The southern press., 1850-09-04

poSe VI az ouce eSerclsIlSy W thot ehu, ah tHs
powers which he possessed, tie said Secretary
directed contract to be entered into with the me-
mortast (but taking no security from him) fol-
the delivery Of 200 tons Of American waterrotted
hemp, to be equal to the best Russian, during the
year 194l and before its delivery, or any part
thereof, and in full view OF the great diff
fculties and uncertainty of literal compli
ance with the strict terms of the contract by
the first experiment, caused that contract to be
tended to 500 tons, to be delivered by the close OF
lS42.
'From careful examination Of the case the
committee are satisfied that 1t was not the sole or
leading object Of the department, by the contract
entered into with the memorialist, merely to give
II preference to American water-rotted hemp, and
TO obtain the domestic article, in that particular
instance, If as go d as Russian but, on the con-
trary, that the great and leading national object
was, by the patronage of the Government, and
the success ofJhe experiment to be made by the
practicablity and safety of the water-rotting pro
cess in our own country, and thus provide for
the supply of our own navy and merchant ship
ping with American article equal to the foreign.
"This object is distinctly avowed by Secretary
Paulding in his letters and report to the Senate,
and is abundantly shown by the evidence in the
case. The correspondence between the memorl-
oist and the department, during the year 1910,
shows, beyond all question, that his efforts were
viewed as an experiment, in which that branch of
the Government took the deepest interest. The
application of the Secretary Of the Navy to Con-
gress for authority, contrary to existing laws, to
keep the memorast under an advance Of S25 900,
which passed the Senate, but failed in the House
for want Of time, as is alleged, shows the same
thing; and the debate and action of the Senate
show that that body also concurred in the objects
OF the Secretary in favor Of this great American
| interest.
CATER having entered into the foregoing ar
| tLn ,nfk tha
committee are satisfied that the memoralist, aban-
doning every other object and pursuit, entered
upon the accomplishment Of the difficult task
| assigned him with the most entire good faith, and
continued to prosecute the same with degree OF
zeal and energy as rare as they were commenda-
BILE. The plan adopted was the one best cacu-
lated to accomplish the OBJ ject; it was the 'erperi
menium crucis' of purchasing hemp, constructing
proper pools, and actual y waterrotting the same,
| in the different counties and neighborhood' 4
| throughout wide circle of the hemp-growing
region Of country.
"The expenses attendant upon these operations
Of the memoriast which were all borne by HIM
SELF must have been very heavy; and the Difficult
ties and obstacles in the beginning represented
as almost insuperable, growing out Of the deep.
rooted prejudices Of the peo; lie, founded upon an
almost universal belief of the fatal effects Of the
process upon the lives Of both men and animals
Ills workmen (of whom, at one period, he had
| u
fear Of the effects upon their health, and, wher
obtained, at high prices, had to be instructed in
every part of the process Of water-roting and pre-
pairing the hemp for market.
AT the close Of the fall of 1910, the memorialis
seems to have established the entire practicability
of carrying on the process Of water-rotting hemp
without any serious detriment to the health Of the
country; and SO complete the change of public
opinion on this point, founded on the actual ex
periments Of the memoriallst and the evidence o
their own senses, that u great number OF the mos
respectable planters entered into an ngreemen
with him to furnish him with water-rotted hemp
in lS4I, some engaging to furnish as much as l0(
tons.
"The process of preparing the hemp for deli
very to the Government was then commenced
and carried on through the winter; and though
attended with much difficulty, owing to a tota
want Of experience on the part of the workmen
yet, the only difficulty supposed to be insuper
able (that Of practically establishing, to the salts
faction Of the country, that pestilence did moi
accompany the process of water-rotting) had beer
completely overcome, and this was part q
the experiment which little time and experienc'
could not fail to overcome, the experiment seem'
to have been considered, both by the memorials
and the department, as promising entire and Ger
tain success.
"During all this period, the correspondence
betwee the memorialist and the department shows
the deep interest taken by the latter in the success
OF the experiment Samples Of the hemp were
sent to the department., examined, formally in.
spected and approved, and the memorialist warmly
congratulated upon the successful issue of his
efforts.
"During the latter part of the winter OF l84l
two shipments of hemp were made for the Gov.
ernment to Boston, to be delivered and inspected
at the Charlestown navy yard, whilst other por
tons Of the same were being prepared for ship
ment On the Sd Of March, 1841, (the day Mr.
| tor Of ex xt,ire
though no portion Of the said 200 tons had beer
delivered within the year limited bv III" first con-
tract-nether Of he said shipment havJ reached
Charlestown until after the explr Jou Of o period
limited by the contract for H. delivery p the
whole-the said contract wa cNteUdcd 5O(
tons, to he delivered on or bciure the lNt If De
cember, 1912.
"This extension Of the contract by Mr. Pauld
ing, before any part of the 200 tons had beer
delivered, Qhough the period for the delivery o
the whole had passed. shows, as the committed
believe, that the contract entered into with thu
memorialist was not considered by the Secretary
as ordinary one, nor the relations existing
between the memoriast and the Government
those existing between it and ordinary contrac
tors
"Shortly after this extension Of the contract
the two shipments of hemp arrived, were eX
amined, scrutinized, condemned, and rejected, n.
the memorialist alleges, unjustly and withou
against, the domestic article, and, as Mr.. Pauldins
states against his intentions, had be remained il
the department.
"At the time of this rejection, it appears tha
the memorialist's private affairs had become de
ranged, from entire neglect of them TO insur'
the success Of the hemp experiments; his credi
had become greatly extended, from the heavy ex
penses Of his hemp operations; the bills he hat
drawn against these shipments were returned
protested; the hemp at his depots, in the course o
preparation for shipment, as well as all his pri
vate property, seized; and, in word, hi
credit entirely destroyed, and all his property
sacrificed, and he left helpless bankrupt, ant
has remained so from that day to the present
Against this unjust rejection Of his hemp, th'
memorialist protested, and appealed to the assur
ances, objects, and motives, under which he hat
been induced to accept the contract; but in vain
The total destruction Of his credit, and the sacri
flee of. all his property, which followed the rejec
ton, deprived him Of all the benefit expected and
intended from the extension Of his contract; ou
of which, he alleges, with much appearance o
truth, he would have been enabled to realize
large profit of from $4,000 to $50, 900, from thu
| H.. ha