Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-12-23

/
The amount OF silver colt that yearly manu- ac,ured
Into Swsry. and other used iu tho mechanical 10
the United States has oca been subject Of speculation
aud inquiry Yet do know that any data have ev-
or been collected from which statement may
be formed as to such consumption. Enquiries have only
ELECTED the reply that the uses Ia ncchsnicsm which
silver is put various preclude the possbilt
Of obtaining reliable statement of forming satisfe-
tory estimate Of tho quantity used We are how
ever assured that oe the Of silver coin employee
in manufactures in this country lcs Il bears no
proportion TO that exported fsrcigu countries for
lar purposes and ono emiueut manufacturing jeweer 70
marked, that export duty silver wouN be advisable,
orm many considerations in accordance with the nc
Mus Of our Governtucpt An attempt to prevent IN,
OF native coin in manufactures, It is thought would fail
aud IL successful would have tho effect of FLOODING
county with heavily alleged silver wa,e of German
ufacture.
recent attempt to ascertain facts with reEerepc. -
article on the above entitled subject while il hiss been in
the main unsuccessful has nevertheless acaua,rte Ma nh
points with respect it, that may be new and n,.
resting to portion OF the pubic. We believe IL il com
mon mprcssion-upiversal a. far We have observ,J
that the arcri,c coins ofJc~cers-hosc they prefer n,
foe which they pay premum-are those enar u,ipr ron,
tho minis OF Mexico aud the South American repubIcs
We quite surprised hear that such is NOT tb c.,
that they considered uncertain purity h,, ,,
the coins sought Tor, and forming the great bulk of tho
meetings OF jewellers are those bearing the stamp Of the
rpyi
OF the standard; the quarter aud hall doss OF the old
Standard commanding premiam Of / per cent, French
five franc pieces and Spanish med dollars are th. only
coins regarded with equal favor, aud are very
All others rated III value a, OF per cent less
These facts account Tor the onacty with which tho
Mexican s'1pences. shil g and qnarerdoar that form
so large portion OF I'd. small coins OF the middle
and rs States. kept in circulation and also for
the Compathv. scarcity, notwithstanding the
ofhe United States Mint, OF all Uncd States except
those Of a recent date The first unworthy the s,,,n
specie brokers' and the second gathered ether
tor domestic usc or tor cxportton. the dsayor with
which tie coinage OF the Uated States il r,csr.
for the purposes OF the crucioc has the elect of Sours,
70 cause it ~ be- retained circulating medium: and il
will probably not Or used in manufactures OF silver A. lr
adequate supply Of the preferred coins can b.
ell, and, ii be anticipated, will Oe exported so
Largely ne that oi the Older standards.
y movement made few years since by the L nj
tel States government, With Wow force foreign sill
Yer coins Oh. of circulation; but the continued large alb
sotpOn OF domestic coins in msnui,ctures together with
the much larger Shipmcat OF them foreign countries
consHired against aud defeated success; and il was
soon a6ardoncd The same causes have prevented re.
newai OF the effort; and it may be doubted whether it will
ever succeed whether silver coins be or ;,y u.
less such tnort be sustained nnd aided pu lie srn
ment to which provision for the redemption OF tho
Je'tonaois coins at tho accepted value, may be ne
{, sSaTy.
worn aud battered s'IpeCces aud shincs would be, the
utmaied adoption OF the principles of the fedora. cur
'ency IN marking goods, making change and small
money Transactions Il IL true, groceries and small
habcriashcIy establishments would be com.
PEELED 10 abandon the practice of counting twelve cents
shiug, and eight shilngs-niny. six cents dollar
from when they derive considerable profit and to
secure the proper returns OF trade in dcc-nut To
say, honesi-mauner bur argument against the propo
sition will be attempted on these premises.
IL mas been suggested, thl accomplish the adopcon
Of the federal currency eagles dollars Dimes and ccuts
our practical well theoretical system o counting
money, worthy the ,orts OF the American movement
We snal not discuss tr point, but leave i. 10 the con
'ideraon ~ the pubic, satisfied that argument rela-
tive 10 the question called The more general use
OF the drc half dimes and three cent pieces couId he
secured If the Government officers were uniformly in
siruciei TO receive the urcgu small .vmcnt
but not to pas the latter All such coins should
be carefully laid aside by the Post 0cr clerks aud other
officers OF the Government and az proper time should
sent TO the Mint at Philadelphia for melting. under.
s:ood Eow thai the Mint is prepared TO supply such
quantities OF the small silver n will obs ate any
necessity Tor the OF the foregn deprecated coin by
any portion OF the communt; and are surprised "a
ind that the Post OGicc is this city, aud this NAV be
said ef oier Offices the clerks allowed to paw out
such foreign c"in- II that this matter OF
sufficient Importance TO Claim the attention of Congress.
and secure the passage of law which, while il shoud
encourage the reception OF foreign small silver coins by
Government officials, should prohibit under penalty
the repayment OF these coins by such ocers-and at
tor all purposes Of Change coins should be uni
| fotmy used