Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-02-10
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON

H"u hdtuIe tooh psC' W. VI neIIeseHtd-
lives Of the United States Congress, and which We
presume has rarely found parallel. |, originated
IN II resolution offered by Mr.. Saunders, OF North
Carolina, calling upon the Secretary OF State 10
give to the House list Of newspapers, AUTHORISED to
print the laws o. the country, for the year 1897 de-
signaling the changes that have been made, to.eth-
er, with his reasons for making such changes. The
author Of the resolution, Mr.. Saunders Supported
IT in speech Of sope length lin, which he took
sion to assa the Secretary OF State in a strain OF
yirulence-outrag ing the dignity Of the House, and
utterng language, better calculated for brothcl,
than for the Hall OF a body OF grave and disnfei
Legislators. He directly charged the Secretary
with act, Of political rnption, ami of max
ing Of the power vested in him. enabling h i'm to
appoint printers of the Laws for base nnd unhal-
himself to mako good. lie was replied 70 by Mr.
Wright Of Ohio who treated his resolution with
proper respect whilst he did not hesitate to animad
vert upon the designs it evidently intended to
carry, and attributed its origin to those little and
pitful feelings Of hostility, which have already
Scuueieu HOot Oi IuCuoihsN, 10 oppOse tHO
al administration, and closed by moving that the
resolution be amended as to make the call for in-
formation from the Department of State for list of
paper, appointed to print the Laws for the year
1897 but omittlng the words " the reason for such
change" Mr. Litcher, of Kentucky, also spoke Oh
the resolution, and IN animated speech defended
the Secretary Of State. approved Of the changes
made by him, ard in support Of his conduct cited
the policy of Mr. Jef'rson. Several other gentle.
men took part in the debate, but eiore any vote
the Speaker, the time for the consideration of Re-
solutions having already elapsed.
Iiappears that alftks heat and violence ha. been
engendered, in consequence OF the removal of the
public printing from the New Hampshire Patriot,
the Eastern Argus. and the Argus of Western
America, papers that are violently and vndctive-
y opposed to the present aiminist ration aud par
ticulary hostile to the Secretary Of State.
1t was urged with much emphathis and truth by
MIR. Letchsr, of Kentucky, that Mr.. Clay, was not
only jus'lf d in takng the public printing from the
papers opposed to HIN and the administration, but
that he was hound to do So in defence of himself,
for if he continued to patronise those no were op-
posed % him. he would be charged with att er, p,n,
to buy UP his enemies by giving them official pat
ronage.
The whole of th, affair, so fer a. tho opposition
are concerned with it, may be called small business
and unworthy Of those who are engaged in its dis
cussion. There is no principle involved in it, and
and although Mr.. Orator Saunders, and his coad-
jutos, may rant and boast about their patriotism,
their principle and other nonsense equally ri1cu-
lous, we do not believe that they will succeed in
convincing the public Of their sincerity. 1t is no.
thing hut a kind Of hoby which for the want o,
something ofreal importance they have mounted to
ride Mr. Secre ary Clay out Of put lie favor and
to ride Gen. Jackson in.
If the resolution should he adopted by the House
he Secretary of course, will comply with 1t,
when doubt not he will satisfactorily assure the
public, that this removal of government patronage
has be'n iUduced by the representation and recon.
mendauon, OF the delegation from the States where
the changes were made ;-and further than this,
that he has followed the maxim. of Mr.. Jefferson,
and other great statesman who have patroui.ed their
friends to the exclusion and confusion of their enc
mie..
Although we do not pretend TO be the conscience
keepers Of Mr. Clay, or to have any particular
knowledge of the feelings, which have, in the case.
Of removal Of patronage from Presses, governed
him, We do most sincerely believe. that hs never
did, and that he never will attempt to coerce any
newspaper, any set Of men, into the adoption of
his opinions, or strive tO compel the or the 9TH
er 10 support the administration, because he hap
pens to be attached to it and further than this we
do know, that he is the last man in the world to 40
susht privately, through tie press to defeat the
Vaccinations Of his political enemies.
Ifhs had been as willing 10 treLucs his opposers,
/. they ate willing aud anxious 10 blast his pros.
poets IN life, there have been times, when by sim
ply complying with tho requests Of some of his
friends, he might have welded IN engine, which
would have rendered many ofhs foes peculiarly un-
happy. His language has ever been, let my op.
o,er' 60 on my puoic life is public property II
Sm in a state Of probation before my countrymen,
by their ordeal am willing to be triej-I canno,
consent 10 give any information or state any facts
to come before the public that will in the least tend
10 their injury. They may 90 OIL stand fear.
Il