New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-10

l..
oy economy, by prudent, yet vigorous adjas,n@s',
means to ends and ~ Just contributions fpo,o ~
property. Nothing more certainly enhances 80
and improves resources than the reduction OF W. ~
and wise energy in administration. ~s
/ The Secretary forbelrs making any recor,,,,-
tion concerning he authorities with which n ms.f
eXledlent to invest him in respect 70 futore I!ls
lie begs leave to refer this matter al.oee her ~ ~
better judgment OF Congress, suggesting onlg ,..s
whatever discretion it may be t6ou2ht prnd,,.
give lim In other respects, the rate OF interest,".
limited by law.
Turning now from the more immediate On.
sideration Of the public finances. the Secre,s'.
solicts the attention of Congress 10 some CO..
topics connected with the administration 81 tLa r."
my Department.
BY the act of Congress Of July -, 1861. eo,,n,s.
cial intercourse with States declared to be in ins
rection by the President was prohibited, and d.
Secretary of the Treasury was authorized 10 estsr
fish such rules and regulations az he might deem ~
pedcnt in accordance With which, under ieers.
from the PresIcebt, resti;ted trade might be sCs.
Quoted. Upon full confederation Of the whole srA.
iect, II has not been deemed advisable az ye. 70 a.
tlbli.h any general rules and regulations iCg sac
trade. In few ins ances special licences have lea
granted TO convey particular articles OF pro erty ia
insunectionary Staes, and TO carry on inid
trade with parts OF Eastern Virginia Inhabited BY
loyal PEOPLE; but, with these inconsder.5le exec.
tons il has been bitherto bought best 70 oni0ces
prohibition TO the full extent OF the act. ~ the 81
itself, however, Goes not seem 10 contemplate 10
forfeiture OF property, unless used FOR the pIpossa
the rebellion, found in transit TO OF from lnsurs,
tlonary states, its execution has not been eStenI
beyond that iutent.
To avoid, ss far possible, the practical inoo.
venences OF this suspension Of commerce, the ses
rotary, with the appreciation Of the President, ls
established regulations, ia accordance with Wild
GOTTEN rice, and other property, will he COileCd
and cared for by agents Of the Department IN ilsR.
rectionary districts occupied by troops OF the UiG
ard will be forwarded by sea TO New-fOsf. 40
sales will le made for account of the Government
ald the proceeds paid ito the national treasury
subject to any uft claims OF loyal citizens. This az
rangement j., OF course, temporary in iis na' n,
As u general rule, in the judgment Of the Secretary
commerce should follow The lag; and vheneverts
tie authority of the Union is fully restored in Ii.
tricts sufficiently extensive for the reee-abishne.
If loyal State government aitoTding due seoGIy
against abuses OF trade IN furnishing aid aud cJmi
TO rebellion the ports should lie opened without ~
stTiction, and all commerce freely permitted.
With view to reformation Of abuses and red1c..o:
Of expenses, the Secretary has caused most Of 10
collection districts in all the States and lerrl,0la
not under insuuectonary control 10 be wired By
officer Of bis Department. Their inquiries have s
10 the abolition of some Offices and a reduction
the allowance and compensation to the inenmbena
Of Others amounting TO sl5,Vgo annually. Ina
III,
penses occasoDed by the suspension OF official duta
in the rebeliious States, amounting TO SjH,i4l q
will more than suffice for all the expenses ari4nl
under the act of July for the addition al agents ia,
spectoIs and aids required for its due execution sd
the prevention OF Illegal traffic.
In this connection the Secretary aaks pef1Diss.jn
TO direct the attention Of Congress 70 the fact tia.
Surveyors Of Ports at several points in Tie Mssii.
sippi Valley are almost exclusively occupied By their
duties under the act of july and are subjected u
consequence TO labors aud responsibilities for which
the com enaation now allowed by law is not an
equivalent. II II, therefore, suggested that the
Secretary be authorized to make come additional
allowances, TO be paid from the appropriation already
made for such services.
The Secretary also recommends that division b
provided for OF forieitures, fines, and penalties,
under this act, between the Offices, the infOrmer,
and the Government corresponding TO that now
allowed by the revenue laws other cases, and |,
order to protect the interests both Of citizens ana
the Government, he further suggests that IL al
cases Of Des forfeitIres, and penalties, under v hat
ever law when the amount In controversy does nd
exceed 81 900, the Secretary be authorized TO pre-
scribe whatever mode may seem most convenlelt
and certain for sscsrsniDg the facts involved, and
to direct such settlement OF the matter in controversy
by RENTER or otherwise, as he may deem just.
The interests of the Government will also be pro-
noted in the Judgment Of the Secretary, by the ap.
pontment OF solicitor OF Customs, to reside IN the
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prosecutions. and collect all penalties, ines, forfeit
ures and dues to the Government, under the reyeus
lave, within the collection district Of New-York,
and advise the Collector in respect to all legal quea
tons connected with the customs which may he re-
ferTed to him by thai officer.
The operations of the Mint during The Last year
were laige beyond precedent The net amount Of
bullion received was s72, 1851 OIL; the amoent
coined was: Of gold coins, So, 6y3, 23l; OF silver
coins, $2,605,7 O0 of cent coins, SlOl,oJO OF sea
bars 500 0l5 l63 81; and Of silver bars, 90 "A;
making the total coinage Of the year SSJ $3.50 IS
OF the bullion deposited, s5i i49, 500 ~ were re;
ceiyed a, the Assay Office in New-York; Of the gold
bars. sl9,9iS,72S 80, and OF the silver bars, sS,'
O7S 81, in value wer| stamped at the same ONCE
or 1893 93 1862 H. the entire coinage since The es'
tablishment of the Mint, $500 ,OOO, 600 have been
coined from bullion derived from mines ofthe United
States. -,
ol6 $50 81 and OF the silver 5000 -, were IRON
the mines of the United States; the remainder
formed part of the unusually large receipts during
the year from foreign countries. =.
The large and rapidly.increasing production OK
gold in the Territory of Colorado suggests inquiry
into the expediency of establishing an Assay ofee
or branch mint at Denver. private mint Tor the
convenience of the people is now in operation al
that place. and obvious considerations seem TO re'
quire the substitution Of national for private sSen'
cies in coinage.
The silver mines of Nevada and Arizona haye
also Welded large returns and the protection OF hs
citizens engaged in extracting their treasures from
and savage violence demands the
earnest consideration Of Congress.
No means exist of aseertaning, with absolute eer'
tainty the quantity Of coin now in the United Safes
but tie best accessible data lead the Secretary 10 con
cur in the Judgment Of the Director Of the Mat thas
the amount is between s75 ,OoOO,OOO and $3VV,OlV
000
The Secretary takes great pleasure in directing the
attention Of Congress to the able and instructive re-
port of that officer and to the suggestions 1t conc
tains.
Under the act OF July a. 1861, large claims have
been presented, by tie authorized agents Oh INC
Governors Of several States, for expenses hcufSI
on account Of troops raised by them respectively,