ACTS AUTHORIZING UNITED STATES NOTES
| Act of August 5, 1861 | Act of February 12, 1862 | Act of February 25, 1862 |
| Act of June 30, 1864 | Act of Jan. 28, 1865. | Act of April 12, 1866 |
| July 17, 1861. |
CHAP. V. — An Act to authorize a National Loan and for other Purposes. |
| Secretary of the Treasury may borrow within twelve months not over $250,000,000. | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to borrow on the credit of the United States, within twelve months from the passage of this act, a sum not exceeding two hundred and fifty millions of dollars, or so much thereof as he may deem necessary for the public service, for which he is authorized to issue coupon bonds, or registered bonds, or treasury notes, in such proportions of each as he may deem advisable; the bonds to bear interest not exceeding seven per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, irredeemable for twenty years, and after that period redeemable at the pleasure of the United States; and the treasury notes to be of any denomination fixed by the Secretary of the Treasury, not less than fifty dollars, and to be payable three years after date, with interest at the rate of seven and three tenths per centum per annum, payable semi-annually. And the Secretary of the Treasury may also issue in exchange for coin, and as part of the above loan, or may pay for salaries or other dues from the United States, treasury notes of a less denomination than fifty dollars, not bearing interest, but payable on demand by the Assistant Treasurers of the United States at Philadelphia, New York, or Boston, or treasury notes bearing interest at the rate of three and sixty-five hundredths per centum, payable in one year from date, and exchangeable at any time for treasury notes for fifty dollars, and upwards, issuable under the authority of this act, and bearing interest as specified above: Provided, That no exchange of such notes in any less amount than one hundred dollars shall be made at any one time: And provided further, That no treasury notes shall be issued of a less denomination than ten dollars, and that the whole amount of treasury notes, not bearing interest, issued under the authority of this act, shall not exceed fifty millions of dollars. |
| Coupon or registered bonds or treasury notes may be issued therefor. | |
| Bonds when redeemable. | |
| Treasury notes; denomination; interest; when payable. | |
| Certain treasury notes may be issued in exchange for coin, &c. 1861, ch. 46, §§ 1, 5. Post, p. 313. |
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| Proviso. Post, pp. 345, 370. Proviso. |
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| Post, p. 313. | |
| Notes and bonds, how signed, &c. | SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the treasury notes, and bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall be signed by the First or Second Comptroller, or the Register of the Treasury, and countersigned by such other officer or officers of the Treasury as the Secretary of the Treasury may designate; and all such obligations, of the denomination of fifty dollars and upwards, shall be issued under the seal of the Treasury Department. The registered bonds shall be transferable on the books of the Treasury on the delivery of the certificate, and the coupon bonds and treasury notes shall be transferable by delivery. The interest coupons may be signed by such person or persons, or executed in such manner, as may be designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall fix the compensation for the same. |
| How transferable. | |
| Books to be opened for subscription for treasury notes for $50 and over, &c.. | SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause books to be opened for subscription to the treasury notes for fifty dollars and upwards at such places as he may designate in the United States and under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, to be superintended by the Assistant Treasurers of the United States at their respective localities, and at other places, by such depositaries, postmasters, and other persons as he may designate, notice thereof being given in at least two daily papers of this city, and in one or more public newspapers published in the several places where subscription books may be opened; and subscriptions for such notes may be received from all persons who may desire to subscribe, any law to the contrary notwithstanding; and if a larger amount shall be subscribed in the aggregate than is required at one time, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to receive the same, should he deem it advantageous to the public interest; and if not, he shall accept the amount required by giving the preference to the smaller subscriptions; and the Secretary of the Treasury shall fix the compensations of the public officers or others designated for receiving said subscriptions: Provided, That for performing this or any other duty in connection with this act, no compensation for services rendered shall be allowed or paid to any public officer whose salary is established by law; and the Secretary of the Treasury may also make such other rules and regulations as he may deem expedient touching the instalment to be paid on any subscription at the time of subscribing, and further payments by instalments or otherwise, and penalties for non-payment of any instalment, and also concerning the receipt, deposit, and safe-keeping of money received from such subscriptions, until the same can be placed in the possession of the official depositaries of the Treasury, any law or laws to the contrary notwithstanding. And the Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized, if he shall deem it expedient, before opening books of subscription as above provided, to exchange for coin or pay for public dues or for treasury notes of the issue of twenty-third of December, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, and falling due on the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, or for treasury notes issued and taken in exchange for such notes, any amount of said treasury notes for fifty dollars or upwards not exceeding one hundred millions of dollars. |
| Who may subscribe. If larger amount is subscribed, &c. |
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| Pay of those receiving subscriptions. Proviso. |
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| Payment of subscription. | |
| Treasury notes of $50 and upwards may be exchanged for coin, &c. | |
| Proposals for loan to be published. | SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That, before awarding any portion of the loan in bonds authorized by this act, the Secretary of the Treasury, if he deem it advisable to issue proposals for the same in the United States, shall give not less than fifteen days' public notice in two or more of the public newspapers in the city of Washington, and in such other places of the United States as he may deem advisable, designating the amount of such loan, the place and the time up to which sealed proposals will be received for the same, the periods for the payment, and the amount of each instalment in which it is to be paid, and the penalty for the non-payment of any such instalments, and when and where such proposals shall be opened in the presence of such persons as may choose to attend; and the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to accept the most favorable proposals offered by responsible bidders: Provided, That no offer shall be accepted at less than par. |
