorized by the laws of the United States TO be received
payment of public Dues the coin was shipped out OF
the country.
will now declare that | entirely opposed TO the
manner in which the Treasury Department has proposed
10 construct mint in California, with all due Difference to
those whom the progress OF that work IS ntrusted
new state of affairs has arisen in the bullion trade OF the
world since the mint in Philadelphia planned and
be adapted this change. The plan OF the mint pro-
leced 10 seIvey copied from that in Philadelphia, with
all incongruies and would not be suitable to my State
at all By the leave OF the Senate will on ht OCCASION
ask their consideration OF the question whether we had
not better suspend the building OF mint the plan pro-
posed and until ascertain from those who under
stand the subject what kind OF mint is best calculated
for California This be better done after the fourth
OF March next. when those shall come into power who
responsible TO the people for the in which they
expend money appropriated by Congress.
Ever since took my seat have had to contend with
the Philadelphia mint, closely connected with this assay
Office and attempting TO establish local monopoly in)u
Gus alike 10 the interests of my constituents and OF the
commerce OF the country. And intend shortly to bring
TO the notice OF the Senate abuses ia the management Of
this mint and its branches.
They have esorted TO fasehood to mslead legislation
by miepresenting the capacity OF the mint; and 70 co0
cea this imposue, they neglected to separao s
YER from The Gold coming without parting, contrary to
the report oil the Committee Fnance TO which have
therobv dep wing the dep0Gloso OF their silver