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

or Law, OF public nature, and Treaties ratified
by the u. $, to cause the same TO be published In
u number OF public newspapers, not exceeding one |
in the District of Columbia. and not exceeding |
in each o. the States and Territories. II will be
seen, by reference To this law, that il does Gre
ate an ohce, and confer upon the Secretary Of
State the power TO appoint officers of the Govern
ment, who to hold their offices during good be-
haviour, or Tor definite period. and who is not
liatle to be rem we'd, but good cause shown.
The law barely directs the Secretary to cause the
laws TO be published in some newspapers Sc. as
soon nay be. after he receives them. What
newspapers shall be selected to promulgate the
laws, or how long any one shall be employee for
that purpose, the LAW does not determine but leave.
.olely and entirely, to the discretion of the Secre-
'ary of STATE In the fair execution of his duty
that officer has the undoubied right TO publish law
that Is passed to.dsy in the National Inteigencer
and law that is passed tomorrow, in The Nation
al Journal. This may be wrong. and it is no, my
purpose TO say il right. Yet, if it be wrong the
error is in the law, not in the execution of the
law. The defect, if it exist, is one the resolution
OF the gentleman does not reach: it can only be
remeded by Legislative act.
The gentleman says-,e may call for the reasons
and motives which have induced Tie performance
OF this discretionary duty. will rot row deny
the right to make such a call, but do the ex
pedincy OF such a call These motives and
reasons have no connection with any legislation
that Can grow out OF the subject. 1t must be oh
vious 10 every one, if the objec; OF the call is be-
yond the application of legislative remedy for
the alleged evil, 1t is extremely improper and un
just. is there any one here who would call ON an
| officer TO communicate the reasons and motive.
governing any Of his official acts, which could
only be used as the ground of accusation aeans,
him! suppose, sir, were now 10 offer resolu
| ton, calling upon the mover of this resolution
| MIR. Saunders) TO communicate to the House he
reasons and motives which induced him TO bring il
4 Fnrxx H. -
proposition arouse the Indignant feelings OF the
| gentleman, and of the House? Unquestiouably i,
| woui1 What is the difference between such q
| proposition and ,hst Hive les, power oy or
| our own members, anu heir moives and rea :
| sons, than we have the Secretary of State
o. any other officer of Government, and their mo-
tres and reasons? The call, sir, is unpreceden,ej
nexpelenr, and improper; and am unable to CON
ceive any possible state oil things tha, would MIX e
| 'uch a call expedient and proper. Should such a
state of tbngs ever occur, the House should pro-
cesd with ex rene caution, AMI grea, deibera,ion.
| SO lar as understand hat the gentleman COM
plains OF, (and heard him very imperfectIv \
they rest on The defects Of the law, and do no,
| touch the execution of the law He srpposes the
| object was 10 secure extensive circulation of
the laws, and Instances two papers in this cit, .
| the one of extensive circulation and the Other
much more limited; snd cen-ures the Secretary for
transferring the publica ion OF The laws from the
| A'''"""i IaESr CI extensive clrcu.
atlon, TO The national Journal, paper of yery
| iiui ell circulation. Has the House any inlorma-
ton as TO the relative number of subscribers 10
I these two PAPERS! ] know Of none. The gentle
man has communicated none. But, cir, supp Sc
we hau 'niorma'ion on this point, aud that would
| determine The improperly of the change, still be
! lore we censuTe the Secretary, we should be allie
TO trace the information TO him and learn how
! lie acted on it To what end then, is Ibis COM
plant! III II be proposed 10 Introduce any change
IN our legislaion this subject, we can do Tia,
now, as yell as afer these statements shall be
communicated The charges are hypothetical. and
any change in the laws on the subject must resi- nm
hypothesis Nothing good can result from this
call, and nothing useful FIR any purpose except 10
furnish matter for scurrilous newspaper paraerapbs
abusive OF public officer. ] need not saw sir
this House will not become The purveT or of inso,.
ton for such object. /, would be beneath the
dignity OF this Body, TO lend itself to such a pur-
pose
The gentleman has made allusion TO the Yves.
tern Argus, Kentucky paper, and complains tina,
the publication OF the laws is withheld from that
paper know little of that paper, or its concerns
but am told 10y gentleman from tina, State. that
| he Legislature OF the State dismissed the Editor
oil the Argus from his place printer 10 the State
before the publication of the laws of the Union
was taken from him. if so, the change made bv
me Secretary has the sanction of the Legislature
WY does not the gentleman call for the reasons
and motives inducing the Legislature to chang
| their printer, as well the reasons and natives
o. the Secretary of State, IN withdrawing from,
the same printer the publication OF the laws Of
| the Union! The gentleman surposes the exer :
else OF tue power OF select. e and dismissng the
publishers OF The acts of Congress, exerts CON-
trolling influence over the press, subversiye of its
| liberty Does the gentleman believe that the nav
men, OF the email sum of eighty or one hundred
dollars year to the editor of a newspaper, for
publishing laws at rate of about sne half the
common price paid for advertisements can des-
Troy The independence OF their editors and induce
them TO become subservient TO the powers that be
II Is said The National Iuteligencer advocated
the claims TO the Presidency of another gentleman
than the present incumbent Of the Office, and sun
poses the publication Of The laws was taken from
that paper, for The double purpose of Furnishing the
oHence, and to coerce future support; 10 induce
me respectable editors OF that paper 10 send il
their adhesion to the administration One Of the
gentlemen who conducts this respectable Journal.
believe is native of The State of North Caroline
the gentleman, mir. Saunders) represents, and
must be well known to him. Will not the gen.
tIenaD unite with ME in bearing testimony 10 hi,
worth Will he say he thinks either of the edi-
tors oil that paper are TO be bought with 60 palry
sum as is paid for publishing the laws9 Does he
suppose they viii abandon their high standing
in society, and sell their honesty and fair fame for
such contemplate brbe? think no one will
credit such suggestion. Yet, the argument runs
on this hypothesis
do not bink the resolution Troper, or that i, is
capable OF heng productive Of good. will unite
with The gentleman in dge-tings better mode for
publishing the laws, but csnnof concur in this re-
solution. move, sir, TO amend The resolution
by striking out Of the last clause of II, these ords
80 and for The Of rbu