Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-09-18
PROVING a sun eIua! q


approach eighteen millions, being an annual
average of twelve hundred thousand dullara
This account does not include silver parted
from gold in The Mint rcfneries, nor bullion
directly exported to foreign Countries; but
Sims exclusively registered Oh Mint books,
as drawn from States nuH embraced iii Il
Southern Con1ederscy.
An Act G: the Confederate Congress "To
established Assay Offices" seems TO require
some amendment. The law makes no ar
rapgement for colnage-nor for permanent
fund, to pay depositors Of bullion, according
to usage, Immediately after assay. Both
p, actices ire held important for the equitable
activity Of an Assay Office, specially during
interruptions To foreign Commerce, by block
ade and war.
The principles Of mntsge, the transinrps-
tion Of precious metals Into coined monies.
are established upon sgstsnr Of eraa sqsiea-
tents. The assay, 8 trial of purity, fixes the
value of well melted bullion drawn from ma
tive mines OF washings and Of ngots pre-
pared by artificial alloy Tor standard COLI
ages.
pe[r,eIGors are accustomed to receive, in ex-
change, precisely the same amour, OF perfect
ly pure metal in the form OF coins, as previ
ous aSsav decides 10 exist in an character
Of bullion they present Tor coinage.
Ey long established custom the niner 1as
paid from permanent fund appropriated Tor
such purpose, directly after the assay, in sd-
vanc. Of the coinage Of hIs own bullion. W hich
regularly, but leisureIy, replaced the Govern
!nrnt fund by an equal value.
IL is uoL unusual 70 stamp coins at ASSAY
- Il
ornis such practice WEE aaceTt1inet - be
profitable.
After gold was discovered il North Caro-
lima an intelligent gunsmith, In Rutherford
county, coined ncHrly three millions FROM
neighooring mines and deposits, b. aid Of
machinery used Tor the manufacture Of riies
Christopher Bechtler melted ard asaaycd
every variety Of NAIVE gold rolled the IN
COTS, divided them into pieces OF definite
weights, stamping the values as North Caro-
lima Cold" with his own device and title
Mr. Bechtler neTer attempted 10 separate the
natural alloys OF silver from gold therefore,
pieces OF the same nominal vaiu.s did 30! al
ways correspond In size, weight, CT purity,
Ike " ell regulated coinage.
But such irregular divisions proved "a be
convenience, rendering the products OF the
mining industry of the State aT,ilable az
common currency Ee:htler's coins possess
ed In extended circulation through ,hs NOUN
tain districts of the South and Suuth-west-
Their weights, according 10 their titles, prov
ed frequently correct; their hne1cs3 vas often
defective, not from design, but from The in
per:-ctons OF the balances employed
In 1890, Wien gold Was successfully sou.ht
in NJ ft.u,,,l.too
sayed IN! coined almost "at the pr mouth"
he stamped the pieces as "t1eorgia gold. !"
with dies which simply expressed the weight
ana value, with his name and title as AS
sayer." Such coinages were rude, bot Ser
vicesbls tokens Of value" before branch
lnints were opened III Southern States, near
the mln!ug rcg,on1-
! competent officer, suTel.!-, naT De allc-r-
ed TO employ Inschlnery snt apparatus a.
ready in posltlon-but n1w irIic II ~ injury
to provide denominations Of coins, to
which existing presses are adapted, il order
to return q manageable msci:c sgytralsnt, Tor
any description Of native OF other bullion
presented at an assay cffce. Depositors and
miners will then be willing to defray the
whole expense Of coinage hitherto to.us BIZ
the government
Such charges need not greatly exceed those
demanded Tor the assay alone, since the same
wel-iDstructed workmen can be EMPLOYED
il each department-by alienation If d.
ties.
The transmutatiol Of precious metals into
coins being "a power reser%ed, " to the Con
federate Government, by n. Constitution, 10
single State or individual with propTiety can
engage 10 such industry, however great the
demand. Action by Congress is indisT.rnss-
Die 70 convert ample supplies Of native gold
and silver into current funds, greatly needed
for important purposes Of exchange abroad
and at home.
The interests vested in mineral lands are Il OF
valuahls solely in re!stion 10 constitution
al currency, or to sustain issues 81 response
Ole paper; such explornuocs maintain ho.y
of intelligent mechanics, profitable to every
community as mill-wrisits, ulachinisls, black
smiths, iron-founders, carpenters, masons,
and pther workuen skilled in different branch
rs of the useful arts. Besides an extended
search for gold and silver assists to discover
other Important minerals.
Mining operations offer good wasrs FOR the
hire Of negro property necessarily drawn in
land and present valuable home markets for
farmers and planters reacting advantageous
" upon merchants, manufacturers and
others.
The sudden suppression ii Southern nin,s.
originally erected to facilitate colnages, near
points OF production, deprives many people
Of the interior, who associate mining with
agriculture, from resources which render
bullion immedate y araila Die in the trsnsac-
ton Of trade, snd enable proprietors TO Get
tie promptly with those who aid them in their
enterprise.
While the coasts ard 'ers ii tie Con-
fei-rats States are insulre6 and plilaged by \
ruthless enemy, The great agricultural staplrS
for profitable export are necessarily aban-
doned for provisions or munitions Of var
grams, aru-s and uionie~- IT, Is ohvious!: :
prudent 70 encourage every internal Indus
try whlch Gun ASSIST to maintain an lndepcn-
dcnre SO have IuherIteG.
During rcrniati"n Of su:l dimensions ~
the one we Witness, requiring every intelligent
expeoient TO support !. Government In de-
fence OF our families, property End rights,
the expenditures at public eata Slishm-nts
need TO be restricted within economical lin
its. all departments OF al assay Office. with
the privilege Of coinage can be rendered self
sustaining. Tie necessary mhtariel for such
institutions will snon be Obtained from do
lnestic Resources.
1t IS not important 1t present to vary the
denominations OF coins beyond 3 limited
range. Five dollar pieces OF gold, with ITO
kens of value ii, silver, SOM hat reduced
in weight will be sufficient. Such tokens ol
definite purity can be issued at nominal rate,
during the war, 10 10 called in or~Fedeemec
sitter peace, and then re-issued%at the real
worth OF the metal, without re-coinage- This
plan was pursued il Great Britain during
suspension of specie payments there
Light pieces of inofensive mixed metals:
like bronze, may bs cas- IN nsostJds With
special devices for cents or half cents, Ii