Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-17
FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1854.
IN SENATE


Mr. GWIN appealed to the courtesy Of the Senate to
allow him. by unanimous consent to take up the bill to
authorize the coinage Of gold pieces of the value Of ten
eagles and five eagles
That courtesy having been granted, the bill was
taken up, and at the suggestion of Mr. GwN amended
obviate the objections offered by the Chamber Of
Commerce of New York. Other unimportan amendments
were adopted, when
Mr.. BRODHEAD moved further amendment ncreas-
ing the salaries of the director of the mint and treasurer
which he urged with pertinacty, but subsequently
withdrew it at the very earnest solicitation of several
Senators, who, though friendly in the main to the
sure, thought 1T might have tendency to embarrass
the bill
The question was then taken on the passage of the bill
and it was decided in the affirmative, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Adams Allen, Badger, Benjamin, Brown,
Clay Douglas, Evans, Fish, Fitzpatrick, Foote, Gillette,
Rockwell Rus, Seward, Shields, Sde Thomson of New
Jersey, Toombs, Toucey Wade, and wiiams-2s.
NAYs-Messrs Atchison, Bright, Brodhead Chase, Daw
son. Dodge Of Iowa, Fesenden, Hamln, Houston, Stuart
Sumner, Thomson of New Jersey, AMI Walkcr-l3
The following is the bill as passed.
Be enacted de- That there may be coined and issued by
the mint of the United States such of the branch minis
the Secretary of the Treasury may direct gold coin of
the weight of two thousand five hundred and eighty grains
Of the value Of hundred dollars and another Of the
weight of thousand two hundred and nety grains of
the value Of fifty dollars each Of which coins shall be of the
standard fneness prescribed by law for the gold coins Of
the United States
Sec q lind be further enacted That Secretary of the
Treasury the necessary dies and other apparatus be
prepared by proper and sku artists under the supernend
of the director Of the mint Philadelphia for coming
the above coins with such devices notices and figures
be approved by the President the United States the
expense of which shall betrayed from the ordinary appo
praons for the of the mint and branch minis Of the
United States
Sec s. And be further enacted That the said coins shall
be legal tender and shall be received their respective
values established by this bill in payment of all dues
the United States ......
Sec A. And be further enacted That all laws heretofore
passed which authorize any foreign gold silver coins
and receivable payment Of debts
be and are hereby repealed and shalbe the duty o the
director OF the mint to append his annual report The ope
raons OF the mint statement showing the average weight
neness and mint value of such foreign coins usually
imported into the United States upon assay the mint.
See 5. And b. further enacted That it shall be lawful for
the director Of the mint under such rules and regulations
and upon such terms and conditions the Secretary of the
Treasury shall prescribe to provide for striking medals for
such States Territories associations societies. and ndvidu
ais the rules shall includes and the director shall
be struck in bronze duplicate copy every medal
the mint under the authority Of this section and shall trans
INIT the same to the library Of Congress to be there etaned
Pror,ded That all expenses incurred account of the
striking Of such medals shall be paid by the said States
rtores associations societies. and individuals respectively
for which or whom they may be struck.
Sec 6. And be further enacted That the President be
thorized by and with the advice the Senate
Of the United States appoint an assistant director Of the
mint at an annual salary of two thousand five hundred
dollars.
Sec Z aud be further enacted That the seventh section
OF the act Of January eighteenth eighteen hundred and hr
tyseven entitled IAN supplementary the entitled
IAN act establishing mint and regulating the coins of the
United States be so amended to extend the limit for the
annual salary Of clerks in the mint Of the United States
eighteen hundred dollars each and after tho first day of
discretion OF officers
appoint with the appreciation Of the President the Uni
ted States.
Sec. And be 1t further enacted That the second section
of the act OF July third eighteen hundred and
titled An act to establish branch Of the mint Of the Un-
ted States in California be amended to allow
clerks author to be therein three thousand dol
lars per EACH to take effect from after the first day
Of July, eighteen hundred and ffty-fOur.
Sec. .. And be further enacted That all
clerks and assistants authorized to be employed the offices
of the assistant Of the United States and in
Offices OF the mint and branches thereof assay
in New York. shall respectively be made with the approba-
ton of the President by the assistant treasurer
perinendent and teasnrers Of the said
assay Office the may be- bonds are held
tho Treasury Department in trust for the proper faithful
performance of their respective duties
Sec. 10. And be IL further enacted That all laws now In
force in relation the coins Of the United States and the
striking and coming the shall as applicable,
have full force AMI effect in relation coins herein
thorized whether the said laws penal otherwise and
whether they for preventing countereng debase
men for protecting the currency for regulating guarding
the process of striking and coming and preparations
therefor for the security of the coin, any other
purpose
weights OF the gold coins authorized by this the following
deyaons from the standard weight shall exceeded
any OF the single pieces namely In the eagle piece
the fve-eagle piece, half Of grain and that weigh
ing large number Of pieces together when delivered from
the depositos the deviation from the standard weight
exceed pennyweghts in thousand ten eagle
pieces ve psnnyweghts thousand ve-eage pieces