| Most favorable offers to be accepted, but at not less than par. | |
| Portion of loan may be negotiated in foreign country. | SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury may, if he deem it advisable, negotiate any portion of said loan, not exceeding one hundred millions of dollars, in any foreign country and payable at any designated place either in the United States or in Europe, and may issue registered or coupon bonds for the amount thus negotiated agreeably to the provisions of this act, bearing interest payable semi-annually, either in the United States or at any designated place in Europe; and he is further authorized to appoint such agent or agents as he may deem necessary for negotiating such loan under his instructions, and for paying the interest on the same, and to fix the compensation of such agent or agents, and shall prescribe to them all the rules, regulations, and modes under which such loan shall be negotiated, and shall have power to fix the rate of exchange at which the principal shall be received from the contractors for the loan, and the exchange for the payment of the principal and interest in Europe shall be at the same rate. |
| Proceedings in each case. | |
| Treasury notes under $50, may be re-issued prior to Dec. 31, 1862. Proviso. |
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That whenever any treasury notes of a denomination less than fifty dollars, authorized to be issued by this act, shall have been redeemed, the Secretary of the Treasury may re-issue the same, or may cancel them and issue new notes to an equal amount: Provided, That the aggregate amount of bonds and treasury notes issued under the foregoing provisions of this act shall never exceed the full amount authorized by the first section of this act; and the power to issue, or re-issue such notes shall cease and determine after the thirty-first of December eighteen hundred and sixty-two. |
| Treasury notes may be issued in exchange for coin, &c. | SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized, whenever he shall deem it expedient, to issue in exchange for coin, or in payment for public dues, treasury notes of any of the denominations hereinbefore specified, bearing interest not exceeding six per centum per annum, and payable at any time not exceeding twelve months from date, provided that the amount of notes so issued, or paid, shall at no time exceed twenty millions of dollars. |
| Secretary of Treasury to report to Congress. | SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall report to Congress, immediately after the commencement of the next session, the amount he has borrowed under the provisions of this act, of whom, and on what terms, with an abstract of all the proposals, designating those that have been accepted and those that have been rejected, and the amount of bonds or treasury notes that have been issued for the same. |
| Faith of the United States pledged. | SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the faith of the United States is hereby solemnly pledged for the payment of the interest and redemption of the principal of the loan authorized by this act. |
| Certain provisions of act of 1857, ch. 1, revived. Vol. xi. p. 257. |
SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That all the provisions of the act entitled "An act to authorize the issure of treasury notes," approved the twenty-third day of December, eigthteen hundred and fifty-seven, so far as the same can or may be applied to the provisions of this act, and not inconsistent therewith, are hereby revived or re-enacted. |
| Appropriation for expenses under this act. | SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That, to defray all the expenses that may attend the execution of this act, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. |
APPROVED, July 17, 1861.
| August 5, 1861. |
CHAP. XLVI. — An Act supplementary to an Act entitled "An Act to authorize a National Loan, and for other Purposes." |
| 1861, ch.5. Ante, p. 259. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to issue bonds of the United States, bearing interest at six per centum per annum, and payable at the pleasure of the United States after twenty years from date; and if any holder of Treasury notes, bearing interest at the rate of seven and three-tenths per centum, which may be issued under the authority of the act to authorize a national loan and for other purposes, approved July seventeenth, eithteen hundred and sixty-one, shall desire to exchange the same for said bonds, the Secretary of the Treasury may, at any time before or at the maturity of said Treasury notes, issue to said holder, in payment thereof, an amount of said bonds equal to the amount which, at the time of such payment or exchange, may be due on said Treasury notes; but no such bonds shall be issued for a less sum than five hundred dollars, nor shall the whole amount of such bonds exceed the whole amount of Treasury notes bearing seven and three-tenths per centum interest, issued under said act; and any part of the Treasury notes payable on demand, authorized by said act, may be made payable by the Assistant Treasurer at Saint Louis, or by the depositary at Cincinnati. |
| Six per cent. bonds may be issued, redeemable in twenty years, and exchangeable for certain Treasury notes. | |
| Denomination and amount of bonds. | |
| Where Treasury notes may be made payable. | |
| Treasury notes, how executed. | SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Treasury notes issued under the provisions of the said act to authorize a national loan, and for other purposes, or of any other act now in force authorizing the issue of such notes, shall be signed by the Treasurer of the United States, or by some officer of the Treasury Department, designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, for said Treasurer, and countersigned by the Register of the Treasury, or by some officer of the Treasury Department, designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, for said Register, and no Treasury notes, issued under any act, shall require the seal of the Treasury Department. |
| Need not have seal. | |
| May be issued for not less than $5. Ante, p. 259. Post, p. 338 |
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That so much of the act to which this is supplementary as limits the denomination of a portion of the Treasury notes authorized by said act at not less than ten dollars, be and is so modified as to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to fix the denomination of said notes at not less than five dollars. |
| Appropriation for purposes of this act, &c. | SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That, in addition to the amount heretofore appropriated, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to pay such expenses, commissions, or compensation as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, to carry into execution the provisions of this act, and of the act to which this is supplementary. |
