Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-10-04

The history of the Bill for the relief of
Edwards is before tho country. Hclmick
was the father Of the scheme in the House
ofCongress. Tie reported and advocated,
1t, and it passed in the following shape:
A BILL
For the relict of Arthur Edwards and others
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
rcsentatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That the Postmaster Gener-
al be- and he is hereby directed to audit and settle
the accounts of Arthur Edwards and his associates
for transporting the United States through mail
in their steamers, during the wears ls49 and 1853,
and intervening years, from Cleveland, in Ohio, to
Detroit, in Michigan, and from Detroit to Clevc
land aforesaid; from San1usky, in Ohio, to Detroit,
in Michigan, and from Detroit to Sanduskv n fore
said; and from Toledo, in Ohio, to Detroit in
Michigan, and from Detroit to Toledo aforesaid;
and to allow and pay them not less than twenty
eight dollars and sixty cents for each and every
passage Of said steamers between said places dur
ing the aforementioned time when the mails were
on board.
This bill went to the President, and he
returned it with his objections. What
were they?
1st. That Edwards had been once paid
for all the service the Government con-
tracted with him to perform; and this ex-
ira service was performed without the
knowledge or consent of the Government;
and that Edwards knew there was no law
allowing him anything for it. Hence,
the supposition was fair, that he did not
intend to charge for it.
ID. That the bill allowed him more
than double his original charge, and
double what other boats had charged for
similar service. The Department and the
President were willing to allow him what
ever he could prove the service to be worth;
and Congress, through false representa-
tions, had allowed him more than the
proof had showed it to bo worth. After
the bill was vetoed, Congress reconsidcred
the matter and the following resolution
was unanimously carried, and cheerfully
signed by tho President:
"Resolved bv the Senate and House of Repre-
scntatives of the United State of Ameri ca in Con
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General he
and he hereby is, authorized to examine and adjust
the claim of Arthur Edwards and his associate,
for carrying the through mails on their boats be
| tween Cleveland and Detroit Sandusky and De
troit, and Toledo and Detroit during the years
ls49 and 1859, and the intervening wears, and tC
pay to the same Arthur edwards and his associate.
such sum of money as shall be found to be just anC
equitaby due 10 them Orcanyng the mails afore
said and the sum thus found due shall be paid on
of any money in the treasury not otherwise appro
priated."
This proposition is fair, reasonable, and
inst, but is very different thing from the
law Helmick got passed by fraudulent
representations.
But. Helmick. in his vindication, says
that Edwards will receive, under this reso'
luton Just what his bill allowed him; and
the Tuscarawas Advocate and Coshoctor
Age assert the same thing Now, this
is false and a gross fraud upon the peo'
pie! It will be seen that Helmick's Bill
DIRECTS the Postmaster General to allow
Edwards NOT LESS than S2s,6O pei
trip! The resolution provides that he pay
Edwards such sum as shall be found tc
be Just and equitable
According to Helmick's statement, al
Edwards had to do was to take the testi
mony prepared by G, w. Mcllvainc, and
walk into the Treasury and draw S2s.6C
per trip, for 2l65 trips, the number claim
ed in his original bill, which would have
amounted to S65, 1859 90, and the trips
performed by Davis and Owens, his asso-
oiates, would have swelled the amount to
over $50. 900! Edwards does go to the