Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-06-20
WASHINGTON coRaEsrosDENoE.

however, are disinclined to concur in this action
and referred the Senates resolution to prolong the
session to the Committee of Ways and Means
There can be no good sufficient reason for longer
continuation Of the session, as Mr.. Hunter, the
Chairman Of the Finance Committee declares there
is ample time to pass all the necessary appropria-
ton bills. But it appears that the movement is
made with a view of considering new tariff bill
any hope of legislation this measure seems idle
as it would require weeks to thoroughly investigate
and prepare bill which would be acceptable to q
majority of Senators. The Presidents refusal how
ever to sign any bill without careful, critical ex
animation, and his known sympathy with the tariff
ties may operate to induce prolongation of the
session for a week.
The appropriation bills have been cut down enor-
mously; army and navy appropriations have suffer-
ed the most particularly the latter. The amount
appropriated for this service will scarcely be sufh-
cient to- keep in repur the various works at the diff
ierent Navy Yards. In V ew Of the small amount
given the force at the Yars is being daily reduced,
and hundred of workmen will be discharged on the
3Oth June ...
The resolutions of the Committee on Naval Ex-
pcnditures censuring the Secretary of the Navy for
an improper award of certain contracts to political
partizans; for an abuse of his discretionary power
in the selection of Coal Agent and for an injuri-
Gus distribution of the Navy Yard patronage, pass
ed the House by 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 he denied their power to pass ayote Of censure
and expressed his willingness to 60 before any
proper tribunal and afford thorough investigation
into all his official acts. In the matter of the award
of contracts to political partzans it is sheer nom
sense to assert that the Secretary governed by
improper motives The lao requires him to give
all contracts to the lOrest bidder when that bid is
made in conformity with the provisions Of the law
relating to contracts. An examination of the bids
in the Secretarys Office will at 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. IL Congress would do its share in main-
tanning the laws Of their own creation then there
would be less camor about vast expenditures for
the navy and improper award of contracts. Let ME
give case in point The Navy Department rcquir-
I'd during the fiscal year past quantity of dressed
stone for a wharf at Fort Norfolk 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 il, and hands were 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 advance the Of
fer Of the Maryland parties of $4,000. 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 a bill releiring 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 recover for default
in execution of their contracts. In the matter of
no nf nr hare
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
DIR. Hunter was appointed and then made arrange
mont with well-known 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 DIR. Hunter in selecting a reliable man to
furnish and deliver the coal So far the distri5u-
ton of places in the Navy Yard is concerned, that
is matter about which the republicans cannot COM
plain with any show ofjustice. Irhas 5een and al
ways will be- that preference will be gwen 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
icct by the thorough removal of all employees at the
this hypocrical exhibition Of horror at the bestow
al Of place on democrats comes with an exceedingly
bad grace from the Abolitionists.
The Sumner excitement was short-lived and the
honorable Senator has made himself the butt of Jest
and ridicule. He was never threatened but his
fears took the alarm in consequence of being inter-
rogated by Mr.. Henry as to whether or not he real
" 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 nao leave until his question was
answered. Mr. Henry is well known here, and is a
courteous gentlemen, cool and selfpossessed under
all circumstances. Alter some parlcying Henry left
sent their cards to s. Already alarmed he at once
imagined they were friends Of Henry who had re-
turned to nfict 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 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 a broad grin. The Senator
looked foolish and asked if these gentlemen (hand-
are 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 re2el the
supposed attack. And here the interview ended,
the friends of Sumner joking him numerically for
converting his room into an arsenal and fleeing
when shadows pursued" Hyatt the contumacious
republican who is now sweltering in filthy jail,
telegraphed to Boston as follows: "Men Of Boston,
the blood of Massachusetts, is demanded-come and
defend it" This tempest in teapot is over, and
all concerned are heartily ashamed of it. "a
Delegates to the Baltimore Convention are pour
ing in upon us in large numbers. 1t is impossible
to form any idea as to the result of the action of the
Convention. Northern men seem disposed to give
{ up Douglas and counsel the selection Of some man
not distasteful to any section of the country. If
men would be controlled less by local influences
and look more to the general welfare of the party