Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-10

wh~n the ate Secretary OF State left that Office to
take the Presidential Chair; but that he was told
mar u would be rash to suppose, that the GENTLE
man who is now al The head of that Department
would make use of his power this subject for the
purpose OF controlling the press" How was the
probability OF such event first suggested to the
gentleman! There is example pointed out OF
an attempt, in that manner TO control the ljbertv
Oh ue press. IL does, then, seem strange TO my
mind, that the proprieiy OF such an inquiry should
m presented itself to that gentleman, immediate
Iy upon he elevation of the present Secretary
OF State, and that he should ill have been re-.
strained iron proposing it by the suggestion Of its
rashness.
agree with the gentleman, {Sfr. Saunders,
that the object oi-the act of Congress under which
the Secretary acted, to give publicity 10 the
laws IN each State aud Territory, but deny that il
was his duty to select the paper il each case
which mad The greatest number of subscriber. The
law makes no such reJusition of him II has
left the selection entirely within his discretion II
wonli In my opinion, be proper 10 employ those
wbo would performs the work with neatness and
despatch; and who conducted respectable papers
1t is not pretended, thai this has not been done
iiow, IN the name OF common sense, could il have
oeen ascsTtained which paper had the subscri..
bers, or he extensive circulation in the
- ate! we Know that these matters are uncer-
tain and huctuating. paper may have great
run a, this time, and, six months hence be in dis
repuie II the laws published in three req
e,
presses situated IN different sections of the country
an an PIE opportunity, is afforded to ALL who
choose to read them, 10 do so. Yet The gentleman
from North Carolina insists that The Secretary. in
The discharge OF the duty confded TO him, has lost
sgh' CT the true object OF the act of Congress- has
been ac;uated by personal and political considers.
lions, and has attempted 10 control the liberty of
the pres Il member who makes, on this floor,
charge like this, or any other charge, against
any individual; from rega TO his own reputation.
ADD that desire TO do impartial justice 10 all whose
conduct saay be the subject of his scrutiny should
either hsve knowledge the ruth Of the accu-
saion, or, at least, believe, that by testimony of
an admissible character, il can be supported, and
oil course, we should be- cautious i'm giving ccunts-
nance to the present accusations, unless We like
the gentleman from N nth Carolina, shall be satis-
ned, that there has been something highly impro-
FER Ia the conduct of The Secretary
And here lei me inquire, by what descrption Of :
iIai' ana bJ what testimony IS guilt 10 be proven
ne sentienran's proposition, it adopted, would !;
transform US into stribunal more ,yrannical and 3
terrible han Spanish i"qisi,ion. We are call.
Ell upon 10 pursue.a course towards the SECRETARY
which would be highly Insulting and degrading; aud
at war with every principle of free government.
IL ne had requested the Information called for by
the resolution, with design expressed of iays--
reach'ns the motive. OF that gentleman, there can
De no a'nbi, u would haze been promptly, fear
lessiy, and satisfactorily furnished. Hat here the
object avowed b. The gentleman who Submitted The
resolution, IS TO pr cure the information, unon
F." h'c iufIhef issistica on the subject Is coniem.
r'';"d, and THE toe, a;on his expIe deriafaion
oil rynvfci;oa, On his pr, thai the power con.
II leo 20 Tie Secretary had been exercised for JIM
proper ends and Purposes Sir if this anoun.s Il,
ho offence, fsa have 10 right to take sny ste,
In be matter, which viii airec tbs reputation OF
thai gentleman. I'm be crime which is en- rgea,
fisn point Ine OIL tiaSie example, IN the his,ory
of oar coua, =, from ID. institution Of the CO.
" 1plft To liz "A of irl
humble his stand may have been, who has been
and tyfanncaliy called upon, 10 bear
testimony OF his own corrupt Intentions Wba;
are we required 10 de-? 10 ask The Secretary
most insn tngly, have you not acted corrupt
Is? 1t is this in substance, and nothing less -
row, Sir, laying aside the pfospec: of obtain
Jog testimony in this way, and the resolution aad
the gea lenan's suspicious alike harmless. The
laws OF the u. s. are Published annually, in 1 pa
leis In the u. 5. and Territoie and In one, in
the District oil Colombia. We are iod that from
the report from The Department of State il ap-
pears, when The present incumbent of that Depart
ineni had been in office only about year, changes
OF public printers had been made in 10 instances.
Why are hey called changes? The printers en-
ployed do not hold Offices. They are employed
10 publish the laws, anJ each year The engagement
sssumes the attitude of ne. contract. Is there
then The slightest for inssting that the man
who is employed thi, year. should be so for The
next? IL j. matter OF very little consequence
who is engaged that the W crk is well per-
formed. Three examples Of change are particular
~ referred 10, by the gentleman from North Care
lina; one, of the National IDteliig encer- one, of
the Keniu'by Argus and ano,her, OF some paper
in Northern State. In relation TO The editors Of
The paper FIRST named, the geolem N says, that the
change made 10 punish them, and to bring that
paper 10 rs aesisnse 10 the administration; that
how lar thai purpose had 1=-n Effected, time must
show.
And does that gentleman believe will any one
who has the slightest acquaintance With those edit.
tors believe, that time is required TO show how isT
they 10 be operated upon by The employment
Of a most respectable paper, tie National Journal.
to perform small job of printing for the Gov
e nment, which, for years past, they hal
been enpIoy ed to do? and which did not amount,
il is said, 10 more thin l50 or at the highest
estimate 10 more than 200 1oll4r-9 The Secreta.
~ was TOO well acquainted '. ;b Messrs. Gales g.
SeJton, 10 suppose that ten times that SUN could
hold out any temptation to those gentlemen. who
have, for many years, Conducted with II 5 ngtl i,e
ability, their useful paper to swerve from Ihs.
sieTa Tsctl,uds and dg"iiel impariiali.y Which
have ever marked their course.
Asto the circumstance, Incidentally alluded To
BY the gentleman from Ohio. Of the election of n
pubic ? inter in Kentucky, pass it over az a
mater OF mo,ne,d, and certainly shall NOS
ly upon it as sny justification Of tie Secretary in
not contracting with he EDITOR OF that arer 10
publish The lass. That VII CO Is 10 crime reqpfes
/ no sl ficaron
! My cole que, (Nr W c!l 6a.) who decline ;,
a. he said, making speech o. tie sbiecf OF ths
resoI1 N, has explained the cifctinsiances Vn1es
I which he election OF pnlIc p'inter in Kctt1cky
\ was 10 lie. ! co Tess that ? coud not see ina
in iiie ies.', in crest 10 ihe members u his
fousa ID peatisfoaufa ,l,iecf q. ~ y, ogYcr -