The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-09

the House, in order that they might not em6arass the
matter they adopted that amount.
II seems TO me unfair to make an amendment TO bill
which determined to vote against The senator
does not propose his amendment because he thinks
$4,000 would be fair but as he cannot kali the
bill, he will cripple II, pinch II, bite II, kick IT. that II
may go through the body hnscathcd and untouched
beg leave say that do not approve of that kind OF
warfare when we cannot destroy bill, cripple to
hamper, and TO fetier it, that II may not through as II
ought TO go.
In such cases follow, at an humble distance, the
course indicated by the honorable senator from assa
chuseits. Mr. WEBSTER j and where have not had an
opportunity of investigating all the merits OF claim,
follow in the steps OF the committee who have given
careful examnalion--paricuarly when that committee
is composed of such the honorable from
North Carolina, tMr BADcERl who has brought his ia
dcia mind and learning to the subject When he tells
the Senate the amount should be three times much
as what the senator from Maine would allow think
may without halting go twohirds far as he says
we ought TO co. with man who has thoroughly exam
ined the subject instead OF stopping at third OF that
amount, with who admits he has not examined II.
Upon these grounds then, am opposed to the amend.
ment whether am for the bill against it because
say that the bill is fair we should pass fary but
"o Mr. ATC sH Mr. President. if understand the
memorial of Mr.. Myerle il rests upon this very ground,
as the basis OF his claim Of compensation from The COY
TO have BEEN by the naval officer at Boston, then he
would have sustained damage. Ga the contrary, he
would have been able to complete his contract with the
Navy Department Now sir if this be that fact should
be the bas OF the bill There gentleman here that
preends say that there Is the shadow OF any evidence
upon this point further than that contained In The memo
rial itself. Mr. Myerle says the hemp was unnsty re-
jectcd, and that there two shipoads OF it, The
inspecting officer, he says, unusy rejected this hemp,
when it should have been received; and II they had
received the hemp he would have received his pay
der the contract with the Navy Department 1t in
sderaon Of this refusal TO receive the hemp that he
makes his claim TO these damages know, sir that the
report made in the House OF Representatives places
upon three tour different grounds, Of which is
al all satisfactory Here let remark that the Commit
an In
efeKed three four or five years ago, reported
against and if that report be had, would ask for
the reading oil
SEVERAL SENATORS No. no, no.
Mr.. ATCHlSON. Very, well! there is the report Of
committee against it. made by Mr. Henderson, then chair
man OF the Committee on Naval Affairs had the re-
port in my drawer few days SINCE but find that it is
mislaid
Mr.. NILES sent letter from merchants of Boston
the Clerks desk. which he asked to have read The
letter. stating that the hemp was equal to the best
Mr.. BENTON Now, Mr.. President lie, us hear
what the navy agent says called for that week ago;
and no seems to know what the navy agent has to
say. may say that is an unhearl-of thing in either
House Of Congress to pass upon any claim against the
to hear what the government has to say The govern
OF the United States is the adverse party represent
It represents the treasury |, is iavariable rule, sir.
rule OF memorable observance, always to call IN the
government and TO hear what they have TO say before
is presented to Congress at all. The honorable
senator from Connecticut who sits before me, MIR.
NILEs,l has brought in letter giving the statement of
merchants OF Boston 10 regard to the hemp as reason
agent speak Tor himself let hun speak for the govern
OF the United States and for the people Of the Uni
lie! States That is the point, sir; send il to him
The Senator from Maine Immediately before me, Mr..
BRADBURY,1 right in the main in his view, that il
we are to make compensation to this man, we should
have some rule to 80 by. II we are about to act
auditors to settle this account should have rule
to 20 by And what il that rule The amount OF hemp
rejected and the difference between the price of the hemp
Now the amount rejected was two small shipmentsone
of them, think thirteen tons and the other less than
that The rule with regard TO this rejected hemp not
that watch the rule with regard to tobacco in old
times! II used 10 be the rule that the tobacco which
rejected always burnt But that is not the rule at
all in this What is rejected goes to the person who
retains it and sells it in the market for what il is worth
His whole loss, them is the difference between what he
should have received under the contract, and the amount
which he actually did receive in the sale OF the hemp
and this difference depends upon The quantity which WIS
thus rejected ana sold That is the rule if we under
take TO go BY any rule
As for the other ground, as for compansating Mr.
Myerle for teaching the western people TO water rot
hemp, six senators have spoken upon this floor 1t is in
Kentucky. Illinois, and Missouri that he is supposed to
States tell you upon this floor that he was the laughing
stock of the hemp-growers, and Of the hemp manuac
turers Of that country, | know it myself. may be
witness in the court that this the laughing
stock Of the Oldest and best informed hemp.raiscr IN
Kentucky. He obtained the of their tools with
which to 70, what he did; and their names are to be
have stalk OF their hemp until they had obtained the
acceptance of MIR. Mortmullin. Mr. Myerle sir the
laughing stock of the old hemp rases and hemp growers
of that country and those who had followed the business
for thirty years, and who olow it, shipping their
hemp TO Boston to this day. know all about it, sir
He continued to be the laughing stock through Illinois,
Kentucky, and Missouri, and actually laughed
of the State among the Shawnee Indians on The other
side of the line, where he endeavored to teach them He
was laughed at all the way up, sir, to Boones Lick and
| beyond it.
| Then he came back, and came to Washington. And
here, sir. know all about IT, know that it was alto
gether his seeking He obtained letters from vari
was in the files, but il is now gone | remember how
felt when wrote it, and think wrote about blank
letter as could we'll be written. The senator from
Maine says that he saw the letter which | wrote
to the Secretary of the Navy but it is not
among the papers. do know that that man went
about soliciting and obtaining letters of introduction to
the Secretary OF the Navy to put himself in the way of
worth copper at the time; that he had knowledge of
the subject; that he had to employ; but that
from the beginning to the end it cheat and liz
ending in of the largest and most bare faced
cheats have ever seen perpetrated This we know
| from the senators coming from the States where the
information is supposed to be given, and we all agree
but it goes for nothing We pay this $4,000
or 10000 for Illuminating these three States, of which
the senators here tell you that he the laughing stock
| from end to the other.
| Mr.. FOOPE. have only one single remark to make,
| as the question seems to DO whether this
laughing stock not where he went. Calico the
laughing stock of the age in which he lived. Shaks
peare was laughed at by great many, and Dr. Johnson
by great many Indeed the world has seldom pre-
scented the case Of very wise who not aughed
al by great many of the vulgar multitude.
The question being then taken by yeas and nays, it