Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-13

year were large beyond precedent. The net
amount of bullion received was $72, lag 571.Ol
| the amount coined was: OF gold coins, $6O, ,693,
237; Of silver coins, 50, ,6O5 200; Of cent coins,
$IOi, $685. of gold bars, $20, ,0l5, 1853 "a; and OF
silver bars, $276 ,006 "a; making the total coin.
age of the year $83, ,693, 767 SO. OF the bull
ihon deposited .$54,l49, .32 were received at
4 the assay Office in New York; Of the gold bars
| SIS, ,946, ,72e.66, and of the silver bars $le7,
07S!63, in value, were stamped at the same Of
fee. OF $799, ,923, ,362.l4, the entire coinage
since the establishment of the mint, $500 ,00O,
600 have been coined from bullion derived from
mines Of the United States.
l.. OF the gold deposited during the last year
$34, ,2l6 869. 49, and OF the silver $6l0, .29,
were from the mines Of the United states; the
remainder formed part of the usually large
receipts during the year from foreign countries.
The large and rapidly increasing production
of gold in the Territory sof Colorado suggests
inquiry into the, expediency of establishing an
IAssny Office or "a branch mint at DenversesA
private mint for the convenience of the people
10 now In operation at that places and obvious
considerations seem to require the substitution
lofguational FOR private agencies in coinage.
The silver mines of Nevada and Arizona
have also yielded large returns; and the protec-
ton Of the citizens, engaged In extracting their
treasures, from insurrectionary and savage vio-
lence, demands the earnest consideration OF
Congress.
No means exist OF ascertaining, with abso-
lutte certainty, the quantity of coin now in the
United States; but the best accessible data lead
the Secretary to concur in the judgment Of the
Director OF the Mint, that tho amount is be-
tween two hundred and seventy five millions
and three hundred millions of dollars.
ha kaLr NIL in dinn0tL
ing the attention of Congress to the able and
instructive report of that officer, and to the sug
gestioDs 1t contains. Raofi
Under the act of July 81, 1861, large claims
have been presented, by the authorized agents
of the governors Of several States,f for expenses
incurred on account Of troops raised by them
respectively, aud employed for the suppression
Of the insurrection; but as the act authorizing
thesettlement Of these claims required proper
vouchers in aupport of them to be filed and
pass ed upon by the accounting officers, and as
no such vouchers have, SO yet, been furnished, it
has been hitherto impra to adjust and pay
them. Inasmucb, however, as those expendi
lures were incurred at o time when Congress
was notin session, and when Inc public exigency
was imperative, and were marked, so far as the
statements submitted to him disclosed their
character b. discretion and 9, Set
retary thought himself warranted in advancing
to the several States, upon certificates Of the
State officers to the general correctness of the
accounts and on condition that no further claim
should be made on account of the expenses con-
templated by the act until after final settlement
upon vouchers the cum of forty per centum Of
their respective demands; and he has according
ly paid to the States Of Illinois, Indiana, lows,
Maine, Massachusetts,, Michigan, New Hamp-
ehire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsy lvania, Rhode
Island, and Wisconsin the aggregate sum of
$4,5l4,075.5l. ------------
Aa the law did not seem to contemplate the
continued action Of State officers for federal
objects, but confined the appropriation made by
1t to expenses incurred, leaving expenses to be
incurred 20 the action of federal officers within
their respective spheres Of duty, the Secretary
has not thought himself authorized 10 settle il
the unusual mode provided by the act except
for advances actually made, or at least contract
ed for prior to its passage All other claims
are, and will be, referred TO, the War Depart
ment for sanction and requisition, unless Con.
gress shall be pleased to direct otherwise.
An act of the last Congress authorized the
payment Of claims, allowed for certain services
and expenses in Oregon and Washington. to be
made by the issue of bonds of the United
States, bearing SIX per cent interest, and paya-
most respectfully asks the attention of Congress
to the injurious influences of authorizing such
issues for such purposes. Claims are easily al
lowed when payment is to be made otherwise
than in money, and bonds issued for claims are
apt to come into the market in competition with
bonds issued for loans, 70 the serious prejudice
of the public credit. That no important injury
has resulted from the act Just referred to is to
be attributed to the faithful vigilance of tho
Third Auditor in the examinations Of the
claims made upon tho treasury, end COMPARE
lively small amount of bonds, mot exceeding,
probably, two millions eight hundred thousand
dollars in all, issued or to be issued in payment
of them. .'' - |
The attention of Congress- Iis respectfully d. |
rected to the operations of the Fifth Auditor |
in respect TO the abuses which have been toler |
ated in the consular system, and the expectancy
Of authorizing the appointment Of q consul |
general for the coast and islands Of the Pa |
cific. stliir |
In disregard of repeated warnings of impend- |
ing danger in December last, the Secretary of |
the Treasury, in office at the time, neglected to
take the necessary measures to secure the YES
sells aud other movable properly connected with |
the lighthouse establishments, This property, |
therefore, became the easy prey of insuTection- |
lowed each other in quick suceessiona as the re-
until the lights Of commerce
we're .extingpished along the whole coast--ex
cept at Key West and some 'neighboring points
protected by the power Of the Union-irom the
capes of the Chesapeake round the western lin
lis of Texas In other paris of the country the
light-h system has been extended and i'm
proved until it is surpassed in aids and benefits
10 navigation and commerce by that Of no other
,ouniry. Under the direction Of the Secretary
also, asthe rebellion has been suppresssd In dis
trict after dis riot, the lights have been rskin-
He'd Already from the coasts of the Chesa-
Deake, from the banks of Hatteras, from the
stands of Port Royal entrance, and from Chan |
leleur Island In the Gulf, they shine once more
rs the safeguards and symbols Of fraternal com
nsrce aud peaceful civilization. May We not
nope that the time is not far off when every OK
iDgushed light shall be in like manner restored |
Imid this rejOicings of reunited people2
The Secretary respectfully invites legislative
attention to the condition Of the marine hospi. |
,ss constructed or In process of construction.
The number has been increased far beyond me-
,essty or utility, and to the serious prejudice
he fund for sick and disabled seamen, derived |
rom the hard earnings Of the meritorious class
% which they belong, At present, indeed,
ome Of these hospitals are made available for
he benefit of the troops, but this use must nee
.ssarily be partial and temporary Of these,
therefore,, as well as those not thua used, the
Secretary recommends thas those least advan-
ageously situated and employed be disposed Of
,n the most favorable terms, and that no new
structures be undertaken except in cases ofthe
,learest expediepcy or necessity. n ~ u L
The great value Of the Coatt Survey has been
Itrikingly altested by recent events The
gained By its operations during the
past years, the experience and skill Of naval