The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-22

Instead OF taking money out OF the treasury 10 pay for
transporting the mails, Mr. Thompson 10 content 10
eeive only the hostages up TO given amount for his
compensaion-thus making 1t dependent, IN large de-
gree. upon the prompt and efficient in which he
shall perform The service AS the redemption OF the
principal of the stock if the government shall take
the ships lis use, amply secured by the mort
gage the ships which the government at any time
foreclose.
To sum up. the committee well say that Mr. Thomp-
proposition be regarded contract by which
the government great public advantages. and BY
which the ships in effect the property OF the gov
ernmsn for the stock issued is only its promise pay
the cost of construction and equipment when the ser
vice shall have been performed the ships required for
naval purposes while the government secures, by its
powers OF supervision that the funds shall be faithfully
applied TO the purposes OF the contract The practical
effect (say they, furthe OF the arrangement will be- that
the government will have in actual service six first class
steamships, WITHOUT expense for The service Jon mann
tanning or repairing them, with ample security and
guarantee that they shall be kept in the most seyceabe
condition, and subject to be taken for its use, at its
pleasure while the obligation 10 pay at future day
not, under any circumstances exceed the cost of
sirucon and equipment, and lis lien the ships cannot
be avoided or defeated.
But this is not all for, though Mr. Thonpson's plan
may be unobeconabe in every point OF view, the ques.
ton arises, and important it is, whether he is
man fitted to execute it, if the government shall enter
into contract with him On this point the committee
full and explicit for they bear testimony as we'll
the whole commercial community OF Philadelphia to his
high character Citizen TO his enterprise and
as man of business, and submit bill in accordance
with his proposition, authorizing the Secretary OF the
Navy enter into contract with him for the establish
OF his line OF steamships between China and Cali
fona because such contract is deemed by them to be
favorable TO the government and the mode OF providing
for the construction OF the ships to be not only free from
we'll grounded objections, but economical and bet
ter calculated to insure efficiency than any other.
am sure, Messrs. Editors, that both you and your
readers, in Congress and out, will agree with that
proposition like this of Mr. Thompson, to establish
steam communication between San Francisco and Sbang
hae, &C., which has been endorsed warmly and so
deservedly by such committee that OF Naval Affairs
in the last House of Representatives, in the face OF every
other proposition, is that will justly engage the seri-
GUS attention of the present Congress, carrying with it,
it Does every argument in its favor and none against
that merits consideration, and that the country has
just right to expect the speedy passage of bill author
izng the Secretary OF the Navy enter into contract
with Mr. Thompson for the construction of his proposed
steam line the North Pacific especially he comes
before Congress and the government with all the pecu.
mary guarantees necessary to insure faithful and hon
est execution OF his undertaking.
| Very truly, yours,
w. G. SNETHEN,
Carroll Place. Capitol Hill, Washington
| JANUARY 20, 1852.