Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-19
ton. which hold in my hand, made the followin.


mark:
"He meant to reproach the late Secretary lid
Navy his predecessor they were both highmnded
men, character and mtegry but neyeIhe{
less have been made by the bureaus
without their knowledge He desired TO have this nforma
ton and he hoped the resolution would now DC passed.
/ The resolution is as follows:
"Reored That the Secretary Of the Navy be and he Isl
hereby required communicate to the Senate the contract
tered into with Mesrs Howland Aspnwa for supplying
the Japan squadron with coal the price per ton which the
will delivered in the Chinese the amount
Of commissions and insurance respectively together with the
of exchange which the Government will be REQUIRED 10
pay such Of the coal may be purchased in England
That the Secretary be also required to inform the Senate
whether offers were made by parties than Mesrs How
land Aspnwa supply the above named squadron with
coal by delivering the at such acesas might be desg
in the Chinese the prices per ton ut which these
parties proposed deliver it. stating particularly the rates at
which anthracite, American bituminous, and English bium
respectively offered and whether after these offers
had been made contract at higher prices not entecd
into with Messrs Rowland tspnwall for Engxh coal
"Thar the Secretary be further required - infss tc Ss
whether the tc Of contracting the sup
ply Of the squadron with COAL the Government had
regularly asthorSed agents employed for the purpose
Of purchasing and inspecting all coal nccessayfor the supply
Of the navy and what commission the said agents received by
OF compensation for their services That he be required
further to inform the Senate whether Messrs Rowland As
pnwa appointed agents to purchase and inspect the
whole greater part of the coal for the supply
the japan squadon whether the commissions allowed them
double the amount those allowed and paid to the
regular purchasing and inspecting agents. whether the said
commissions counted the price of coa
w. on the price with freight exchange and added
That he be required also to inform the Senate what quantity
of coal it is estimated will be required for the supply of the
said squadron annually and what kind principally viii be
used what amount of demuage has been paid and for what
quantity Of coal for what length of time and whom; also
whatrate OF demurrage is to be paid hereafter
Whilst the remark exempts the Secretaries of the Navy
from and blame leaves but Inference that
may be applicable only to the head of the Naval Bureau
my friend and constituent Commodore Shubrick, than
whom in the public service could be less liable
such
there contract entered into by the Navy
Department either by the Secretary himself the head
of the bureau with Rowland Aspinwall cea the
proper acceptaton Of the term contract The Navy De-
partment by express law and in change of old regu-
aton is authorized to purchase coal for the of the
navy The mode Of making such purchases left to the
judgment of the Secretary under his official responsible
ty In carrying out the provisions of this law the late
Secretary of the Navy, Mr.. Graham, appointed Rowland
Aspnwal agents to supply the Japan squadron with
COAL To enable them to do with certainty and prec
sion that is to quantity and place. they subject
the requison and orders of the head of the bureau For
their services agents. thus appointed they receive
stipulated commission previously agreed upon between
themselves and the Secretary the Navy The only
ton be performed by the head of the bureau is strictly
ministerial that is to make requiston the agents,
and to pay their bills when duly presented and auhen
ticated.
/ Commodore Shuhrick, the head of the bureau con-
fning himself strictly i'll the sphere Of his official agency
has done nothing less than carry the spu
lated arrangements of the Secretary of the Navy. He
could have inducement to do any thing else and
will fer it. sir that if any thing had depended on
his discretion it would have been performed with good
judgment and honorable purpose have no doubt that
the honorable Senator Pennsylvania had no inten
ton Of saying any thing 10 wound the feelings or touch
the honor of my honorable friend and constituent
Mr.. COOPER. The Senator from South Carolina GER
intended TO reflection upon Commodore Shuoric
did not intend to convey the idea that Comnodorc
shubrick had acted dishonesty perhaps mpro-
perly. believe stated at the time that the contracts
made by the Bureau Of Construction and Supply,
and it is probable that if had reflected a moment,
would have known that Commodore Shubrick the
head of that bureau But there suggestion that
letter that think had better have been left out.
i Mr. BUTLER. 1t is not letter; it is my memo
randum from his conversation
Mr. COOPER. lie that there is no contract en-
tered into There contract perhaps made with the
persons who furnish the coal but they appointed
agents. and e1ocio their duty is to furnish COAL and
they become in law, contractors with the Government
Now, sir let say further, that instead of paying
commission of five per cent which the regularly autho-
rized agents of tho Government entitled receive
these receive ten per cent In addition to that by
the bills they will be in the return made to the
resolution by the present Secretary of the Navy they
have barganed at ten and half per by way of
change and instead Of purchasing American coal at the
price at which it offered to them which, by the
made by the engineers in chief and by officers in
mand of steamers is greatly preferable English coal
they have bought English coal at higher price. Now
certainly did not intend to reflect the Senator's
stiuents never would do injustice to any man, high
or low but when the Government funds squander-
ed and American interests neglected order that some
parties may be benefited, must take notice of it, do
Il
really from what have heard and seen through the
agency of other persons but that the of the
and the commuDity-the great constituency which all
represent-wi judge whether right in what said
| or not.
| Mr.. BUTLER All i have to say in rejoinder is
that Commodore Shubrick had limited administrative
agency and Of course Of the blame could
fall upon him. 1t a stipulation, suppose entered
into by the Navy Department ITSELF perhaps the Sc
nator says, under Influences but do not believe
that Commodore Shubrick be charged having in
tentonally either perpetraed wrong the Govern
ment done any thing 70 the prejudice Of American
interests
Mr.. PEARCE. The remarks which have been made
might to throw upon the late Secre-
tary of the Navy, Mr. Graham, and think il due him
that should state my recollection Of conversation which
had with him last summer in relation to the supply of
coal for the Japan expedition Though do profess
to recolect all the points with accuracy, think
state with little certainty, few things which will go
TO that gentleman from any reproach which may
/ be cast upon him.
Il understand that Commodore Perry came here to see
the Secretary of the Navy and urge upon him the mpor
noe Of securing the supply Of coal from persons of such
undoubted respecabiy as that there could be posi-
bity of failure to deliver the coa the proper place
and time. IL thought TO be amportant 70 the sue
Of the expedition and that il might entirely pros
trated, at least parayzed if the coal put in
such condition to be obtained when wanted He
therefore induced to make the arrangement which did
make and undoubtedly the statement of Commodore Shu
brick is correct with Rowland s. Aspinwall / believe
| their competency undoubed Their ability to COM
ply with the contract at the precise time necessary for
the delivery Of COAL unquesoned But in addition
that the Secretary then informed me- do not think
that am mistaken, that, after examining the whole sub
ject the conclusion arrived that the operation
would be quite economical that in the place Of which
hn.o A.