The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-03-04

On the other hand the construction Of Ave ships Of great
speed and sufficiently strong for war purposes and the
serviees passed mdshpmen board Of them so as
augment the contingent. force aud the actual efficiency Of
the navy, among the inducements Of the government
TO enter into the contract
The Of July 81 1852 provides shat shall be in the
power Of Congress any time after the sIs day Of Dece-
ber 1864 terminate the arrangement for the additional
allowance herein provided for upon giving six months
notice and il win be that with the exception Of the
six additional trips required BY the act Of July a. 1884,
there has been departure from the original engagement
but to relieve the contractors from obligation and yet BY
the last named the compensation increased from
three hundred and eghyfse thousand TO eight hundred
and fyeigh thousand dollars with other protection
the public interests provided than the right which Com
aress reserved TO itself terminate the contract far
this increased compensation concerned after months
notice This last provision certainly primary oonsdera
ton for the generous action Of the government the
present bill proposes to repeal 10 leave Congress no
power to terminate the arrangement.
To this repeal the objections are my mind insupera
BILE because terms deprives the United States Of all
future discretion the increased service and compensa-
on whatever changes may in the Of navigation
its expenses the policy and political condition OF the
country The gravity of this objection is enhanced BY
other considerations While the contractors to be paid
compensation nearly double the of the original con-
tract they exempted from several Of its conditions
which has the effect Of adding st more to that rate
while the further advantage is conceded then Of
placing their privileges beyond the control Of
Congress.
1t win be regarded less serious objection than that
already stated but which should be overlooked
that the privileges bestowed upon the contractors are with
correspondent advantages the government which
ceves sufficient pecunary other return for the i'm
mense outlay involved which could obtain the SER
vice OF other parties less cost and which, il the bill be
comes a law, will pay them large amount Of public
money without adequate considerationthat is will in
effect confer gratny, whilst nominaly making provision
for the transportation Of the mails of the United States
To provide for making donation of such magnitude,
and give the arrangement the character of perma
which this bill proposes, would be to deprive COM
mercia enterprise of the benefits OF free competition and
establish monopoly in violation of the soundest prin
cpes Of public policy and of doubtful compatibility with
the constitution.
am of course unmindul Of the fact that the bill
comprises various other appropriations which
my objections it communicated the first meeting
Of the House following its presentation to in the hope
that by amendment to bills pending otherwise,
suitable provision for all the objects in question may be
made before the ado urnment of Congress.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, March 3, 1855.