The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-02

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he present Secretary held back ill now, but given in
his annual report accompanying the Presd, mess ge
The commencement of this Congress- only to the
value q but that the floating dock without the basin
and railway cannot be saely or advantageously used
But Mr. President, there other distinct grounds for
this The honor of the nation is involved in the
question under consideration The good faith Of the
United States has been soed by the proceedings which
have taken place heretofore upon bisSubec has
been fixed upon the escucheon OF The for the sake
saving three four hundred thousand dollars. Allow me
call for the attention Of gentlemen who are not
familiar with this subject TO It's rise and history.
In the Congress before the last appropriation made
directing the Secretary of the Navy make for
the dry dock basin, and railway for California although
the from Pennsy supposes that This bill
the place in which make contracts. believe, however,
that he the only gentleman here who has found that
il is proposed make The Secretary made Tho
He settled and agreed upon the upon which
the dock BASIN the railway be
add the day after the two parteshe Secretary, repre-
senng the United States and the patentees-had agreed
resolution introduced into the House of Representa-
tves and passed, directing the Secretary TO proceed
further in The completion of the contract The Secretary
felt himself bound by that direction Of the House. and
seoueoy the writings not prepared and signed. The
subject taen referred upon resolution introduced into
this body, 10 the Committee on Naval Ai'irs, which
directed whether contract had been made and
if had been made whether II just the gov
eminent We received letter from the Secretary Of the
Navy stating what he had done, which in sub
this: These gentlemen propose to do the work for
certain The Secretary referred the matter his
bureau The bureau examined it, and reported reduction
of the He satisfied with that, and directed
Investigation by the chiefengneer TO ascertain the lowest
cash price for which the work could be DONE When that
had been asceaned he then told these gentlemen that if
they would undertake the work for sixty seventy
eighty thousand dollars less than they had proposed they
should have the They asked two days to con-
slider the matter and he gave to them AT the expiration
of the they announced that they took the contract
These the facts The Naval Committee unanl-
mousy of the opinion that they made the binding
upon the honor and integrity Of the governments that
would have madehe contract binding upon the honor and
unfa and
purpose respect to contacts, whether between
individuals, for which necessary reduce
them to writing, two First to prevent mistakes
the meaning of the parties and, second compel the
ucan contractor to perform his contracts that this
binding upon the honor of the parry which opposed that
binding could be upon the United States
if there had been many contracts written, signed
and sealed, because last nothing bound from
egn but upon his integrity his honor, and good faith
The honorable senator from Virginia MIR Mason at
that time made report wrring-a unanimous report from
the Committee Naval Affairs express decided opin
ion that a had been made which binding upon
the faith of the government and therefore
sary for the committee enter into any investigator
whether the contract was good one not,
bound in honor perform il but that, far had
been able ascertain, the contract good That
report made 10 the Senate and the presentation of
it, the committee asked to be schaged from any further
consideration Of the subject TO which proposition the SEN
unanimously agreed When this subject up the
last OF these matters all understood
but told that the basin and railway had been
tested. proposed that the work should 60
with the Secretary referred in the letter addressed
% the committee that not penny should be expended
that the should be considered null in regard
the basin and rail way, unless, the experiments being
tried it found the satisfaction of the head of the de-
partmen that IT completely answered its purpose.
Now, SIR here the pon question submitted to the inte
g.nre and integrity or the American Senate The Congress
OF the United States Observation-Disclosures wisely sgn
hes nothngthat their agent should into agree
ment That agreement entered nlo and, but for the
interference OF branch Of Congress- the very day
signed III IL NV
certain that could show his face upon 'Changc no
man could be eved gentleman in the intercourse OF
private e IT. after having made such contract that he
had repudated because he chose do and for one
willing that my country should be supposed have
lower standard OF integrity than that which suppore
possess myself ard which every honest requires to
have in the transactions of life.
have had this acquaintance with these facts because it
has so happened that have been member Of the Commit
Naval Affairs since have been connected with
the Senate The work 10 valuable and mportant that
wil multiply the value of the dock twenyfod. The Sec
reary says that the dock cannot be safely
used without IT. Then what do we propose TO dot We
have purchased dock 1t IL California. We have pad
for It, and have entered INTO agreement with the parties
which would have been reduced TO wnng and pat into The
ordinary form Of such ransacons but for interference
by directing our agent TO suspend the work
Now, we say that do not think il advisable to
comply with the engagement binding only upon the honor
and integrity Of this government SIR, declare lsnny
that 10 my view, The cJmmal Of the government
tract SUCH that would permit tina, should be finally
repudiated, even II were TO pour hfy millions from the
men, believe in regard TO the govtrnnen The oss
fair and unimpeachod character be compensated by
all the wealth that belongs the Indies hope that the
amendment will be agreed to.
Mr. MASON. In addition 10 what the honorable senator
from North Carolina has ,ed desire say few words.
Congress- some few ago, directed the Secretary Of the
Navy to make contract with certain persons 10y
who they were do not recoo fJr the construction
OF dry-dock, BASIN and railway California The dre
ton mandatory the Secretary make the
Tor the dy-dock and left il discretionary with hun whether
70 contract for basin and railway not voted against
mat proposition, but passed and became law The Sec
rstary OF the Navy entered into negotiation with the per-
sons named IN the BILL and made for the
ton OF the drydock but not for the BASIN and railway.
Whe the matter stood at that point the being
made bat not sgned some partes who eager
advance ie interests Of the country by making
with ~ induced the Secretary of the Navy pause At
tue ensuing session both houses Of Congress called upon the
Secretary 10 nfon them how far he had advanced the
execution OF the law. The Secretary snid that he had ,de
contract with tho parties NAMED BILL but that II had
not been reduced to writing. He had requested them to call
upon HIM IN two three days when the contract would be
ready and signed but before the day arrived he was arrest
ed by resolution Of the House. and also by resolution Of
the Senate.
Mr. BADGER The sennto's resolution wns one Of il.
quiry.
Mr.. MASON The resolutions were Of such obnroot,,
the action Of the Seer tary He repored the
facts to The facts that the execution Of the law
Of Congress- the Secretary had agreed the terms
by the contracting parties, and that nothing remained 6u TO
reduce them wrIlng. The subject was referred 10 IN,
Commute Naval Affairs, the senator from Norb
Carolina has said Of which was then member and which
Instructed report upon the subject did 80 reportiug
the fact that the la mandatory upon the Secretary
that he had executed that he had made the contract bu
had been reduced TO writing and the writing vas
only the evidence Of the existence Of the contrnct that there
allegation Of fraud Of faith on the part of
contracting parties that there nothing vacatc the
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