Mr. MCDOUGALL. It is pleasant for me to be once in accord with the Senfrom Massachusetts, [Mr. Smut 211.] I think with him that Governments should be protectors and not oppressors. There seems to be agreat lack of information here on matters of and about which every Senator on this floor should be well informed. These claims were presented to the Senate at an early day of the last congress; they went to the Naval Committee, but the accounts stated were not satisfactory to the Navy Dept, and the Senateitself passed a resolution directing an inquiry to ascertain the actual cost of these vessels and their machinery. The vessels were at that time esteemed highly more so than they seem to be by some now. A board was organized of men of the most accomplished skill in such matters, nom inated by the official representative of the Executive of this Government. It was not necessary that the men should be of great accomplishments in many respects, because they were only to inquire what was the true cost of these vessels an their machinery. For 6 months that board sat in continuous session at the Brooklyn navy yard and in the city of NewYork. The board represented the Government of the U.S., having been selected by the SecyNavy. Testimony was taken proand con, every man under oath, as in a court of justice. It was carefully done by men who understand the law of care fulness, as men who are educated to the business of officers of our Navy and engineers and constructors in the naval service do understand it; done carefully as it could be done by men who understand what is the underlying basis of all truth, mathematics. After careful investigation, at the invitation of the Senate, under the orders of the SecyNavy, we have had their results on our tables for along time. The detail d testimon was submitted to the Naval Committee, an as the conclusion of the deliberations of that committee this bill is submitted to us, no member of the committee dissenting except one, and he is a dissenter; but he does not controvert a sinvle thing af firmed in the report of the board that sat at Brooklyn, presided over by Commodore Self ridgc, or a single thing that is affirmed by the committee who investigated the subject. Now, it is well that there should be some objectors. That is the vocation of the Senfrom Iowa, and I may say the same of the Senfrom Ohio. But it is well to aflirm the right. Governments have no right to do wrong any more than individuals.When these contracts were made the price of labor was alto gether different than during the period when the contracts were performed, and why? Because of the expectional condition ofourcountry, well stated by t to Senfrom Massachusetts, and there are exceptions that prove rules. I remember Well that there came forward men of large fortunes, men of great enterprise, men ofhigh patriotism, willing to lend their fortunes and hopes to the Government. They were perhaps too old for arms: I saw many of them; the said, “ We will furnish you arms, we will build you ships, build you anything; all we wantis an order.” The men who came forward to build the iron clads were of that class, the best men of the countr, and men not only of rent mechanical skill, at who had won wealth y their enterprise and their skill, and were ornaments to the country. They came forward willing to hazard their fortunes. No one could anticipate, as the Senfrom Massachusetts well remarked, it was not within the precognition of any human being, what would be the condition of the country 12 months from the time. What happened? Money, not the representative of money. rose to 2 for one. Prices appreciated accordingly 2 for one. A ain, the exigency of the Government required all the labor to be employed and 3 times as many rolling mills as could be obtained in Pennsylvania and otherwise to get out the material for clothing the iron clads; consequently it went iron. All these things were not within the possi bility of contemplation by the most prese ient men. It was special to this class of enter prise. I think t mt the 1st SecyWar under the last Administration gave contracts to some people to build wagons who made great fortunes, and contracts for saddles, out of which great fortunes were made, and so of contracts for harness, and cattle, horses, and many other things. But the business of building these iron clads was a business of dollars and cents; it could be shown by the books, proved by exact testimony, established as a fact in a court of justice, how much they cost. It was well known by these gentlemen thatthey would be ruined unless the Government would protect them. They came forward and built their ship s; they put them on the sea; they destroye theirenemies. They knew thenthat they were expending I think at least 30%. over and above but the contract price was, and that their whole fortune was gone unless they should be protected. They came here; they asked relief from the Senate. The Senate sent them to the SecyNa 1y, askin that it should be carefully inquired into, not what was a fair profit on this labor, but what was the cost of material and labor, and that award is sent to us, and I say we shall be dishonest if we do not pay it. I do not believe it belongs to Government to be dishonest.