| Notes on demand, &c., under $50, receivable for public dues. | SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the Treasury notes authorized by the act to which this is supplementary, of a less denomination than fifty dollars, payable on demand without interest, and not exceeding in the sum of fifty millions of dollars, shall be receivable in payment of public dues. |
| Portions of sub-treasury act suspended. | SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the provisions of the act entitled "An Act to provide for the better organization of the Treasury, and for the collection, safe-keeping, transfer, and disbursements of the public revenue," passed August six, eighteen hundred and forty-six, be and the same are hereby suspended, so far as to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit any of the moneys obtained on any of the loans authorized by law, to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States, in such solvent specie-paying banks as he may select; and the said moneys, so deposited, may be withdrawn from such deposit for deposit with the regular authorized depositaries, or for the payment of public dues, or paid in redemption of the notes authorized to be issued under this act, or the act to which this is supplementary, payable on demand, as may seem expedient to, or be directed by, the Secretary of the Treasury. |
| 1846, ch. 90. Vol. ix. p. 59. |
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| Deposits in solvent specie-paying banks. | |
| Six per cent. bonds due in 20 years may be issued for certain seven per cent. bonds. | SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury may sell or negotiate, for any portion of the loan provided for in the act to which this is supplementary, bonds payable not more than twenty years from date, and bearing interest not exceeding six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, at any rate not less than the equivalent of par, for the bonds bearing seven per centum interest, authorized by said act. |
APPROVED, August 5, 1861.
| February 12, 1862. |
CHAP. XX. — An Act to authorize an additional Issue of United States Notes. |
| $10,000,000 of demand notes to be issued, &c. 1861, ch. 5 & 46. Ante, pp. 259, 313. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury, in addition to the fifty millions of notes payable on demand of denominations not less than five dollars, heretofore authorized by the acts of July seventeenth and August fifth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, be, and he is hereby, authorized to issue like notes, and for like purposes, to the amount of ten millions of dollars, and said notes shall be deemed part of the loan of two hundred and fifty millions of dollars authorized by said acts. |
| Post, p. 370. |
APPROVED, February 12, 1862.
| February 25, 1862. |
CHAP. XXXIII. — An Act to authorize the issue of United States Notes, and for the Redemption or Funding thereof, and for Funding the Floating Debt of the United States. |
| $150,000,000 treasury notes authorized. | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to issue, on the credit of the United States, one hundred and fifty millions of dollars of United States notes, not bearing interest, payable to the bearer, at the Treasury of the United States, and of such denominations as he may deem expedient, not less than five dollars each: Provided, however, That fifty millions of said notes shall be in lieu of the demand Treasury notes authorized to be issued by the act of July seventeen, eighteen hundred and sixty-one; which said demand notes shall be taken up as rapidly as practicable, and the notes herein provided for substituted for them; And provided further, That the amount of the two kinds of notes together shall at no time exceed the sum of one hundred and fifty millions of dollars, and such notes herein authorized shall be receivable in payment of all taxes, internal duties, excises, debts, and demands of every kind due to the United States, except duties on imports, and of all claims and demands against the United States of every kind whatsoever, except for interest upon bonds and notes, which shall be paid in coin, and shall also be lawful money and a legal tender in payment of all debts, public and private, within the United States, except duties on imports and interest as aforesaid. And any holders of said United States notes depositing any sum not less than fifty dollars, or some multiple of fifty dollars, with the Treasurer of the United States, or either of the Assistant Treasurers, shall receive in exchange therefor duplicate certificates of deposit, one of which may be transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall thereupon issue to the holder an equal amount of bonds of the United States, coupon or registered, as may by said holder be desired, bearing interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, and redeemable at the pleasure of the United States after five years, and payable twenty years fron the date thereof. And such United States notes shall be received the same as coin, at their par value, in payment for any loans that may be hereafter sold or negotiated by the Secretary of the Treasury, and may be re-issued from time to time as the exigencies of the public interest shall require. |
| Denominations, how payable, interest. $50,000,000, to be in lieu of demand notes. Ante, p.259. |
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| Treasury notes receivable in payment of dues to United States, except duties on imports, and interest on federal bonds and notes which shall be paid in coin, and to be legal tender except for duties and interest. To be convertible in sums of not less than $50, &c. into United States 6 per cent stock, &c. |
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| Funding treasury notes and floating debt, provisions for. | SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That to enable the Secretary of the Treasury to fund the Treasury notes and floating debt of the United States, he is hereby authorized to issue, on the credit of the United States, coupon bonds, or registered bonds, to an amount not exceeding five hundred millions of dollars, redeemable at the pleasure of the United States after five years, and payable twenty years from date, and bearing interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually. And the bonds herein authorized shall be of such denominations, not less than fifty dollars, as may be determined upon by the Secretary of the Treasury. And the Secretary of the Treasury may dispose of such bonds at any time, at the market value thereof, for the coin of the United States, or for any of the Treasury notes that have been or may hereafter be issued under any former act of Congress, or for United States notes that may be issued under the provisions of this act; and all stocks, bonds, and other securities of the United States held by individuals, corporations, or associations, within the United States, shall be exempt from taxation by or under State authority. |
