Великий военный синдикат

           Thispropositionwasanastoundingone,buttheGovernmentwasobligedtotreatitwithrespectfulconsideration.Themenwhooffereditwereapowerintheland,—apowerwhichnogovernmentcouldaffordtodisregard.TheplanoftheSyndicatewascomprehensive,direct,andsimple.Itofferedtoassumetheentirecontrolandexpenseofthewar,andtoeffectasatisfactorypeacewithinoneyear.Asaguaranteethatthiscontractwouldbeproperlyperformed,animmensesumofmoneywouldbedepositedintheTreasuryatWashington.ShouldtheSyndicatebeunsuccessful,thissumwouldbeforfeited,anditwouldreceivenopayforanythingithaddone.ThesumtobepaidbytheGovernmenttotheSyndicate,shoulditbringthewartoasatisfactoryconclusion,woulddependuponthedurationofhostilities.Thatistosay,thatastheshorterthedurationofthewar,thegreaterwouldbethebenefittothecountry,therefore,thelargermustbethepaytotheSyndicate.Accordingtotheproposedcontract,theSyndicatewouldreceive,ifthewarshouldcontinueforayear,one-quarterthesumstipulatedtobepaidifpeaceshouldbedeclaredinthreemonths.IfatanytimeduringtheconductofthewarbytheSyndicateanAmericanseaportshouldbetakenbytheenemy,oraBritishforcelandedonanypointoftheseacoast,thecontractshouldbeconsideredatanend,andsecurityandpaymentforfeited.IfanypointonthenorthernboundaryoftheUnitedStatesshouldbetakenandoccupiedbytheenemy,onemilliondollarsofthedepositedsecurityshouldbeforfeitedforeverysuchoccupation,butthecontractshouldcontinue.