The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-16

Relations upon the subject of the right of wa,
across the lsthmus of Tehuantepec was taken up
Mr.. HALE addressed the Senate for nearly tw
hours in opposition to them.
Mr.. BROOKE commenced reply, but yielde,
the floor; and, motion
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The SPEAKER called to order at eleven o'clocl
Tin accordance with the resolution, adopted yes
terday, changing the hour of meetng;) but there
being no quorum in attendance, the House was
called, and one hundred and twenty eight mem.
bers answered to their names
The Journal was then read.
COINAGE BILL.
The House resumed the consideration of the Sem
ate bill entitled can act amendatory of existing
laws relative to the half dollar, the quarter dollar
the dime, and the half.dime."
Mr.. SHELTON concluded his remarks from a
former day, in favor of the bill; the friends of
which, he said, would do we'll to vote down all
amendments. The main object of it was simply
10 supply the want of small silver change, not to
disturb the value of gold. The House, by passing
the measure, would receive the thanks of the PEG.
pie throughout the country. From sense of pub
lie duty, he moved the previous question
MIR. FREEMAN moved that the bill be laid upon
the table.
MIR. BROOKS expressed the hope that the mo.
ton would be Withdrawn. The bill was too i'm
portant in its character to be thus summarily
disposed of.
The question having been taken, the House
refused to lay the bill upon the table-yeas 81,
nays 100.
The demand for the previous question was then
seconded-ayes 70, noes 40.
The House then voted the amendments pro-
posed by the Committee of Ways and Means; and
rejected all of them.
The bill was read third time, when the cues
ton was stated on its passage.
Mr. HARF moved 10 lay the bill upon the table,
and the motion was disagreed to-yeas So;
nays Ill.
M DJTNuAM roov.J ,bot ,bo HI, - 1890
mitted to the Committee of Ways and Means.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, said it was evident
rom the votes taken that ma jority of the House
were in favor of passing the bill under considera-
ton; and II would take no more time to act def
nitively upon it now than at future times besides
fit would be economical.
The House refused to recommit the bill, and then
passed it-ayes "a, noes not counted.
The bill, passed, provides:
L. That from and after the first day of June, one
thousand eight hundred and fifty two, the weight
of the half dollar, the piece of fifty cents, shall be
one hundred and ninety two grains; and the quar-
ter dollar, dime, and half dime, shall be respect
lively one-half, oneh fifth, and tenth the weight
of said half dollar.
the above section shall be legal tenders in paw
ments of debts for all not exceeding five dol
lars.
8. That in order to procure bullion for the re-
quiste coinage of the subdivisions of the dol ar au-
thorized by this act, the treasurer of the mint
shall, with the approval of the Director purchase
such bullion with the bullion fund of the mint He
shall charge himself with the gain arising from
the Coinage of such bullion into coins of nominal
value exceeding the intrinsic value thereof and
shall be credited with the difference between such
intrinsic value and-the price paid for such bullion
and with the expense of distributing ouch coins "a
is hereinafter provided The balance to his credit
or the profit of said coinage shall be from time to
time, on warrant of the director of the mint
transferred to the account of the Treasury of the
United States.
a That such coins shall be paid out at the mint
IN exchange for gold COINS par, in sums not less
than one hundred dollars and shall be lawful also
totransmit parcels Of the same, from time to time to
the assistant treasurers, depositors, and other off,
GERS OF the United States, under general regula-
tions, proposed by the director Of the mint, and
approved by the Secretary of the Treasury: Pro-
ctded, h0tcerer, That the amount coined into quar-
ter dollars, dimes, and half dimes, shall be regu.
lated by the Secretary of the Treasury.
5. That no deposit for coinage into the half dol
lar quarter dollar, dime, or half dime shall here
after be received, other than those made by the
treasurer of the mint, herein authorized and
upon account of the United States.
g. That at the option of the depostor gold silver
may be cast into bars or ingots of either pure
tai, or OF standard hnenesS as the owner may pre-
fer, with stamp upon the same, designating its
weight and hneness; but piece of either gold
or silver shall be cast into bars ingots ofless
weight than ten ounces, except pieces Of ounce,
of two ounces, of three ounces, and of five ounces,
all of which pieces of less weight than ten
shall be OF the standard hneness, with their weight
and hneness stamped upon them but in cases
whether gold and silver deposits be coined cast
into para or ingots there shall be charged to the
oepositor, IN addition to the charge now made, for
renning and parting the metals, one half of one
per cent, the money arising from this charge of
one.na.l per cent. shall be charged to the trea-
surer OF the mint, and from time to time IN the
warrant OF the treasurer of the mint shatI he
transferred into the Treasury of the United States
ana Proo'ded ho1ceUer, That nothing contained in
this section shall be considered as annlvinn ~ ~
half-dollar or quarter-dollar, the dime and half
dime. W
That from time to time there shall be struck and
coined at the mint of the United States and the
branches thereof, conformably in all respects to
law, and conformably in all respects to the stand
ard OF gold coins now established by law coin OF
gold OF the value of three dollars, or units; and all
the provisions OF the act entitled can act to au
thorize the coinage of gold dollars and double ca
gles," approved March B. 1S49, shall be applied to
the coin herein authorized, far the same NAV
be applicable; but the devices and shape of thu
three dollar piece shall be fixed by the Secretary
of the Treasury.
g. That this act shall be in force from and after thu
lst day of June next.
Mr. PRESTON KING called up the bill from
the Senate to prevent in certain cases failure Of
delay of justice in the courts of the District o
Columbia; and it was passed.
The House concurred in some of the amend
nents OF the Senate to the bill to prevent frauds OF
'he treasury of the United States.
DELAY THE PUBLIC BUSINESS
Inc ne House resolved itself into Committee o
.ne w noe on the state of the Union-Mr. ORR il
tne cpalr-and took up the bill making appropria
tons ior me support of the Post Office Depart
nen. dnaving peen read, it was laid aside to b.
Inc committee then took I'D the hill ma kino a n
preparations ior the civil and diplomatic expense.
OF me government for the year ending June 80
Mr.. VENABLE proceeded To aneak Of the All.
satisfaction which exists in the public mind OWING
w she neglect OF the business before Congress