| United States stocks held within the United States, to be exempt from State taxes. | |
| Form of treasury notes and coupon or registered bonds, | SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the United States notes and the coupon or registered bonds authorized by this act shall be in such form as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct, and shall bear the written or engraved signatures of the Treasurer of the United States and the Register of the Treasury, and also, as evidence of lawful issue, the imprint of a copy of the seal of the Treasury Department, which imprint shall be made under the direction of the Secretary, after the said notes or bonds shall be received from the engravers and before they are issued; or the said notes and bonds shall be signed by the Treasurer of the United States, or for the Treasurer by such persons as may be specially appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury for that purpose, and shall be countersigned by the Register of the Treasury, or for the Register by such persons as the Secretary of the Treasury may specially appoint for that purpose; and all the provisions of the act entitled "An act to authorize the issue of Treasury notes," approved the twenty-third day of December, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, so far as they can be applied to this act, and not inconsistent therewith, are hereby revived and reenacted; and the sum of three hundred thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the Secretary of the Treasury to carry this act into effect. |
| how signed, countersigned, and sealed. | |
| Provisions of act of 1857, ch. i. (vol. xi. p. 257,) revived; appropriation. | |
| Notes in sums of not less than $100 may be received on deposit, &c. | SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury may receive from any person or persons, or any corporation, United States notes on deposit for not less than thirty days, in sums of not less than one hundred dollars, with any of the Assistant Treasurers or designated depositaries of the United States authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury to receive them, who shall issue therefor certificates of deposit, made in such form as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, and said certificates of deposit shall bear interest at the rate of five per centum per annum; and any amount of United States notes so deposited may be withdrawn from deposit at any time after ten days' notice on the return of said certificates: Provided, That the interest on all such deposits shall cease and determine at the pleasure of the Secretary of the Treasury: And provided further, That the aggregate of such deposit shall at no time exceed the amount of twenty-five millions of dollars. |
| Interest on deposits. Deposits, how withdrawn. Interest to cease, &c. Aggregate not to exceed, &c. Post, p. 370. |
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| Duties on imports to be paid in coin or in demand notes. | SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That all duties on imported goods shall be paid in coin, or in notes payable on demand heretofore authorized to be issued and by law receivable in payment of public dues, and the coin so paid shall be set apart as a special fund, and shall be applied as follows: First. To the payment of the interest on the bonds and notes of the United States. Second. To the purchase or payment of one per centum of the entire debt of the United States, to be made within each fiscal year after the first day of July, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, which is to be set apart as a sinking fund, and the interest of which shall in like manner be applied to the purchase or payment of the public debt as the Secretary of the Treasury shall from time to time direct. Third. The residue thereof to be paid into the Treasury of the United States. |
| Coin, how to be applied. | |
| Sinking fund. | |
| Penalty for forging, &c., treasury notes, &c., | SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall falsely make, forge, counterfeit, or alter, or cause or procure to be falsely made, forged, counterfeited, or altered, or cause or procure to be falsely made, forged or counterfeited, or altered, or shall willingly aid or assist in falsely making, forging, counterfeiting, or altering, any note, bond, coupon, or other security issued under the authority of this act, or heretofore issued under acts to authorize the issue of Treasury notes or bonds; or shall pass, utter, publish, or sell, or attempt to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or bring into the United States from any foreign place with intent to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or shall have or keep in possession or conceal, with intent to utter, publish, or sell, any such false, forged, counterfeited, or altered note, bond, coupon, or other security, with intent to defraud any body corporate or politic, or any other person or persons whatsoever, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty of felony, and shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprisonment and confinement to hard labor not exceeding fifteen years, according to the aggravation of the offence. |
| for uttering or attempting to utter, &c., such notes, &c, | |
| for using, &c., plates, without authority, | SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That if any person, having the custody of any plate or plates from which any notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities mentioned in this act, or any part thereof, shall have been printed, or which shall have been prepared for the purpose of printing any such notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, or any part thereof, shall use such plate or plates, or knowingly permit the same to be used for the purpose of printing any notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, or any part thereof, except such as shall be printed for the use of the United States by order of the proper officer thereof; or if any person shall engrave, or cause or procure to be engraved, or shall aid in engraving, any plate or plates in the likeness or similitude of any plate or plates designed for the printing of any such notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, or any part thereof, or shall vend or sell any such plate or plates, or shall bring into the United States from any foreign place any such plate or plates, with any other intent or for any purpose, in either case, than that such plate or plates shall be used for printing of such notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, or some part or parts thereof, for the use of the United States, or shall have in his custody or possession any metallic plate engraved after the similitude of any plate from which any such notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, or any part or parts thereof, shall have been printed, with intent to use such plate or plates, or cause or suffer the same to be used, in forging or counterfeiting any such notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, or any part or parts thereof, issued as aforesaid, or shall have in his custody or possession any blank note