Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-06-18
G3,35G ii
I4,t74 90
General Post Office,
$4,000 II


" hen yonr Committee look al this amount Of nat
P,dcen without control or responsibility. III the
". OF .he Executive, Or in those OF the subordinate
che's 0i ms departments; and when they reaec; on the
''oi.I mechanism upon which this patronage acts with
power mat seems mresistibte q e, would deem their
10y very inaoeqnateiy discharged they did not pro-
pose some remedy fn abuses already existing and es
',t'aiiy liable tn be augmented
oar COMMITTEE will not sion TO are.,e ,ynat ill.,,
F'cucatc as m urdeniabc fact that by the e,,n!Cy-
men, Of The expenditures OF the contingent funds of
~ departments, SOveFnment press Is to ali intents
' purposes, euectla!!y ablishei, as much so as if
acre were an annual Item in the apnronri,,o, Ljl
' e purpose OF purchasing The Joint aud harmonious
;ic'on OF one hundred papers in the uncomprisiru vim
VI 'n"se III power, aud in the unspariug abuse
% nose who are not The danger which assails the
eeuon OF the press, through the nsinuatiou OF this
species oil influence Is far serious than any STA,
chamber code OF pains and penalties Fer in tho iat
UT case, 'he PRIDE OF man which reYos al oppression
tSuteS III Tie end triumphant resistance but in the
i"'mer the very weakness of his nature invites sub
jugatun OF has i1dcpcudence
Inns recnnarg censorship Of The press must end IN
lis ""er prostitution 10 an ind support of the
acts OF the Government howe err inj,Ir lo 10 the rrhls
and Interests of ite peanIe .
renewing that III Administration if il be wise viz
''ou' ""u patriotic, requires The aid Of Government
e' ana u II DE not, that precisely for that reason,
" ought not TO have Ill Jour committee propose as far
as practicable, the abolition of this branch Of ,. ~
ocutye patronage:
ist. That the laws of the United States hitherto
u'ueI 'Ie directions III Tie Department OF State
should oo printed under that of the Clerks OF the Sen
atc and House of Representatives,; and a they adyer
use io7 contracts 10 print them giving Tie contact to
"e ""es' buHef' according 20 the usual securities
provided in all cases OF public contacts.
--'y nat te Secretary OF State shall Ics;ruate
such printers as are appointed by TIE Legislature Of
each State TO print its lays, print those Of the Uni
sea STATES, III said State exceeding one IN eacl.
State
ID. !ha The printers who print for both Houses Of
of
IN Their PaPcrs, the laws OF the United States and re
advertisements q the Departments
an. ihh' The J0b printing, stationary, and binding
OF each "i The Dcpar tments, shall be Furnished h., con
''e' proposals tor "hch shall gularly advertised
F IN ne pn2lC IFiuts, aud according 10 lie usual pro
visions attending such contracts; The contract en- IL
the lowest bidder.
5ih That The dist buton OF the LAYS of the Unite,
&ales, by public carriers be abolished and that tie
former practice OF transmitting then, br mail be
GopteG
6ih That ono and all the Departments be limited
% Siecic and moderate appropriations in
Tor newspapers die public expense; practice which
IN 'Sv e%ieGt o winch il has prevailed is extensive IN
IL! cost and not less in the diversion OF tie industry
ct tie officers ard clerks OF the Departments; ana IN
This privilege be limited exciusyel to lie Ecai OF the
Department.
The committee in terminating their investigation o.
Tie scTcEa Executive Departments deem It necessary
nheGniFcc"iiy 10 declare, that thcy considered il no
part ut their duty 10 examining present abuses 10
seek ont tor Preccden's or recent &c Justify
or Paii'ate ihem t5at such might have been found ~
some cases, in the practice OF cyiuu administration
is altogether possible. Whenever suci, an issue has
been presented them the only question which they
nave deemed proper for their consideration WAS is the
expenditure according TO Ia'72 and was made wih
due regard for 'ie public interest? Indeed The ,x,s-
e"ce"I such presidents would only have called more
'"uu's i1F reform 70 CONTINUED
literal transcript of the cut,y miha account s,n to
the committee.