The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-09-02
AduIteration OF Wrought silver.
10 the Editor Of The Union;

10 the Editor ofMe linton;
SrR The manu- ac,us of plate and plated goods in this
country IN quantities nearly proPoronate TO the increase
If our circulating medium relieves from tie neces-
,iy Of making any apology Tor calling your attention 10
the fac, that in this country alone, of all countries the
world so far as my knowledge extends are individuals
EXPOSED TO imposlons in the mpuriiy of wrought plate
loss always pIoportionate 10 the quantity possessed,
We have no standard determined on. no qualify 10 be
ascet,ained no official stamp or mark by which value
NAV be authenticated. Although legislative provision
for this might seem TO involve reflection OF dishonesty
on the part Of manufacturers OF gold and silver generally.
the honest man is evidently interested in lis adoption.
since he thus frees himself from liability to suspicion
and injury in his occupation from the arlulness aad dis
honesty Of others. Certain it is that very great com.
pIains have been made by Americans travelling or res
ien in Europe aud possessed of plate manufactured in
this country that subjecng this property 10 the test
assay offices. large and very serious deficiency in the
proper qualify has been discovered proper respects the
amour, paid for the same, and after due allowance for
labor and expended by the manufacturers LIE, The
recipients of large amounts of plate from public bodies or
select friends tell their experience, comparison Of the
actual sum of money collected for the purpose and the
intrinsic and exlrinsic value OF the gift The writer OF
The present note has in remembrance massive gold PEN
cl-case with scroll and inscription, presented him by
society Of young ladies-and young ladies' certainly
would not deceivewhich, taking 10 Europe, he found
10 be Coated DFdSe III we Satu 10 nave any
national standard FOR wrought plate is that OF Spanish
dollars ba, the great quantity OF adul!erated wrought
pate-this in many instances containing only wchrds
slverdclaes the necessity OF such provision pro-
pose Whatever the quality of the standard may be in
the event OF such provision being made, il certainly
should no, be inferior, but, the contrary ought to
be OF superior quality TO the standard OF the coin for
inferior, the coin would most certainly be used for all
the purposes OF bullion whenever The latter should happen
10 be at higher price than The CON- such superiority
in The coin would ADM, Of an sdmixiure OF copper 10
reduce il 10 The lawful standard but il the standard OF
The coin should he inferior TO The standard Of wrought
pae and thus require large addition OF fine silver 10
bring il up 10 the required quality, the expense OF such
addition would entirely remove the temptation Bot the
respective standards of wrought plate should be the same
throughout the United States. otherwise advantage
wond be taken by certain OF these. in The mode above
alluded 10, the rjuy Of other States Tne ease with
which ARTICLES manufactured in one State whose stan
dard was inferior, into others whose standard might be
Of a superior iaiiy, and the diversity of designations
with their peculiar marks impossible for any other than
dealers in bullion TO remember, would, with the consen,
Of the States plainly place this whole matter within the
province OF congressional action. Whether there should
France do not propose to discuss What is wanted is
some official stamp mark denopg some standard quail.
ty OF plate and preventing the possibility Of imposition;
and the further security the public OF penalty against
manufacturers and Others for counerfeng or rdnsnos
ing such marks
-#H""# Yours &c,