or notes, bond or bonds, coupon or coupons, or other security or securities, engraved and printed after the similitude of any notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, issued as aforesaid, with intent to sell or otherwise use the same; or if any person shall print, photograph, or in any other manner execute or cause to be printed, photographed, or in any manner executed, or shall aid in printing, photographing, or executing any engraving, photograph, or other print, or impression, in the likeness or similitude of any such notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, or any part or parts thereof, except for the use of the United States and by order of the proper officer thereof, or shall vend or sell any such engraving, photograph, print, or impression, except to the United States, or shall bring into the United States from any foreign place any such engraving, photograph, print, or other impression for the purpose of vending or selling the same, except by the direction of some proper officer of the United States, or shall have in his custody or possession any paper adapted to the making of such notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, and similar to the paper upon which any such notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities shall have been issued, with intent to use such paper, or cause or suffer the same to be used, in forging or counterfeiting any of the notes, bonds, coupons, or other securities, issued as aforesaid, every such person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprisonment and confinement to hard labor not exceeding fifteen years, according to the aggravation of the offense. |
| for engraving, &c., plates in similitude, &c., with intent, &c., for selling such plates, or bringing them into the United States, with intent, &c., |
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| for having plates in possession, with intent, &c., | |
| for having in possession blank notes, &c., with intent to sell, &c., for printing or photographing, &c., |
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| for selling or bringing into the United States, with intent, &c., | |
| for having paper for printing such notes, &c., with intent, &c. |
APPROVED, February 25, 1862.
| June 30, 1864. 1865, ch. 22. Post, p. 425. 1865, ch. 77. Post, p. 468. |
CHAP. CLXXII. — An Act to provide Ways and Means for the Support of the Government, and for other Purposes. |
| Secretary of the Treasury may borrow $400,000,000, and issue bonds, &c When redeemable. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to borrow, from time to time, on the credit of the United States, four hundred millions of dollars, and to issue therefor coupon or registered bonds of the United States, redeemable at the pleasure of the government, after any period not less than five, nor more than thirty, years, or, if deemed expedient, made payable at any period not more than forty years from date. And said bonds shall be of such denominations as the Secretary of the Treasury shall direct, not less than fifty dollars, and bear an annual interest not exceeding six per centum, payable semi-annually in coin. And the Secretary of the Treasury may dispose of such bonds, or any part thereof, and of any bonds commonly known as five-twenties remaining unsold, in the United States, or if he shall find it expedient, in Europe, at any time, on such terms as he may deem most advisable, for lawful money of the United States, or, at his discretion, for treasury notes, certificates of indebtedness, or certificates of deposit issued under any act of congress. And all bonds, treasury notes, and other obligations of the United States shall be exempt from taxation by or under state or municipal authority. |
| Denominations. | |
| Interest semi-annual in coin. How bonds may be disposed of. |
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| All obligations of the United States to be exempt from taxation. | |
| Secretary may issue, in lieu of part of loan, $200,000,000, treasury notes. | SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury may issue on the credit of the United States, and in lieu of an equal amount of bonds authorized by the preceding section, and as a part of said loan, not exceeding two hundred millions of dollars, in treasury notes of any denomination not less than ten dollars, payable at any time not exceeding three years from date, or, if thought more expedient, redeemable at any time after three years from date, and bearing interest not exceeding the rate of seven and three tenths per centum, payable in lawful money at maturity, or, at the discretion of the secretary, semi-annually. And the said treasury notes may be disposed of by the Secretary of the Treasury, on the best terms that can be obtained, for lawful money; and such of them as shall be made payable, principal and interest, at maturity, shall be legal tender to the same extent as United States notes for their face value, excluding interest, and may be paid to any creditor of the United States at their face value, excluding interest, or to any creditor willing to receive them at par, including interest; and any treasury notes issued under the authority of this act may be made convertible, at the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, into any bonds issued under the authority of this act. And the Secretary of the Treasury may redeem and cause to be cancelled and destroyed any treasury notes or United States notes heretofore issued under authority of previous acts of congress, and substitute, in lieu thereof, an equal amount of treasury notes such as are authorized by this act, or of other United States notes: Provided, That the total amount of bonds and treasury notes authorized by the first and second sections of this act shall not exceed four hundred millions of dollars, in addition to the amounts heretofore issued; nor shall the total amount of United States notes, issued or to be issued, ever exceed four hundred millions of dollars, and such additional sum, not exceeding fifty millions of dollars, as may be temporarily required for the redemption of temporary loan; nor shall any treasury note bearing interest, issued under this act, be a legal tender in payment or redemption of any notes issued by any bank, banking association, or banker, calculated or intended to circulate as money. |
| Denomination and when payable. | |
| Interest payable in lawful money. How may be disposed of. How far to be legal tender. |
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| Treasury notes to be convertible to bonds. | |
| May be substituted for notes of previous issues. Amount of bonds and notes not to exceed $400,000,000; of notes not to exceed, &c. |
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| Interest-bearing notes not to be tender for redemption of circulation of banks. | |
