The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-31
From The Philadelphia World.
THE STEAM SHIPS.

From ae Philadelphia World.
THE STEAM SHIPS.
We have said that the Secretary Of the Navy pro.
baby intended to give to his brothcrsn-law at West
Point the contract for making the machinery for the
frgate be built at the Navy Yard Of Phlade
phia and that citizens, the meeting 10 be held
Monday next, ought TO demonstrate against this, and
call upon the Secretary TO advertise for proposals, not
because this contract was due themselves hut be-
cause the Secretary should sacrifice the interests Of
the nation TO those Of his family. We will now give
for supposing that the Secretary will give
this contract his relatives and that If he do, the
work will he badly performed, and the public interest,
so far as the Navy is concerned, will DO sacrificed
As we have already said, the Secretary has two
brothers IN law, one Of whom is Mr. Gouverneur KEN
BILE, member Of Congress from the State Of New York.
who foundry for castings and mandatory for
steam engines, at Cold Springs West Point and
have learned that the patrimony Of tho Secrearys
wife was invested in this establishment Mr.. kemble
elected 70 Congress avowed opponent OF the
present Federal Administration, least Of it's pfln-
cipal measures upon finance. Afier the call of the
session Of Congress- he declared his intention Of
voting against the Sub-reasury bill Yet he did vote
for this bill in oil its stages and has since been
jealous partisan or the present Federal Administration
Soon after this political change his brolher-aw, Mr.
Pauldng, was appointed to the Navy Department. Il
is natural for both Mr.. Kembe and Mr. Paulding to
seek their respective personal interests and natural for
them 10 alu edcn Oner as members OF the same idmiy
and therefore might expect that contract within
the Secretafys control would be given to the member
Of Congress- If no important objection could be urged
And II one important objection should be urged, II
would be natural for the public refer the previous
conduct Of these two officers, order to decide whe
Their they would would tot waive the objection aud
prefer private t0pubic interests Let then reincm-
Der that Mr. Kebo, after fully expressing ono opinion
upon all important measure Of public policy, suddenly
changed his course without any new light upon the sub
al. L. T.lt..
public patronage to his foundry, aud the appointment
OF his brother-Inaw 10 the head Of the Navy Depart
men And let US also remember that MIR. Paulding,
immediately after his appointment, made unjus
titabe attack upon the officers OF the Navy. through
anonymous contributions TO newspaper and yielded
to improper opportunities, and resorted TO unjns,ifable
steps, for purpose Of Expressing Commodore Elliott
No" the objection that might be urged against the
Secretary's giving contract 10 Mr.. Kembe, is act
Of Congress prohibiting any member Of Congress from
being directly indirectly concerned in any contract
with the Federal government and the objection that
might be urged against the Secretarys giving to Mr..
kemhle contract for the machinery FOR this steam
rgate is tina. regard 10 public interest requires him
advertise Tor proposals. the only mode OF ascertain
ing who could do the work required Yet we find that
Mr. Pauldng did give TO Mr. Kemble the contract for
making the machinery of the steam frigate Fulton,
without advertising for proposals, and that Mr. Kemble
d!d accept this contract though member Of Congress
we therefore have reasons for supposing that Mr.
hembe may obtain the contract for the machinery Of
the irigate that is to be built at this Navy Yard.
should MIR. kemble obtain this contract, we have
good reason for supposng that The work will be less
sklfuIly performed than il would be in Phiadelpha
we have always understood that the machinery for the
steam ifigate Fulton was entire failure. We also
learn thar when the failure mentioned to the Secre
'ary' he replied that the English and French failed in
,helr hfst attempt IN building steam frgaes
luy Pocaimlng the Secretary's inconpetency for tho
was md mel pr
own because we should have. understood and avoided
,he'r iauts and the building Of steam engines is far
rom being ncn experiment in the United States Be-
sdes, we would call attention TO another failure Of Mr.
hemoe lie claimed the honor Of having invented cast
iron gun carriages though believe that nopeify
no part Of The invention; and he had the good fortune
20 persuade the federal Executive order large num-
oef OF mem Tor the navy and Notifications The Sc
crelay o. the Navy probably intended sstonsh Eu-
rope py TINS american invention. Mr. Kembe delivered
large number of Them beautiful in appearance and
tney were TO be distributed among the Notifications and
ships, to supersede the clumsy wooden carriages
10 use But before they distributed, officer Of
some experience, believe General Scott, suggested
that noret expedent, trial; he having somewhere read
that the Europeans sometimes subjected all military in
srunents to proof before distributing them for service
Inc trla was accordingly made upon FORTY that had
been delivered at the navy yard at Brooklyn and to
the credit OF Mr. kembe's inrenfion and workmanship
ne y spoken, all OF the forty stood fire. excepting
'eee" ASaCh VI tnese thlrty-scven became, on
the hrst hre heap Of old east IRON of excellent quality
Tor casting, and General Scott was 80 fully satisfied
with the experiment. as to consider second trial of the
remaining three, needless. We think that the public
ought 10 be satisfied with these specimens Of Mr. Kem-
oles skill ~ building engines and nventng and making
gun carriages.
But besides these guarantees from Mr. Kembe, for
his success IN constructing the machinery for the steam
rgate to be built here have another in the
and judgment of the Secretary
The chief engineer Of the steam ship Fulton was
Mr. Haswell, very respectable young man, but who,
are informed, had served any apprenticeship
to the important and difficult business Of building en-
gnes, and frequently obliged to call upon the as
sistsnt engineers Of the Fulton, for that information
which chief engineer should be able 10 gipe to his
subordinates. We also learn that he appointed
this very responsible station by the Secretary upon the
recommendation OF tho Messrs Kembles. Now il Mr..
Hsswe be incompetent to his post the Secretary has
displayed want Of judgment, want Of honest regard
to public interest, in the appointment.
we lner from all these circumstances, that unless
the public speak loudly upon this case, the Secretary
WIN give The Messrs Kembles the contract for the
chnery OF the steam gae to be built here, and that
the work will be badly performed We therefore hope
that the people will call upon him to advertise for pro-
posas and that this city will take the lead in this call