The Act of April 15, 1842 (Statutes 5, p. 473), was a final effort to shove the bonds. They were increased to $17,000,000, the time extended indefinitely up to twenty years. They could be sold at less than par. The rich, strong young nation could not do it, though taxes and duties were pledged for payment. The war was going on between the Whig Congress and sensible President Tyler. The latter advocated the issuing of all the paper money as well as metallic money by the government; but Congress wished the money issued by a national bank. The President vetoed the bank bill. Congress, by way of heading him off, passed the act to make treasury notes bear six per cent. interest, to hinder their being used as money.
The Act of June 30, 1842 (Statutes 5, p. 766).—This provided for $5,000,000 treasury notes to run one year. Interest five per cent. Otherwise like most of the others, as to legal tender, payment to public creditors and placing them in banks.
The Act of August 31, 1842 (Statutes 5, p. 581), shows a lingering hope of selling the bonds. If not successful, the government was to issue $6,000,000 more of treasury notes (trotting out the despised pack-mule again), which might even be reissued. What a let-up! Br’er Fox Shylock, he lie low!
The Act of March 3, 1843 (Statutes 5, p. 614), authorizes the issue of new treasury notes to supply the place of those redeemed.
The Act of July 22, 1846 (Statutes 5, p. 39).—The Democrats[Democrats] resumed power in 1845. This act authorizes $10,000,000 treasury notes in place of those destroyed.
The Act of August 6, 1846 (Statutes 9, p. 59), finally established the independent treasury on a sensible basis. It made all treasury notes and gold and silver coins equal in payment of all debts to the government. This held till 1861, and many of the provisions are still law, but badly enforced, as when our recent Presidents deposited many millions in banks.
The Act of January 28, 1847 (Statutes 9, p. 118), authorized $23,000,000 (more than $500,000,000 now) to fight the Mexican war. No interest was fixed. They mostly drew one mill, and the people gladly used them as money.
The Act of December 23, 1857 (Statutes 11, p. 237), provided for $20,000,000 treasury notes to take the place of coin, the banks having suspended with the coin in their vaults. (Heaven, or something, generally saves the banks.) These were, like most of the previous issues, with nominal interest. The plain people took them gladly.
The Act of December 17, 1860 (Statutes 12[Statutes 12], p. 121), provides for $10,000,000 treasury notes, running one year, at six per cent. The interest was to run and the notes remain out until sixty days after notice of readiness to redeem. Otherwise they had the old provisions.
The Act of February 8, 1861, authorized the issue of treasury notes, or a loan of $25,000,000 to take up treasury notes.