| Interest of bonds heretofore issued may be paid semi-annually. | SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the interest on all bonds heretofore issued, payable annually, may be paid semi-annually; and in lieu of such bonds authorized to be issued, the Secretary of the Treasury may issue bonds bearing interest, payable semi-annually. And he may also issue in exchange for treasury notes heretofore issued bearing seven and three tenths per centum per annum interest, besides the six per centum bonds heretofore authorized, like bonds of all the denominations in which such treasury notes have been issued; and the interest on such treasury notes after maturity shall be paid in lawful money, and they may be exchanged for such bonds at any time within three months from the date of notice of redemption by the Secretary of the Treasury, after which the interest on such treasury notes shall cease. And so much of the law approved March third, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, as limits the loan authorized therein to the current fiscal year, is hereby repealed; and the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to borrow money and issue therefor bonds or notes conferred by the first section of the act of March third, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, entitled, "An act to provide ways and means for the support of the government," shall cease on and after the passage of this act, except so far as it may effect seventy-five millions of bonds already advertised. |
| Bonds may be issued in exchange for seven and three-tenths notes. | |
| Repeal of part of 1864, ch. 17. § 1. Ante, p. 13, | |
| of 1863, ch. 73, § 1. Vol. xii. p. 709. |
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| Secretary of Treasury may receive temporary loans. | SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury may authorize the receipt, as a temporary loan, of United States notes or the notes of national banking associations on deposit for not less than thirty says, in sums of not less than fifty dollars, by any of the assistant treasurers of the United States, or depositaries designated for that purpose, other than national banking associations, who shall issue certificates of deposit in such form as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, bearing interest not exceeding six per centum annually, and payable at any time after the term of the deposit, and after ten days' subsequent notice, unless time and notice be waived by the Secretary of the Treasury; and the Secretary of the Treasury may increase the interest on deposits at less than six per centum to that rate, or, on ten days' notice to depositors, may diminish the rate of interest as the public interest may require; but the aggregate of such deposits shall not exceed one hundred and fifty millions of dollars; and the Secretary of the Treasury may issue, and shall hold in reserve for payment of such deposits, United States notes not exceeding fifty millions of dollars, including the amount already applied in such payment; and the United States notes, so held in reserve, shall be used only when needed, in his judgment, for the prompt payment of such deposits on demand, and shall be withdrawn and placed again in reserve as the amount of deposits shall again increase. |
| Certificates of deposit to be issued therefor. When payable, and interest. |
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| Aggregate not to exceed, &c. | |
| Reserve for their payment. | |
| Fractional currency may be issued to an amount not over $50,000,000. | SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury may issue notes of the fractions of a dollar as now used for currency, in such form, with such inscriptions, and with such safeguards against counterfeiting, as he may judge best, and provide for the engraving and preparation, and for the issue of the same, as well as of all other notes and bonds, and other obligations, and shall make such regulations for the redemption of said fractional notes and other notes when mutilated or defaced, and for the receipt of said fractional notes in payment of debts to the United States, except for customs, in such sums, not over five dollars, as may appear to him expedient; and it is hereby declared that all laws and parts of laws applicable to the fractional notes engraved and issued as herein authorized, apply equally and with like force to all the fractional notes heretofore authorized, whether known as postage currency, or otherwise, and to postage-stamps issued as currency; but the whole amount of all descriptions of notes or stamps less than one dollar issued as currency, shall not exceed fifty millions of dollars. |
| Coupon and registered bonds, to be of what form and how signed. | SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the coupon and registered bonds shall be in such form and bear such inscriptions as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct, and shall be signed by the register of the treasury, or for the register, by such person or persons as may be specially designated for that purpose by the Secretary of the Treasury, and shall bear, as evidence of lawful issue, the imprint of the seal of the Treasury Department, to be made under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, in a room set apart especially and exclusively for that purpose, under the care of some person appointed directly by him. And the coupons attached to such bonds shall bear the engraved signature of the register of the treasury, and such other device or safeguard against counterfeiting as the secretary may approve; and it is hereby declared than all bonds heretofore issued, bearing the signature of the register, shall have the same force, effect, and validity as if signed also by the treasurer, and all bonds bearing the signature of the register, erroneously described as treasurer of the United States, shall have the same force, effect, and validity, as if his official designation had been correctly stated; and all coupons bearing the engraved signature of the register of the treasury in office at the time when such signatures were authorized and engraved, shall have full force, validity, and effect, notwithstanding such register may have subsequently ceased to hold office as such, when issued in connection with bonds duly authorized and signed by or for the successor or successors of said register. And the treasury notes and United States notes authorized by this act shall be in such form as the Secretary of the Treasury shall direct, and shall bear the written or engraved signatures of the treasurer of the United States and the register of the treasury, and shall have printed upon them such statements, showing the amount of accrued or accruing interest and the character of the notes, as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe; and shall bear, as a further evidence of lawful issue, the imprint of the seal of the Treasury Department, to be made under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, as before directed. |
| Seal. | |
| Where to be made. Coupons. |
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| Former bonds made valid. | |
| Form, &c., of treasury notes. | |
