REPORT
of the
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,

In compliance with a resolution of the Senate relative to the means of supplying the mint with bullion and foreign coins for coinage.

February 15, 1836.

Read, referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be printed.

Treasury Department,
February 11, 1836.

Sir: In obedience to a resolution of the Senate of the 8th instant, directing “the Secretary of the Treasury to inform the Senate whether the mint of the United States is regularly and amply supplied with bullion and foreign coins for the gold coinage; and if not, that he communicate his opinion to the Senate on the measures proper to be adopted to ensure such supplies in future,” I have the honor to state, that the gold now voluntarily sent to the mint is quite inadequate to keep it constantly employed; and that the best means to remedy this deficiency, it is believed, would be the passage of an act of Congress authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase gold bullion and foreign gold coin, in such quantities as to employ, steadily, the time of the workmen in the coinage of half and quarter eagles, for immediate delivery to all applicants, charging to them an advance only of the amount of wastage. If a specific sum be appropriated, to be used temporarily for this purpose, I think it should be as large as one hundred thousand dollars.

I have the honor to be, sir,
Your most obedient servant,

LEVI WOODBURY,
Secretary of the Treasury.

To Hon. Martin Van Buren,
Vice President of the United States,
and President of the Senate.