Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-21
suppression Of small Notes.


Of vigorous and decisive course of action.
Suppression Of small Notes. " *
The House yesterday passed the bill to suppress
the circulation Of small notes in the District Of Co
lumba, precisely in the same terms as it came from
| the Senate. @4lt
We copy from the Sentinel synopsis OF its pro-
visions As the President will no doubt approve
it it may be regarded as the law, after the first Of
November next: qp Gah3 i q
The first section provides, that If any person or
persons, body polite or corporate, within this Dis
trct, shall make, emit ISSUE utter, sign draw, or
endorse any bank note, prolnissory note, or any
instrument of writing, for the payment or delivery
of money, or other valuable thing, or of anything
purporting TO be valuable thing, Of less amount
than five dollars, to be used as a paper currency
or az circulating medium, either as money or in
lieu Of money, Of any other currency, every such
person, and every member officer, agent of such
body polite corporate, concerned in, or assent
ing to, such making, emitting, issuing, uttering,'
signing, drawing, or endorsing, as aforesaid, for
any Of the purposes mentioned shall forfeit and
pay the sum of ten dollars for each and every such
bank note, promissory note, or instrument of wri-
ting SO made, issued, emitted, uttered, signed,
drawn, or endorsed-one-half to tho use Of any
any person who shall sue therefor, and the other
half to the county Of Washington.
The second section makes it unlawful for any
person or persons, body polite or corporate, TO
pass or offer to pass within the District Of Colum-
bia, any such paper; the violation Of the statute
to be visited with fine of not less than Eve nor
more than ten dollars, for every such offence one
half to the use Of the person who shall sue there
for, and the other half to the of the county of
Washington.
The third section provides that IL the party, who
shall issue such paper refuse to redeem the same
in gold and silver he or they shall forfeit and pay
the sum Of twenty dollars for each and every such
bank note the amount to inure to the benefit Of
the party presenting the note.
The fourth section provides that each and every
forfeiture under the foregoing provisions Of this
act shall be recovered in action Of debt before
any justice OF the peace in the District of Coum-
ba, in the name of any person who shall sue
therefor; jurisdiction being given to every justice
of the peace with this view.
The fifth section makes void and illegal all con-
tracts concerning matters in which notes under the
denomination of five dollars enter.
The sixth annuls the licenses Of oil authorized
traders, &C., who shall either receive or pay out
any paper under the denomination Of FIVE dollars,
any other paper not payable In specie demand.
The seventh section makes It the duty of the
marshal Of the District Of Columbia and Of every
constable Of this District, to give information TO
some justice of the peace in the county, of every
violation of this law which may come to his know
ledge
The eighth section provides that the trial Of
any cause other than criminal prosecution, UNI
der the provisions Of this act it shall be lawful for
the court before whom such cause Is pending, to
cause to be brought before said court and examined
as witness, any defendant to any such suit, his
agent, employer, touching the matters and
things in controversy, and to employ such process
to effect the object aforesaid Is usual in other
cases.
The act is to 80 into effect from and after the first
day of November next. All such parts of former
laws rs may be repugnant to this are repealed.