| Registered bonds may be issued for coupon. | SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to issue, upon such terms and under such regulations as he may from time to time prescribe, registered bonds in exchange for, and in lieu of, any coupon bonds which have been or may hereafter be lawfully issued; such registered bonds to be similar in all respects to the registered bonds issued under the acts authorizing the issue of the coupon bonds offered for exchange. And for all mutilated, defaced, or indorsed coupon or other bonds presented to the department, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue, upon terms and under regulations as aforesaid, and in substitution therefor, other bonds of like or equivalent issues. |
| Mutilated, defaced, &c., bonds. | |
| Instructions, &c., to public officers receiving or preparing U. S. notes, &c. | SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and required to make and issue, from time to time, such instructions, rules, and regulations, to the several collectors, receivers, depositaries, officers, and others, who may receive treasury notes, United States notes, or other securities in behalf of the United States, or who may be in any way engaged or employed in the preparation and issue of the same, as he shall deem best calculated to promote the public convenience and security, and to protect the United States, as well as individuals, from fraud and loss. |
| Expenses of preparing and issuing bonds, notes, &c., how borne;. | SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the necessary expenses of engraving, printing, preparing, and issuing the United States notes, treasury notes, fractional notes, and bonds, hereby authorized, and of disposing of the same to subscribers and purchasers, shall be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; but the whole amount thereoff shall not exceed one per centum on the amount of notes and bonds issued. |
| not to exceed one per cent. | |
| Penalty for counterfeiting or altering U. S. securities;. | SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall falsely make, forge, counterfeit, or alter, or cause or procure to be falsely made, forged, counterfeited, or altered, any obligation or security of the United States, or shall pass, utter, publish, or sell, or attempt to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or shall bring into the United States from any foreign place with intent to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or shall have or keep in possession, or conceal, with intent to utter, publish, or sell, any such false, forged, counterfeited, or altered obligation, or other security, with intent to deceive or defraud, or shall knowingly aid or assist in any of the acts aforesaid, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty of felony, and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprisonment and confinement at hard labor not exceeding fifteen years, according to the aggravation of the offence. |
| for uttering, &c., counterfeit, &c., notes;. | |
| for using plates to print notes without authority;. | SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That if any person having control, custody, or possession of any plate or plates from which any obligation or other security, or any part thereof, shall have been printed, or which may have been prepared by direction from the Secretary of the Treasury, for the purpose of printing any such obligation or other security, or any part thereof, shall use such plate or plates, or knowingly suffer the same to be used for the purpose of printing any such or similar obligation, or other security, or any part thereof, except such as shall be printed for the use of the United States, by order of the proper officer thereof; or if any person shall engrave, or cause or procure to be engraved, or shall aid or assist in engraving any plate or plates in the likeness or similitude of any plate or plates designed for the printing of any such obligation or other security, or any part thereof, or shall vend or sell any such plate or plates, or shall bring into the United States from any foreign place any such plate or plates, except under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury or other proper officer, or with any other intent, or for any other purpose, in either case, than that such plate or plates shall be used for the printing of such notes, bonds, coupons, or other obligations or securities, or some part or parts thereof, for the use of the United States, or shall have in his control, custody, or possession, any metallic plate engraved after the similitude of any plate from which any such obligation or other security, or any part or parts thereof, shall have been printed, with intent to use such plate or plates, or cause or suffer the same to be used in forging or counterfeiting any such obligation or other security, or any part or parts thereof, or shall have in his custody or possession, except under authority from the Secretary of the Treasury, or other proper officer, any obligation or other security, engraved and printed after the similitude of any obligation or other security issued under the authority of the United States, with intent to sell or otherwise use the same; or if any person shall print, photograph, or in any other manner make or execute, or cause to be printed, photographed, or in any manner made or executed, or shall aid in printing, photographing, making, or executing any engraving, photograph, or other print or impression in the likeness or similitude of any obligation or other security, or any part or parts thereof, or shall vend or sell any such engraving, photograph, print, or other impression, except to the United States, or shall bring into the United States from any foreign place any such engraving, photograph, print, or other impression, except by the direction of some proper officer of the United States, or shall have or retain in his custody or possession, after a distinctive paper shall have been adopted by the Secretary of the Treasury for obligations and other securities of the United States, any similar paper adapted to the making of any such obligation or other security, except under authority of the Secretary of the Treasury, or some other proper officer of the United States, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment and confinement at hard labor, not exceeding fifteen years, or by both, in the discretion of the court. |
| for engraving plates, &c. | |
| Penalty for printing or photographing notes, &c.; | |
| for bringing into the United States such photographed, &c., notes; | |
