Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-06

in this matter, have bee:. made for political pur
pose. OF TIE many papers from which the print
ing of the laws has been thus taken awar, will
now call the attention of the House 10 but three
refer to the New Hampshire Patriot. 20 the Ar |
gus of Maine, and TO the w esern Argus. publish |
ed in Kentucky. The New Hampshire Patriot, |
MIR. S. said established many years ago: ii |
has 1900 subscribers, and its circulation is more
extensive than that Of any other paper published |
in that State. The political course pursued by its
editors during the d.rkest aud mos, trying times,
wa. strictly republican: il is still republican
From paper like this, the printing taken.
that il might be given 10 paper OF not more than
SIX mouths standing, and of very limited circu-
la,on The change. therefore, could not have
been made for the purpose OF securing wide
circulation of the laws possible, in conse
quence of any change in the opinions Of the ed
tors of the paper alb ndoned Tor the character and
course CT that paper remains still unchanged.
must have been because the new paper held doc
| unes more comfortable 10 those OF the Executive,
| or of he Department AS TO the Argus Of Maine,
i, was established in the year 1905, and the print
| ing of the laws given to it by Mr. Madison
| Its circulation was extensive; its principles re
| publican. The paper preferred had been establish
| ed only five six years, and had smaller cir
culation. The Argus continues still the same in
its political character. The principles it holds
are agreeable to the Secretary, and for this
| son, presume the printing Was taken iiom il.
The Kentucky Argus is paper published at the
| seat of Governme lis circulation is very
tensive; and when the present President and pre-
| seat Secretary were both candldaes Tor the Ike
cutye office, it supported the professions OF The
latter, in preference to those OF the former The
Editor, TOO, is a man of superior abilities and "a
the author OF a very imp rtant work, in which ne
advocated the right to the navig alton of the Mis-
sissipp in preference to the right 10 the fisheries
He till remained true TO his principles while the
lesion OF the fisheries has beeI p osipened TO u
| ant
More instances nigh, be adducei but these mus,
be sufficient o how That the changes made by
the Secret - Of at. had their origin in personal
| and political motives; tina; in making hem, that
officer had ia filed the true intent OF Congress
but had executed this part of his official po., err
| as means of promoting particular views, and as
! bounty to those editors whose language and po-
litical conduct agreeable TO himself and to
| the Executive
! He was not TO be told that the pecuniary amcrut
inv oved in this matter too small 10 nfiu. ace
the editors OF this country There wee So pa
pers employed in publishing the laws, the yearly
charge for which service might amount, on an
average, to $3.50 or 800. Various ADVERTISE
ment- also from the Executive Department, u-u-
!, ally followed the printing OF the laws, and con-
trbuted to swell the amount. The total suis
thus distributed could not amour, 10 less than te-
tween 20 aud 80 thousand dollars. This to be
sure, TO- such a Government no; a great sum;
it was not Of the expense that he complained, but
of the purpose 10y nhch his expenditure wa, con-
troed. Ii seemed 10 speak language u the De
partment, and TO say 10 the various editors nov
employed, that they were not 10 expect a con
tnuation of the favor OF Government, unless they
would submit 20 support, 10 the fullest extent the
doctrines and wishes of the Department of State
+ Bot the effect of such oil things was cal
cula:ed 10 operate, not only those who now PRINT
the laws, bu on all those Who might have any de-
srie TO print them IL; seeing those rewarded who
had shown the most zeal in promoting The Secre-
arys views, they would naturally be taught TO In.
fer, that if they displayed zeal, still! more ardent
they should have IL conferred upon them
Ii was thus calculated TO operate, and did actual
+ operate lar it wen. control the freedom,
oil the press, and to enlist throughout tile Country
that powerful instrumeut in behalf OF tie views
OF the State Department. In this Ie-pect II was
much more efectual and much more dangerous than
, the famed alien and sedition laws. The PRO
visions of those laws were direct and tang ble-
They were open, and seen OF all. Bat the rover
10 which he alluded operated directly. hut was not
seen operate Ii there were any truths of
un1i-puted authority, they these; tina, large
standing armies dangerous republics in time
of peace, and that the freedom OF the press mus.
4 be preserved nviolate. /. was as much the dut y
OF Congress 10 watch the one as over The
other. But, 1t this power is given 10 the Depart
ment OF Stale, 10 be exercised according tn the
will aud pleasurs OF the head oi>lba; Department,
Tor tn promotion OF his own personal objects and
as an engine Of favor or OF prescription without
any regard 10 the Intentions of those " no passed
| the law and conferred the power, ne desired thar
the House should know IT, and that they shouId
| know il in official form.
Let me not be told, said Mr. S. that this is a re
| solution OF an unusual kind, and that the Hou.e
has no right 10 cali for The which have =.
tuatcd any one OF the public servants This Is a
Government OF reason, and the Seer tary of State
resp nsble tor the reasons of its pubic conduct
! ii not 10 the People directly, al least 10 TIN,
| House. The House has right TO know both
how he exercises his power and The reasons for
such exercise OF u. The here are the OILS,
| Of The ma ter. Iftbat officer can shew to the sa-
t-laction Of the House, that he has been actusled
| by upright view TO the public good, and sin
cere desire TO fulfil the intentions OF Congress- when
1t entrusted him with thus power shall cheerfully
submit. But do not believe that the thing can be
done and wish, al all events, to have State
n,ent Of this matter in official shape; nor do I
in the least, Disguise the fact. that il my intention
10 take this power from the State Departmen,
and place il elsewhere; and such being the obiect
have in view, have right to call for the true
state of facts as they exist.
Mr.. Wright said Not satisfied myself with
the existing legislation, requiring The publication
Of the resolutions and laws Of the United States in
The newspapers, did, at the last session OF Con-
gress, offer resolution, calling the attention of
the House 10 the subject, which was sent TO a
committee, but nothing definitive was done
then thought and stili thick, prsc ,ical good
results to the community iron ne pu5iIcai,a OF
the laws IN two or more newspapers in each Stale
Few persons read The laws so published and M
one preserves the papers containing them for
future reference. 1t is an expenditure of money
without benefit. 1t is because l oppos ed to