Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-22

manufacturing interests, which are almost exclusively
connected with the internal trade Of the country and the
home Market receive greatly less attention and consider
alton from the community than the comparatively small
amount of our foreign commerce.
Ny views of the beneficial results which would follow
tariff with. fixed and reliable rather than with sliding
and consequently uncertain rates Of duties have under
gone change. now recur to them as duty imposed
upon me by the acts establishing the Treasury De-
partment
The mportatons Of foreign merchandise for the fiscal
year ending Both June last
The exports the period were, of do
nestle merchandise - $l5i,930,A7
Foreign merchandise reexpored : l2o37,o43
To,,, e,oorts sleeso7, 400
The imports specie during period S3
In tobacco Table T) the exports show increse in
quantity of Al 1872 hogsheads and Of value of O32
having 1861, hogsheads valued at
1852, 1877 097 hogsheads, valued at SlO, OH ,2S3'
The exports of rice 1878 uerres, valued at
So, 47O O29-being increase in quantity OF IA, l43
erces and of value $780, 1922 compared with the pre-
yious year.
The exports of breadstus and provisio amounted to
$25 $50 1887, being an increase of S3, 9O7, b6.
The aggregate exports of domestic merchandise show
decrease, as compared with TIE precious year, Of
$24, $40 585.
The exports of specie show increase q $lS 2Ol $685.
and of expectation importation Of $751;,
1861.
Mint
The operations of the Mint particularly at Phiadel-
pha which point the greater portion Of all gold dust
and bullion for assay and cohge have been
conducted with remarkable degree OF FomPtness and
dispatch such remove all cause OF cdmplant on the
part of depostors Notwithstanding the enormous amounts
Of gold dust which have been and still continue to be re-
ceived at that institution
The coinage the mint for the year ending the 3lst OF
December, 1852, was as follows:
Gold-sos47 pieces the value s5l,5o5 e3s 80
copper-5i Issi pieces pieces $3.50 81
-
Total S52,4O4oo9 "A
The full returns for the last quarter Of the year have
been received from the branch mints but the proba
BILE amount of their coinage will De about $4 100000 of
which the proportion at the branh mint at New Orleans
will be So, 800 900, and the reminder about equally d
vided between the branch at Chlrotte North Carolina
and Dahlonega, Georgia.
In accordance with the act of last session, proposals
have been invited by public advertisement both here and
in California for the erection Of mint at San Francisco
in accordance with plans prepared with great under
the direction of this Department however have great
doubts whether any proposals will be made for the
erection of suitable building and the supply OF the
needful machinery for the sum Of $300,0o0, to which
amount Congress has restricted the expenditure ncud
ing both Of these objects.
Even, however should proposals be made which would
be satisfactory and could be accepted by the Department
progress could be made with the work until Congress
authorizes the purchase of te and makes the needful
appropriation therefor as from the best information
in possession Of the Department of the public
serves in that city afford proper and eligible locations Tor
this building.
By the act or the both September, 1850 making APP
preparations for the civil and diplomatic expenses Of the
Government for the year ending the Both of june 1851
Congress authorized the appointment OF United States
assayer for California and directed contract to be made
by this Department with the proprietors OF some well
established assayng works for assayng gold and forming
into bars and ngot under the supervision OF the as
sayer contract concluded and ample security re-
qured for its faithful performance and the contractors
limited in their charges for the services rendered by
them the fixed by the Legislature Of California in
establishing State assay office.
The Department was induced, with view to furnish
far had the power safe and convenient currency
to the people Of California to authorize the receipt Of the
of the assay office thus established for public dues
especially as they have all the essential requisites Of coin
and this believed to be the object Of Congress
The general appropriation act Of the last session con-
tanned provision by which the further receipt OF these
issues was prohibited and in obedience thereto the in
structons under which they had been received were
revoked.
The Department has to believe from petitions
addressed TO ii by public meeting OF the merchants o.
San Francisco and from information received through
other reliable sources that much inconvenience and EN-
barrassment has resulted from this legislation IL re-
mains with Congress- however TO what relief shall DC
extended and the subject is submitted to their consider
alton.
The inconvenience arising from the scarcity Of silver
coinage still continues, and to such extent as calls
loudly for some legislative action TO remedy the evil
Whether the present premium which silver bears In CON-
parson with gold arises from the continued heavy influx
of the latter and its consequent deprecated value OF
from special and unusual demand in Europe for silver
from both combined, is not very material to
discuss present. for If il arises from either both OF
these causes there is for believing that there
any present prospect Of either being removed 50 as TO
create any reduction in the value Of silver.
IT, as believe is the fact this difference in the rela-
tive value of the two metals arises from the immense and
supply of gold which has been furnished from
California and Australia, there be but little doubt
such difference win continue TO increase there IS nc
present indication that there will be reduced supply
from those sources but the contrary, every prospect
Of a still further increase.
This state Of things has banshed almost entirely from
circulation all silver coin Of full weight and what little
remains in the hands Of the community consist principal
Of the pieces Of Spanish coinage Of the fractional
parts of dollar all Of which Of light weight anc
many Of them ten to twenty per cent below their nom
nal value
see remedy for this great existing evil but the
adoption Of the principle embraced in the bill which
ed the Senate during the last session. making issue
Of silver coinage Of such reduced weight viii allow i
to circulate with the gold coinage Of established weight
and fneness.
The principal objection which has been urged against
| the proposed silver coinage is that it could not
without violation Of contracts be made legal tender
for the payment Of debts and that gold would therefore
hereafter be the only legal tender II true that here
tofore the laws Of the United States recognised the
coin OF either metal legal tender and If il was at tho
option Of the creditor TO elect which he would receive
there would be very serious objection changing either
the weight standard neness of any portion Of the coin
But this not the fact it rests with the debtor to SAY
with which description Of coin he viii pay his debts ant
the natural and inevitable consequences Of the premium
which silver bears have to establish practically
gold rs the only legal tender Nor can any legal or cou
table objection be advanced to continuing gold as lega
tander IL rednce either tba