The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-21

much yaunie. contract Here are the facts la Novem
be lS47, Collins Co. under the act OF March 81 oil That
year. contracted 10 build and have ready for service fvs
ships OF a specified characier-foI OF Them al the ex-
piraton eighteen months and the M as early as may
be practicable theeaer; and for the service OF these
ships in carrying the United States rails across the At
antc, the United States 10 pay them $685. 900 year. IN
quarterly payments 10 begin after The service had com
menced This is the first contract Ii binds both parties
TO de certain things. The obligation is reciprocal II Is
binding equally upon the company and the United States
And bear ~ mind sra Il was contrast IN all ITS terms
and conditions, into which Collins Il Co actually beg
ged and bored and leased the Congress- upon the eat
and reiterated that they could aud would
ess wsy the time s expired the
end of which they 10 have four OF these ships ready
for service nder this much contract OF their own
proposng) this very sagacous company discovered that
they had not the ability 10 execute their at all
SO here they back upon Congress- representing Thai
unless extended them some relief and assistance the
whole scheme must fall through and end IN smoke. Then,
10 carry out this addition 10 their scheme, there com,
menced another series OF begging and boring speak Of
this from my own observation, and isiamiiiary known
10 The Senate The result OF this was provision IN The
naval appropriation bill, OF August 3. lSiS authorizing
the Secretary OF the Navy 10 advance 10 Collins Co.
S25 oOJ month for each OF their ships to enable them
10 build them that is, 100000 month Tor the four
ships until they should be completed and ready Tor service
This contaminated under supplemental contract,
dated February 9, 1910. With this concession which
all they pretended TO ask for then, and far than
they had asked for in the beginning, this company ex-
pressed themselves satisfied, and gave renewed assn
OF speedy and faithful performance OF their con-
tract But again, what the result! why, sir,
month had not elapsed, perhaps not day, before
they discovered again that they were unable to full
camorous than before; thus proving, 1t would
SEEM that concessions OF advantage 10 the SPECTATOR
like blood upon the tongue OF WOLF instead OF appeas
Ing, but serves to make his appetite ravenous Tor more
And actively did they work and sturdiy beg, that
from the 9th OF February 10 the 81 OF March, some
twenty-five days, they got provision IN the naval ap
tension OF time to June l. 1885, in which to hnsh their
ships and begin their service; in the mean time the ad
vance OF 100000 month to them to continue.
This is true history OF the transactions under that
famous contract up TO the beginning OF this session OF
Congress- when It had reached its third reading, with
amendments at every stage and each OF them against the
United States, and in favor of Collins Co! And these
the unprotected, prosecuted, suffering individuals
whose modesy and patriotism have brought them under
me to such modesty and patriotism OF truth, know
parallel 10 them unless il be found in the standard
moderation OF those gentle daughters the horse eech
No deny these facts or dispute the statements
Ihave based upon them. They are from the official
records here before me. Contemplate the picture they
present. Has Congress been nggardiy in lts disposition
hard in lis dealings with this company! Has 1t not,
the contrary, been liberal TO degree without par
demand What has it rsfusedi Or rather, what has
not granted and agreed To- IN every particular OF Terms
time. and money, which this company demanded Mr..
Conss tongue seems to have been gifted with the spell
OF open sesame" TO the heart OF Congress and the doors
OF the treasury and surely he has not been idle in Its
Three times has he uttered the magic phrase and as
up their gold Cui bono What part of the public in
terest has been promoted by all this For whose benefit
has it all been done Has i realized the expectations
for the public service upon the hypothesis OF which we
authorized this contract TO be mades Or has II re.
eved OF these pressing demands upon our time and
attention, saved the treasury from these perpetual
drains No, sir, no But II is TACT beyond dispute,
and patent to the world, thai this company themselves
have disregarded the of their contract from the
beginning, and, in almost every essential parllcu,
lar, have set it at defiance. lis fundamental, and
still subssting, condition has been lett out OF view;
and seems now, indeed, be impossible OF execution.
And every session, since the thing begun, we have
been besei by them with the cry OF help Cassius, or
sink ~ This cry has come up from the ocean, as II from
thoats fast filling with the bitter brlne and the other
week we heard il gurging, as ii from one going down
for the last time beneath the tide OF near Potomac In
deed, never, adays, cross the BRIDGE IN walking
the avenue, without listening for the voice OF some
drowning Cesar from the fetd waters OF own little
Tlber And just often have heard this cry, just
often have given help. Let us beware lest the
parallel be extended, and long find that we have
little cause Cassus had TO rejoice the charity OF
helping tyrant TO the land not that fear Mr. Collins,
or his line, for any direct immediate mischief he may
DO, even 4 be shall get me millions he now demands,
to fear that ii recognise the principle which his de-
mand involves, rule OF action for the Congress. we
will thereby have set up power over us not less sub
versve OF the principles of the constitution and desruc
tive the just and equal rights OF the people, than
the usurpation of Cesar to the liberties OF Rome
" The contract !" Call you this contracts by whom
has it been recognised as binding Surely, not by this
company. They have not complied with its conditions
from the beginning; and they have told us oen and sy
tell nop, they cannon comply with r-nay more,
that unless change IL, they must give II up. say
this upon anthority--at any rate, upon an authority
which this company will not dispute, and are bound to
recognise. say il upon the authority OF the senator
from New York, Mr. SEWARD who is the Ftdis
1ciass and .4ar combined oil this company on this foor
their friend ia council and their champion in fight In
hs speech in their behalf the 27h OF last month, IN
showing their condition, he said
They further show that capital OF So 100000 invested
has paid dividends and been reduced by inevi able
losses u little than 50 5o00o that their stock is
sold In Wall at fifty dollar and that
they would yet they cannot despatch another snip
or mail after the 18th Of May next"
Here SIR is their confession, in the most direct and
emphatic manner, made by their authorized organ and
advocate before the Senate, in the prosecution OF their
claim In the face OF this confession, call you this
"conracl'-a subssling and binding obligation Why,
sir il is but the name of such thing 10 mockery. II
has single substantial quality oil valid contract
or if it had II has been excluded by the purposed
violation OF one OF the parties NhH ntha! even as re-
ducsd in the derivaon being ness hdus, than bean.
chat! Ay, sir "less and lighter than beanchsf !"
and blown away by the first breath OF reason. II has
hardly The form OF such instrument lett to commend
to one moment OF respect contract is reciprocal in
its terms and binding equally upon both parties, or II IS
no contract all When violated by of the parties,
is virtually end for both if il be permitted to
continue for the benefit of either, il is only at the suffer
ance OF the who has faithfully observed IT, From
the moment, them that this company came before us,
and, avowng their inability execute their part OF the
contract asked to alter its conditions for their relief
ceased to be binding upon US, and has continued
since, and is subsisng now, only at our suieance At
time since that moment, 1t has been vodabe to
and we may now rghtfuly declare ii absolutely void
whenever think the public interest requires II TO be