Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-06-20


~ q eoiidm tsfIhia elion,
and refasTsd The enates RESOLUTION n Feleqg the 4
session to the Cammittee. Of Ways ands Neepa ~
There can be no rood sufficient reason for longer q
continuation Of the session Is Mr., Hunter, the
Chairman Of the Finance Commit declares there
Is ample time to pass All the necessary appropria-
ton bills. But it appears that the movement is
made with ; view of considering anew tariff bill; 4
any hope Of Legislation on this measure seems idle
As it would require weeks to thoroughly investigate
and prepare bill which would be acceptable to -
majority Of Senator'S. The Presidents refusal how
ever, to sign any III without careful, critical ex-=4
animation, and his known sympathy with the tariff q
ties may operate to induce sprolongation of the
session for week. sg.5, M 4 FF.4s sid III -
The appropriation bills have been cut down enor-
nOusly army and navy appropriations have suffer,
appropriated for this service will scarcely be Stiff
Gent to keep in repsr the various works at the diff
ierent Navy Yards. In vew of the small amount /
given the force at the Yars is being daily reduced
and hundred Of workmen will be discharged on the
30th June. ~, !, 4 ~ II 90. 80 i
The resolutions Of the Committee on Naval .Ex-
pendtpres consuming the Secretary of the Navy for
an improper award Of certain contracts to political
partzans; for an abuse Of his discretionary power
in the selection of a Coal Agent and for an inuri-
Gus distribution Of the Navy Yard patronage pass
ed the House by 4 large majority. Mr. Pryor, Of
Virginia voting with the Republicans in censuring
the Secretary. The Secretary protested against
this action Of the House in scathng letter where
in be denied their power to pass vote Of censure,
and expressed his willingness to go before any
proper tribunal and afford thorough Investigation
Snfo0 all coH3c n1 Ia >.of<
Of contracts to political partizans, it is sheer
sense to assert that the Secretary governed by
improper motives. The h,o requires him to give
all contracts to the looest bidder when that bid IS
made in conformity with the provisions Of the law
relating to contracts An examination of the bids
in the Secretary's office will at once show that the
laU has been complied with strictly and it certainly
can be no fault of the head of the Department if
friend of the administration should be the success
full bidder. If Congress would do its share in main
tanning the laws of their own creation then there
would be less clamor about vast expenditures for
the navy and improper award of contracts Let me
give case in point The Navy Department requir-
ed during the fiscal year past quantity of dressed
stone for wharf at Fort Norfolk. j The successful
bidders were certain parties in Maryland who offer
ed to execute the work for some $4,000 The
contract was entered into by these men and after
waiting beyond the time of the first delivery of stone
without anything being done by the contractors the
department sent an agent to the quarry Of these
men to ascertain the cause of delay. They had no
stone prepared, the work was delayed for the want
of it and hands we're necessarily discharged until
other arrangements could be made The department
were forced to 60 into open market to Purchase this
large quantity Of granite at an advance over the Of
fer of the Maryland parties of $40 900. These par
ties were sued for the difference between their bid
and the excess of the cost in open market Judg-
ment was rendered for the government and these
parties appealed to Congress for relief Both Houses
passed. bill releiping them and their sureties from
the payment Of this sum. This Is not an isolated
case Every Congress presents similar ones and
bidders laugh at all attempts to for default
in execution of their contracts. In the matter of
the appointment of Dr. Hunter as Coal Agent, there
can be, reasonably, no fault found. The Secretary
is not supposed to know the surroundings Of every
applicant for Office pressed by friends and he is COM
PEELED to rely upon representations of his friends.
Dr. Hunter was appointed and then made arrange
ment with welLknown, reliable Coal merchant to
furnish the Coal to the government This was Hun
ter's arrangement not the Secretary's. No injury
resulted to any one from this business transaction
the Coal was the best ever used at the Yards and
was furnished at market rates. Fault is not found
with the quality or price of coal but with the ac-
ton Of Dr. Hunter in selecting a reliable man to
furnish and deliver the coal. So far as the dstr5u
ton of places in the Navy Yard is concerned, that
is matter about which the republicans cannot CON-
plain with any show Of justice. 1t has been, and al
ways will be- that preference will be given by the
party in power to those friends who aided in its ele
walton and supports its measures The republicans
have given us an example Of their view on this SUBJ
ject by the thorough removal of all employees at the
Capitol from Chief Clerk down to rekindlers, and
this hypocritica exhibition Of horror at the bstow-
al of place on democrats comes with an exceedingly
bad grace from the Aboltionists. s~sf
The Sumner excitement was SHORTENED and the
honorable Senator has made himself the butt of Jest
I and ridicule. He was never threatened, but his
fears took the alarm in consequence Of being inter-
rogated by Mr.. Henry as to whether not he real
/ Ia meant what he said in his execrable speech.
| Henry called on Sumner and asked this question.
The latter ordered him from the ROOM when he told
him he would not nno leave until his question was
answered Mr. Henry is well known here, and is a
courteous gentlemen, cool and sefpossessed under
all circumstances Aster some parleying Henry left
| and Immediately after two gentlemen called and
sent their cards to S. Already alarmed he at once
imagined they were friends Of Henry who had re.
| turned to infict chastisement He declined seeing
them and at once summoned his friends to his aid.
Shortly after Henry, IN company with the Mayor,
| called on Sumner to assure him that he had no
''deadly intent" and intended him no personal
harm. When Henry entered Sumner was surround
| ed BY friends, Bowie-knife Potter among them. The
table in the room was literally covered with hideous
looking knives and pistols ready for the expected
attack Henry made his statement and during the
progress of it the smile on the face Of Summers
friends deepened into q broad grin. The Senator
looked foolish and asked if these gentlemen fhand
ing the cards of the two persons above referred to-
IRE NOT your friends" Henry glanced at them and
told him no, that he never heard Of them and the
probability was that they were admirers Of Summers
who had come to offer their services to repel the
atfack And here the intervew ended
the friends of Sumner joking him numerically fol
converting his room into an arsenal and fleeing
! when shadows pursued" Hyatt, the contumacious
republican who is now sweltering in our filthy Jail
telegraphed to Boston as follows: " Men Of Boston
the blood of Massachusetts, is demanded-come ant
defend it, This tempest in stea-pot is over ant
all concerned are heartily ashamed oft. ~
r. Delegates to the Baltinore Convention are pour