Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-13
SECOR robson.
The Manufacturer OF NaVies ON Paper,
Wakes Up the Wrong Passenger
in Nathaniel Mckay,
Who Gives the Public a Page of the
Very Bad Record of the Ex-
Secretary of the Navy.

WASHINGTON, July 11.-Mr. Nathaniel
Mckay has written the following open letter
to Mr. George NJ. Robson in, relation to the
unfinished iron-clsds and their real cost and
value:
Hon. George NJ. Robson;
Satisfactorily l sent you the following
telegram:
Without excuse you have done me a great
and objectionable wrong. You have tried
to destroy my character as a suitable reward
tor my friendship. 1 have been your friend
for years. I would advise you to retract
your statements to-day in the House."
NATHANIEL MCKAY.
Up to this time / have seen no reply of
yours in the House in regard to your un-
called for remarks about the Mackays. "Mr.
Robson opposed the aVendment on the
ground that 1t would allow any bummers-
the Mackays or any other adyenturers-to
come in and bid" AS have already stated
in my telegram that L hal been your friend
for years, this you must be aware OF, for l
defended you in the courts OF Philadelphia.
The charges were not made against me, but
you, sir. This fact was proven under oath
in open court, that they wanted to get at
Robson. l spent over SO, 900 in the courts
of Philadelphia, all for having connection
with your department. while you were secre-
your place in the House OF Representatives
to blacken my name to carry out your own
designs. reinstatement was made behind
the breastworki of your privilege as men,
Der of Congress, where my defense could not
and cannot be heard. You skulked behind
your privilege. You have turned that priv
ilege, intended a shield for statesmen, into
a dagger with which to assassIuate the char
acter OF citizen. You have attempted to
create for yourself reputation for virtue,
you tried TO destroy friend under the pre-
tense tina even friendship could not restrain
you from the performance Of public duty.
L regard members OF Congress as the repre-
sentatives, but not the masters, OF the people.
| here quote letter which you gave me in
1879. Now, just compare the contents of
this letter with your remarks about me and
let human nature be your teacher and Judge
for yourself the cause of the dastardly attack
upon me at this time. Pause moment and
see:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE,
WASHINGTON, D. D., April %, 1870.
DEAR SIR-In reply TO your inquiry of
this date, take great pleasure in saying
that during my adminisir alton of the navy
department, extending over a period of
nearly eight years, you were contractor with
it for the performance OF most important
public work, and which required at your
hands the exercise of the soundest judgment
and ability, mechanical and otherwise, OF
the highest order. | will further say that
all the work under your contracts was done
in a manner entirely satisfactory to the de-
partment and within the time agreed upon,
which was necessarily limited, owing TO the
public exigency, and that if at any time
desired the completion of any important
work, no matter what Its magnitude, with
promptness and dispatch, l know of no one
to whom l would sooner apply, or with
greater certainty of having my wants in
that regard supplied, and any nation or cor
poration needing the services of an ener-
gelic and capable man to conduct great
public work can commit no error by securing
you. Very respectfully,
GEORGE NJ. robson.
/ know we'll the cause of this attack on
me by you, which will be shown in the en-
closed copies of two letters marked A and
which i sent you, and / now give you uer-
batim copies and propose to let the people
Judge if / am at fault and deserve the uu-
called for remarks which you uttered on the
floor of the House. You did not want 10 |
see my figures of the cost to complete those
monitors. | claim as a citizen the right to |
,riticise appropriations for the navy or any
hing else that l am familiar with. built |
ships when you were petty attorney in |
New Jersey, and the name of Mckay has |
always been honored until they were con- |
1ected with your department. Now you |
are trying to establish your former records |
n the navy department. l never gave you
IN opportunity TO be corrupted; your virtue |
las never been tested by me. If, however,
you are as destitute of truth and honesty as
# gratitude an actual test is not necessary.
denounce the Sd of March contracts as a |
raud on the public treasury; the prices are
fifty per cent. more than the actual cost.
give below the cost of iron armor-plating
or the Amphitrite, Terror, Monsdnock and
in Europe, viz: