Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-15


could not have taken place until after full and careful
sderston to its safety aud superior advantages il
should be said that perhaps these advantages be rather
to hose individually interested than TO the community
large the reply that single uniform currency possess
ing tho value throughout the whole country, has
been too long general object of desire to have lite i'm
If to this great and obvious good be added the benefit to
Government In its financial operations OF being freed from
all the uncertainties and embarrassments arising from
currency which it can exercise ne control che id.
vantage OF any system which will effect these objects
admit Of debate. The Secretary not among the
to approve the plan adopted by Congress- and which
servston of its effects have however, convinced him
the system il not without defect, is based upon sound
principles and is entitled to all the benefit OF fair trial.
and it quite apparent that the good to be hoped cannot
be realized long another system at with the great
objects to be attained shall continue to exist unchecked
and uncontrolled While therefore, the Secretary would
advise the adoption of unrendly measures
likely to embarrass the business OF the country especially
when indications favorable that the national System
will replace all of merely local character, he yet
of the opinion that such discriminating legislation should
be had will induce the withdrawal Of all other crcula
than that issued under national authority at the earliest
possible moment.
| PREVENTION OF SMUGGLING
The high rates of duties imports imposed by recent
laws affords such temptations to smuggling and such IA
ctes presented for successful attempts to evade the
laws the extent and nature of seacOas and
more especially of our frontier, that the necessity OF
strenuous efforts to prevent and punish offences OF this
kind impressed upon the Department with daily increas
ing force The attention Of Congress particularly in
vted to much of the report of the Commissioner OF
prevent smuggling and for other purposes approx
cd June e. 1864 contains important provisions which
if properly enforced will it 10 believed prove highly ei
Gent Sufficient time however, for all the preparation
necessary to carry oil Of these provisions into effect has
\ not a. yet been afforded.
In the mean time careful preliminary inspection has
been made by the Commissioner under instruction from
the Secretary along seacoast and frontier lines, and
the result Of his observations leads to the conviction that
preparations large scale in progress for extensive
and systsmatc operations In smuggling across our North
ern and Northeastern borders. To prevent, 10
check these operations increase Of preventive force will
absolutely necessary and means should be placed at
disposal Of the Department for that purpose be
pended in such manner the exgency may require From
the report of the Commsoner and the nature Of the case
is less obvious that an increase in the number of re-
boats especially on the lakes not only expedient
but necessary and the appropriation for that object should
be increased as to meet the wants Of the service
COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE WITH REBEL STATES.
The act approved July 2, 1864 entitled IAN act in
addition to the several acts concerning commercial inter-
provide for the collection of captured and abandoned pro-
perry and the prevention OF frauds in States declared in
Instruction modified in several important particulars
pTeeIsng laws upon the same subject. 80 much of the
of July 49, 1851 authorized the President to permit
commercial relations in States and sections
repealed except in certain specific cases. The rules
and regulations with regard to commercial intercourse
previously adopted have been modified accordingly. The
second rather largely extended the powers and respons
bties of this Department BY placing 10 ts charge aban.
doned lands, houses and tenements In insurrectonary
States for the purposes of occupation and lease and still
further by directing that provision should be made
such leases or otherwise for the employment and general
welfare of all persons within the lines Of national military
occupation within said insurreconary States formerly
held as slaves who shall become free."
This clause is regarded placing all such persons under
the protection of this Department through which their
general welfare to be provided for In framing rules
and regulations to carry the provisions Of this act into
effect directed in section eleven snch as were deemed
in relation to freedmen made and approved by the
President quired 1t however found necessary
to suspend their operations for time This class OF per-
had been and yet under the protection Of the
War Department and the necessary provisions for their
welfare had been afforded under military authority and
| supervision The arrangements made for this purpose
contemplated continuance Of the system adopted through
the current year 1t deemed advisable therefore, to
defer action in this regard until the time should arrive for
commencing the operations OF year. and In the
time allow the freedmen To remain, they had been,
under military protection The eighth section Of said act
authorizes the Secretary Of the Treasury with the ap
prova of the President to appoint agents to purchase
specified terms any products Of States declared in
resurrection
The sount Of funds placed at the disposal Of the Secs
operations cash basis out of the question: In
fact the proper execution Of the authority conferred by
this provision Of the statute has been attended with great
embarrassment. After much consideration, however
sees Of regulations framed and approved and several
agents been appointed who have commenced opera
lions under the laws but their appointment so recent
reliable opinion Of the probable result The Secretary IT,
however, of the opinion that, whether tbs hopes which
may have been INDUCED Of considerable to the
Government from this realized not the inc
dental adVanages Of getting to market considerable sup
ply of the products referred to would compensate any
effort made by the Government 10 that direction copy
Of the rules and regulations received, together with
those relating abandoned lands homes and tenements,
providing for the and employment OF freedmen and
for the purchase Of products appended to this report
The Secretary has great satisfaction in stating that oil
penges connected with executing the several acts restrict.
ing commercial intercourse have been much than
paid by fees arising under the regulations heretofore
adopted.
ONE HUNDRED 81 900 BONDS MISSING.
While the Secretary has great pleasure in stating that
his personal knowledge extends and 30 far he
is informed affairs Of this Department have been well
and satisfactorily conducted during the past year. incl
dent has occurred Of painful nature, involving possible
loss to the Government and tending to excite suspicion
10 the integrity Of person persons employed 10
Quoting its operation. On the 5th of June last Mr. p.
Bailey chief clerk and superintendent of the loan branch
connected with the secetars Office addressed letter TO
the Secretary stating that hundred bonds, partially
prepared for issue under the act Of July IL and August
1851 Of 81 900 each missing, and trace Of them
could be found The bonds numbered from 81 Sol to
"a 400 inclusive and part Of one thousand transmit
by the National Bank Note Company the 26th Of
September 1863. In his letter to the Secretary MIR.
Bailey states: have exhausted all the at my
command In endeavorng to find them, and nothing 10 left
for me bat 70 report the facts"
strict inquiry to all the facts connected with the
air was Immediately instituted but light obtained
further than to show that the 29h Of September pre-
Il