From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 29 January 1796
To the United States Senate and House of Representatives
united States January 29. 1796
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives.
In pursuance of the authority vested in the President of the united States by an act of Congress passed the third of March last, to reduce the weight of the copper coin of the united States, whenever he should think it for the benefit of the united States, provided that the reduction should not exceed two pennyweights in each cent, and in the like proportion in a half cent; I have caused the same to be reduced since the twenty seventh of last December; to wit, one pennyweight and sixteen grains in each cent, and in the like proportion in a half cent; and I have given notice thereof by Proclamation.1
By the letter of the Judges of the Circuit Court of the united States held at Boston in June last, and the inclosed application of the under Keeper of the Jail at that place, of which copies are herewith transmitted, Congress will perceive the necessity of making a suitable provision for the maintenance of prisoners committed to the Jails of the several States under the authority of the united States.2
Go: Washington
LS, DNA: RG 46, entry 47; copy, DNA: RG 233, entry 28, Journals; copy, DLC:GW; Df, DNA: RG 59, Reports of the Secretary of State to the President and Congress.
1. GW is referring to section 8 of “An Act supplementary to the act intituled ‘An act establishing a Mint, and regulating the Coins of the United States’” ( 439–41). His proclamation, dated 26 Jan., was printed in the Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia) on 27 January.
2. For these copies, see James Iredell and John Lowell to GW, 15 June 1795, and its enclosure. In the House, this message was laid on the table. In the Senate, it was referred to committee and later sent to another committee that was considering a memorial from the sheriff of Suffolk County, Mass., “for a law to be passed relative to the support of prisoners in jail, committed under the authority of the United States, in order to indemnify the Sheriff or keeper of the jail for their cost and expenses in such support.” On 8 Feb. that committee reported their opinion “that the existing laws are sufficient for the purpose aforesaid,” and no further action was taken ( 8:136; 8:60–62, 70–72).