| for retaining plates, &c., without authority; | SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That if any person shall have or retain in his or her custody, possession, or control, without the written authority or warrant of the Secretary of the Treasury, or of the comptroller of the currency, approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, any engraved or transferred plate, block, or electrotype, or any die, roll, or other original work used in making or preparing any plate, block, or electrotype, or any plate, block, or electrotype prepared or made after the similitude of any plate, block, or electrotype, from which any obligation or other security authorized to be issued by any act of congress, or any part thereof, has been, or may hereafter be, printed, or shall use, or cause, or knowingly suffer, the same to be used, in forging or counterfeiting any such obligation or other security, or shall print, or cause to be printed, any bronzed or gilt letters or devices, or shall print, or cause to be printed, any letters, figures, or devices with green ink, or any green color or pigment, upon any note, bond, or other representative of value, intended or adapted to be used as a currency or a circulating medium, every such person, being thereof convicted by due course of law, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and shall be imprisoned and kept at hard labor for a term not more than ten years, and fined in a sum not more than ten thousand dollars: Provided, That nothing in this act shall affect any prosecution pending, or any civil or criminal liabilities incurred under any former act: Provided, further, That the foregoing provisions of this section shall not be held or construed to deprive any person of the right to retain in his custody and possession and use for any lawful purpose, any engraved or transferred plate, block, or electrotype, or any die, roll, or other original work as aforesaid, which had been used by him in printing or engraving bank-notes or other obligations, before being used in printing any obligation or other security authorized to be issued by any act of congress; nor shall any of said foregoing provisions be held or construed to prohibit or restrain lawful use by any person of any ink, color, or pigment, the exclusive right to which has been secured to any such person by letters-patent which are still in force. |
| for using plates,&c., in counterfeiting notes. | |
| Pending prosecutions under former act not affected. Proviso. |
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| Words "obligation or other security, &c.," to include what. | SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That the words "obligation or other security of the United States," used in this act, shall be held to include and mean all bonds, coupons, national currency, United States notes, treasury notes, fractional notes, checks for money of authorized officers of the United States, certificates of indebtedness, certificates of deposit, stamps, and other representatives of value of whatever denomination, which have been or may be issued under any act of congress. |
APPROVED, June 30, 1864.
| Jan. 28, 1865. 1864, ch. 172. Ante, p. 218. |
CHAP. XXII. — An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to provide Ways and Means for the Support of the Government, and for other Purposes," approved June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four. |
| Treasury notes may be issued in lieu of bonds. | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in lieu of any bonds authorized to be issued by the first section of the act entitled "An act to provide ways and means for the support of the government," approved June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, that may remain unsold at the date of this act, the Secretary of the Treasury may issue, under the authority of the act, treasury notes of the description and character authorized by the second section of said act: Provided, That the whole amount of bonds authorized as aforesaid, and treasury notes issued and to be issued in lieu thereof, shall not exceed the sum of four hundred millions of dollars; and such treasury notes may be disposed of for lawful money, or for any other treasury notes or certificates of indebtedness or certificates of deposit issued under any previous act of congress; and such notes shall be exempt from taxation by or under state or municipal authority. |
| Bonds and notes not to exceed $400,000,000 how disposed of; |
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| exempt from taxation. | |
| Certain five-twenties may be sold. | SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That any bonds known as five-twenties, issued under the act of twenty-fifth February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, remaining unsold to an amount not exceeding four millions of dollars, may be disposed of by the Secretary of the Treasury in the United States, or, if he shall find it expedient, in Europe, at any time, on such terms as he may deem most advisable: Provided, That this act shall not be so construed as to give any authority for the issue of any legal tender notes, in any form, beyond the balance unissued of the amount authorized by the second section of the act to which this is an amendment. |
| 1862, ch.33. Vol. xii. p. 345. |
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| No additional legal tender notes authorized hereby. |
APPROVED, January 28, 1865.
| April 12, 1866. 1865, ch. 77. Vol. xiii. p. 468. |
CHAP. XXXIX. — An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to provide Ways and Means to Support the Government," approved March third, eighteen hundred and sixty-five. |
| The Secretary of the Treasury may receive treasury notes, &c., in exchange for bonds, &c.; | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the act entitled "An act to provide ways and means to support the Government" approved March third, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, shall be extended and construed to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury, at his discretion, to receive any Treasury notes or other obligations issued under any act of Congress, whether bearing interest or not, in exchange for any description of bonds authorized by the act to which this is an amendment; and also to dispose of any description of bonds authorized by said act, either in the United States or elsewhere, to such amount, in such manner, and at such rates as he may think advisable, for lawful money of the United States, or for any Treasury notes, certificates of indebtedness, or certificates of deposit, or other representatives of value, which have been or which may be issued under any act of Congress, the proceeds thereof to be used only for retiring Treasury notes or other obligations issued under any act of Congress; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize any increase in public debt: Provided, That of United States notes not more than ten millions of dollars may be retired and cancelled within six months from the passage of this act, and thereafter not more than four millions of dollars in any one month: And provided further, That the act to which this is an amendment shall continue in full force in all its provisions, except as modified by this act. |
| may dispose of the bonds in the United States or elsewhere; | |
| in what amount and at what rates. | |
| Public debt not to be increased. | |
| Limit to amount of notes to be retired. Former act to be in force, except &c. |
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| Secretary to report to congress, &c. | SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall report to Congress at the commencement of the next session the amount of exchanges made or money borrowed under this act, and of whom, and on what terms; and also the amount and character of indebtedness retired under this act, and the act to which this is an amendment, with a detailed statement of the expense of making such loans and exchanges. |
APPROVED, April 12, 1866.
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