The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-30
CONTRADICTIONS
w..nseros, D. G, May 27.h, ls4S.


s,., In 1889, my attention was directed by
The Hon. james X. Paulding, Secretary Of the
NAVY. 10 embark upon the experiment Of testing the
nracticabity Of supplying the navy with American
water-rotted hemp, with assurances that shonid be
sustained from loss, and, in the event OF my making
il practicable, should be handsomely rewarded
MY reply to this suggestion was, "sustain me from
loss, and let the country reap the reward. }" The
government, for upwards of thirty years, had been
attempting to effect this object; but every effort
that had been made had proved failure and left be-
hind i, strong pr!ejudices Of its being unhealthy
The water in which the hemp was rotted was
thought be destructive to animal ie and the sub
ject was totally abandoned. But, in my own opin-
ion considered that, with proper course pursued
these prejudices could be broken down and the OBJ
iect made practicable. therefore, feeling the great
Importance Of this matter the country, and view
ing it Of great national importance, consented To
embark upon the enterprise, under the auspices Of
QUE whom so highly esteemed as a gentleman and O
patriot preferring to sacrifice all was WORTH rather
than that my country should stand dependent upon q
foreign staple; and with the feelings Of man who
loved his country more than selfaggrandizement ac
complished il to the satisfaction and prosperity Of the
country. But unfortunately for me, the political
revolution Of 1910 took from those whose agent
was to perform this valuable SERVICE the power to
protect me; and when my hemp arrived at Boston
March the 5th, l64l, il was rejected, and was cut
adrift, which brought upon disastrous and ruin
GUS circumstances, for which have appealed in
vain to my country for redress. At the time EN-
barked upon this work. calculated that could de-
vote portion of my time to my regular business Of
manufacturing. But finding the difficulties attend
ing the hemp operation exceeding my antici-
patons owing to these prejudices found there was
but one alternative, and that was, either to abandon
Zone or the other.n On reflection, | came to the
conclusion that should prefer abandoning my own
interest rather than desert the of my country,
while had given encouragement TO men who felt a
T. IL sc. CopAa aaf
undertaking. As an evidence of the interest mani
tested for my success, and l may also say doubts,
/ will quote remark made by one Of the Board of
Navy Commissioners, as follows: Sot hal
"What a glorious thing il will be to see an arri-
val Of American water-rotted hemp coming into
Boston!" My reply was: swell, Commodore, you
shall not only see one, but threc.n He replied, "If
partment TO petition the House to pass act to
power the board TO make contract with you for
five years, and at price TO justify you to undertake
carrying this important matter out" And, as an
evidence of the sacrifices have made to accomplish
this object quote an extract Of letter from gem
tleman at Louisville, dated January 2lst, l845:
Your abandonment Of the extensive corage factory
appurtenances costing nearly $4,000 in pursuit Of CON
tract with the government for waterrotted hemp for the
Of navy the total destruction Of interest and
Your own Our prospects certainly Of the most nat
teng character had ready sale for We
could manufacture at this highest prices there
competition in The business; and from the immense quaint
~ which the establishment was capable Of manufacturing
understood Of your invention and its operations
not understood by any other than YOURSELF
and all our fair prospects were blighted-"
In a deposition made by the same gentleman, on
the 18th day Of February, l645, he says:
1.-THE withdrawal from the superintendent Of the manu-.
featuring operations Of the extensive the total
loss Of your interest in the Washington Patent Corage
In addition to the above, l had also an extensive
one at Wheeling, Virginia. The following extract
Of deposition made by John w. Berry, dated
February Sd, l845, will also show the extent Of my
loss at this point, arising from this hemp operation:
9" satisfied the ropewaik zanes Island and all APP
pertaining thereto worth at least $l 600 And have
no doubt that the business had been well attended TO- il
would have neted at least So 900 per annum."
In addition to this, had property at other points,
and part Of the machinery was prepared for an ex-
tensve factory be built property at ST. Louis
Tho loss Of my property would have been no griev-
anee to me, had been treated as becomes CRATE
fal nation. Upon the contrary, have been thrown
Into the hands ofthose who have treated my motives
and sacrifices with scorn, persecution. perfect in
brought upon me by the agents Of the government,
and left me a perfect wreck, viewed it as
had pledged myself TO those whose agent had been,
to perform this valuable service. And although the
political change in the affairs Of the administration
had cut me adrift, they had not the power to dis
possess me of my will and actions. felt bound, in
honor and in duty to prosecute il to its ultimate
cess; and To abandon H. would be cowardly and not
becoming patriot. therefore proceeded to Mis-
sour and Illinois, and prosecuted II upon my ind-
vdual enterprise encouraging the farmers by giving
them an advanced price for their hemp; which
resulted in disastrous losses in consequence of a
second rejection Of my hemp, and the low price Of
Russia, which. came In competition with my hemp
shipped 70 the eastern markets. The hemp rejected
was sold to an extensive manufacturer, who pro-
nounced il equal to any Russia he had ever pur-
aha cad 81 kao onA
purposes" A portion Of this hemp also was ship
pedt Europe, to the London and Liverpool markets,
which sold for one pound higher per ton than Rus
STA hemp in that market. In testimony Of this fact,
that our hemp is taking the precedence in our mar
tract Of letter from the house Of Messrs. Tucker,
Cooper, q Co., Of New York, dated April 25, l845.
They state az follows:
From to within two or three years. the importation
OF hemp from St Petersbnrgh and Riga ranged from
only in the year 1885, in ls4s the quantity received
perhaps aooo tons and last year not than 400
~ consequence
In another letter, dated May 7.h, ls45, they
state: h
We beg leave to observe that the importation Of hemp
a1s no sns sc sS yS very @ and 4 i
Ton o. american a hemp which is constantly gaining favor
In letter from Messrs. Lombard & Whitmore. Of
Boston, to the Hon. Wm Parmenter, thew state:
For many years, he has abored very indus,riously
and successfully for the country introducing and extend
Ing he cultivation Of hs%p u doing which ii. private
vantages Of his skill and enterprise In large supply OF
s sas large o are
which recently cleared FOR London took out between
sok entitled 70 great cre and @
has done in this great national enterprise"
Also, in a letter from the Hon. Richard French
House Of Representatives, Kentucky, to Presiden