Mr. SUMNER. The Senator says I had another from him last year. The Senator is mistaken. Last year I had none. I will read this communication: Cirv or CBABLESTOWKM, ssssenusnr rs. Msvons Orricii. March 1.1866. Dan Sin: It appearsthat the ComFinance have reportedin favor of the purchaseof theOakman & Eldrige wharf. You are aware that our city and citizens are opposed to the project. as the measure.ifconsummated. will withdraw somuchwharf propertyfrpm commercial usesand municipal taxation. But thisopposition would at onceceaseifit wasreally apparentthat the necessityof the Government wassuch as to require the proposedextension. Our people are as patriotic as thoseof any other city and are Just n s reauyto sacrilice their private interestsfor the public good. The opinion is quite general here that t are is ample spacewithin the present limits of the navy ynrd for additional wharf accommodations and it would appearto beno morethanjust toour city that the Government shuuld extend its wharics to deep water beforetaking more of our territory. That conlirms our people more thoroughly in the opinion that this wharfisnot requiredis the fact that its ownersare so strenuous to sell. notwithstanding their assertion to the contrary. Mr. Oakman being a frequent attendant at the Capitol when this subject is under consideration; and alsothe further fact that the property is not worth over 860.000a.lthough it is proposedton propriate $136.000 for its purchase. The sum of $75086)furnishes a powerful lcveruge with which to changea pieceof property from private to puIblic use s. believe that the position taken by the city is fully sustained by the affidavits now on ficm the room of the ComFinance.to which I refer you. Several of them. but not the most important. werepublisIhfed in the Globe of April 12.1864. I Congresswould pass a general law by which lands could be taken and their value be determined by ujur the whole difficulty would be removed. It would. I believe. be impossible to find a Massachusetts jury who would award as much as $75,000for this property. The chancesof speculation being re moved.owners oflund or speculatorswould have no inducementto manufactures necessity which they experienced before it was realized by the Government. Government would obtain land at fair mics and municipalities would not be compelledto cfend their riahts. Ircspeetfully requestyour attention to this subycct. he on desires nothing but what is right. fair and honors lc. Inclosed herewith I send copiesof votes. Yours respect lFlAuJyiLES ROBINSON, jr., Maior. Hon. CHARLESSenses. The votes inclosed are as follows: In CITY or CHARLESTOWN. BOARDor MAYOR and Atnssilas. January 30.1&35. Ordered. the Common Council concurrinr.) Ilint his ham 1 a mayor and the board of alderman be pedient and necessary for the protection of the in tort staof the city in the matter now again agitated in Conarcss by which it is proposed to extend the limits of the navy yard in Charlestown and to take from the city its taxable property for that purpose. A true copy. A ttest: DANIEL WILLIAMS. Gill! Clerk. Ix Bonn or MnonJanxusaoryAt3o0z, iinrx. 1865. Fold. That his honor the may or be authorized and requestedto act in behalf of the board. in the matter of the aboveorder. in such mannerasheshall deemexpedient and necessary. A true copy. Attost: DANIEL WILLIAMS. City Clerk. I! Cirv or Enxaursrowrt. Boaan or MAYORANDALDERMEBI, January 22.1806 Whereas it is decmedhighly detrimental to the interestsof the city. that any additional territory of the city should be taken for the enlargement of the navy yard: Therefore. rdered. That his honor the mayor be authorized to adopt such mcaaureaand take such action as he may deem advisabletoopposetheenlargement of the navyardby the tnkinI; or purchaseof land within the units of the deiAtyN. IEL WILLIAMS. (My Clerk. In Comics Consort. January 22, 1866. Concurred. JDHIN T. PRIEST. Clerk. A true copy. Attost: DANIEL WILLIAMS. (In; (Herk. It was in pursuance of these votes that the mayor visited Washington, called upon me personally, and made his protest against this transaction. I state these facts that the Senate may know how this case stands. I have no feeling about it; I certainly have no interest in it; and personally I should rather see the Government absolutely have their way; and yet I think Senators will perhaps up reciate my feelings when the authorities of the town of Charlestown, a town adjoining that in which I live, in this formal in nner protest against the transaction. I congress I am somewhat embarrassed. When they distinctly say that this land is not worth more than $00,000, and by our appropriation we are to give $135,000 for it, Iam mystified; I do not now how to explain it. ask whether it would not be practicable to provide that this land should be taken in pursuance of an estimate by a jury. On that point I have drawn up some words to which I will call the attention of the Senfrom Maine. I do not know that it is practicable; and yet, in my desire to find some solution of this question to prevent it coming to the Senate again, and in my desire to do my duty toward, the authorities of a considerable town in my State, I have thought it would be well to submit the question of value to a jury. The propositiOn of the committee is: For purchase of Oakman & Eldridgos wharf. 8135.“)0: provided. That this sum shall cover the wholc cost of the property and that it can be acquired on terms satisfactory to the SecyNavy. What I would propose now I merely throw it out as a suggestion is to strike out the words “and that it can be acquired on terms satisfactory to the SecyNavy” and in lieu of them to insert “and that its price shall be determined by a jury of 6 persons selected from the neighborhood by the marshal of the district.” Is not that practicable? Senators say I cannot make it good legally. Bear in mind there is no effort to make it good legally in one sense, that is, to force it upon the parties; it would be a voluntary transaction. But here is a particular case where there is this great discrepancy in the testimony as to the value, and or the protection of the Government and for the protection of the local interests there I wish to find some means of ascertaining the value which shall be acceptable to all, and which shall foreclose all opposition, all question all scruple. What is to hinder our saying that it shall be taken at a price to be determined by ajury called together by the marshal?