The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-02

now the period when the people Interested In the I'd
ys1iasss % bs derived from the resolution about 70
make tneir preparaions Tor the culture OF the article
the resolution shall be passed, they will waler-ro
their hemp otherwise they will pursue the usual course
o. dew routing 4 They bad an assurance from the gov
eminent that the hemp prepared by rong for the
use OF the navy will be purchased If Of suitable quality
before they will incur the expense Of preparing il IL that
and trust il will not be sent TO the Committee Of the
Whole, but he immediately disposed Of,
But lsad Mr. 81 what stands in the way OF the pas
from Pennsylvania [Mr. SrRosol that one George W
Billings is entitled 10 contract TO supply The whole
= s navy s o
STANTON. OF TENNESSEE informs the House that the
committee have reported BILL or resolution. directing
ns ss tons only each year. for he Dssoa q
FIVE years Now. II understand that at least sevsa hun
dred tons required each year for naval purposes and
farmers Of Kentucky the advantage OF supplying four
hundred tons OF this amount because the measure OF re-
lief to Billings canno, Be passed with 4. that having gone
in favor Of keeping the faith OF this government with all
persons who have dealings with demand that justice
shall be done to the people Of the West They have al
men in regard to this very matter OF supplying the navy
with hemp, and would protect them from the monopo.
Ths ,wn ann men ana ~ ae
committee instructing the Secretary to purchase Amer-
can hemp and the directing him to contract with Mr.
billngsdo not necessarily conflict Let the resolution
NOW before Be passed and passed now and when the
one in favor Of Mr. Billings comes mp, if find, upon an
investigation OF the facts that he is entitled his
will give il him. for will do injustice to any man
But do mol refuse to pass this resolution and deprive my
constituents, and Others interested IN the West Of the
privilege OF supplying that portion OF hemp needed for the
navy which may not be embraced IN the contract OF Nh
Mr.. STANTON. OF Tennessee, said il was true that
in this document the Secretary of the Navy, in giving
ahistoy OF the proceedings OF the department as to the
purchase Of American hemp, stated the fact that Mr.
But Continued Mr. S. the particulars Of ths transaction
were not before the committee and not, therefore,
the subject OF its consideration certainly did not IN
refusal to contract with Mr.. Billings this ground
though such may possibly be the fact. The circum-
stance was advered to, but was said that Mr. Billings
had compete legal justification for not fulfilling the
contract of 1s46 know nothing of the merits OF the
matter will not deny that such failure, under GER
tain circumstances, might authorize the Secretary to re-
fuse contract to the lowest bidder.
The committee were called upon to determine whether,
under the late advertisement from the Navy Department
Mr. Billings entitled to the contract. The opinion
Of the Attorney General produced pronouncing the
bids Illegal chiefly because the prices for the five success
sve years were graduated The committee did not con-
in the opinion OF this high officer; and think may
venture to say there is scarcely lawyer in this House
who would
Further, MI Speaker. the committee were satisfied.
proeed contract. but also that he had presented pn
doubted security Believing he the lowest bidder
and his old legal one the committee could not see why
For myself, Mr. Speaker, have very little concern in
the matter except to secure the purchase Of the western
hemp, which am sure Is superior in strength 10 any
foreign hemp care not who gets the contract, and am
perfectly indifferent between the friends of Mr. Billings
and the gentleman from Kentucky. The Committee on
Naval Affairs has expressed its Judgment upon matter
referred to them. and il is for the House to do what
will desire, at all events, that the joint resolutions
shall eventually pass whatever may be the fate OF that
Mr. BOWLIN said that he had taken the floor to en-
deayor bring back the question to the legitimate
sion before the House; which was, not whether MIR.
Billings had legal claim to exclusive monopoly Of
the hemp market for the navy but whether the Secretary
shall have authority 70 go into the open Market and buy
the article in such quantities he furnish This
was the question: and the sole question: for the House 70
decide Mr. Blings.s affairs had been most Improperly
lugged into this debate, with which il had nothing at all
to do. II was proper 10 pass this resolution, no matter
what the House might hereafter decide with regard to
giving Mr. Bnss the monopoly Of the hemp mp market
several OF the States This departure from the
question taken by the gentleman from
Mr. SrRoSe for what purpose Q! for what intent il was
difficult for him TO perceive this was mere question
Mi. STRONG inierpo.ed. tsIr B. yielding the aoor,
authorized the Secretary OF the Navy 60 into open
market and purchase the hemp needed for the use OF the
navy II this authority were given to the Secretary they
would then be told when the other resolution came up
for consideration, that hemp needed and that the
contract ought not to be entered into.
Mr. BOWLIN (resuming) said that he had intended to
come to that subject AT another point OF his remarks but
the gentleman had invited his attention to IT, he would
notice Il now, The proposition then was, that as Mr.
Billings claimed right to monopoly oil all the hemp TO
be furnished for the navy for five years TO come, all
operations must cease until he was satisfied or until the
House disposed of his preensons and decided whether
the interest OF western farmers in their great staple
to be turned to his speculative mercy. Now,
the gentleman did not understand the proposition or he
did not want to understand IL; for nothing proposed in
this resolution in the slightest degree interered With Mr
Bingss interest," should the House finally decide
that the farmers OF the West held their market at his
eregn will and pleasure That future question: and
he utterly epudiaed its being forced into this debate, TO
oresia that Immediate action which required upon
this resolution. He would he said, endeavor 10 put
the question fairly the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
Mr. STRosG,l and to the House. II simply this
That since hemp bad become great staple with the
farmers of the West, there had been constant struggle
introduce il into the of the American navy-where
proved equally good the foreign arcleand thus to
encourage az Tar as that consumption would 40 y the
farmer in that pursuit OF industry Agencies had been
established Louisville and st. Louis, TO test and pur
chase yet, by the nterpostion OF monopolzing con-
tractors, these agencies perfect sinecures They
purchased hemp from the farmer who produced II BY
his labor When they brought their ten, or twenty, or
fifty bales, they were told there was horIty TO
purchase-ihat Mr.. b. had the contract for furnishing
all that was wanedand they must make their sales
through him. That they were compelled TO purchase
only from A, and could receive nothing from 4, c, D,
T. f. &C. thereby subjecng the whole farming interest,
as far as that staple and thai market were concerned TO
the arbitrary will OF the contractor They must sell TO
the government contractor and as he was the Chief
market, his will regulated prices His dicum hxed the
market whilst be received the highest prices given Tor
the article.
Now, il was to change this system Of outrageous mo