Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-11
PUBLTC DOCLJiE.NTS.

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
The debate OF the Senate, (29h) on the Resolution
to print the Public Documents are Of considerable
length and Interest. The Hon. Members who voted
for the passing Of the r,soeticn, who ged under
CONSCIOUSNESS OF tie absence many members through
bodily h disposition o'her impedmen,s-and who,
arraysd IN close, unyeidng political Pbalanx, re-
s'ed every proposition Tor reasonable time 10 inves
ueste, for posii emen TO fuller hous.; tor
renee TO Com OF inqui " will have to account
TO their constituents, and TO the whole nation, for The
gratui,oss donation Of $500 to printer. They
ought to produce resson, and substantial reasons why
they without shadow Of necessity prof, to the
'ion, scrupe not 10 squander away so large amount
OF the public money.
The speech Of MIR. Hayne, extracted from the Tele.
graph, will furnish toeiabe summary Of the items OF
The debate. Bait Rem
Mr. Hayne said, that, laboring under severe indpo-
son, he had rerained from taking any part in this dis
cussion until now in the hope that of the var ous
propositions for postponement and commitment would
have prevailed.-He could not have believed that IL
nal vote this e.oluton would be at this late
hour in The absence Of ten Senators, and when there
was not ing i'm the character of the which
quired immediate action. After the refusal, however,
to suspend the proceedings Tor the purpose of
abing gentleman who yesterday delivered part Of
speech TO conclude his remarks, now have no
hope that avoid final decision Of the question
at this time. have no alternative, therefore, but to
present my views at This time, lose the opportuni-
ty OF ever being able to do so. consider it, Sir, high
duty, which owe TO myself and the country, not to
suffer this resolution TO pass without publicly entering
my protest against it, or all the extraordinary PROPOSE
mons that have ever been presented TO my coDsdera
lion, in the whole course Of my political life consider
form or the substance OF this resolution, il is without
parallel in the whole course of the legislation of this
| country Looking beyond the words in which il
clothed, find appropriation proposed Of less
| than one hundred and eight thousand dollars TO be
paid for out OF the Contingent Fund OF the Senate,
without dollar in our hands applicable TO such pur-
po'e and this is to be effected, not by bill by
joint Resolution OF the two Houses, but by simple
Resolution OF the Senate ITSELF and that too, without
even referring the subject to Commit ee for inves
CATION. Yes, Sir all inquiry has been solemnly and
repeatedly refused and we called upon TO vote
aye or no, OH proposition OF this extraordinary char
actsr, without resorng to any OF the forms and sges
provided to secure US from rash and unadvsed egisla
ton. Well did the gentleman from Kentucky (NIr
bioo ask II this did not vclae the spirit of the Const
tuition in that most important particular the apppropria-
ton oil the public money without the sanction of
law!
lisi vain for gentlemen say that this resolution
does not actually make the appropriation, while they adj
NIT and, indeed insist, that when once we make the con-
tract, the House of Representatives will be bound, in
courtesy TO us, 10 appropriate the money. Our Conn-
gent Fund is from its very nature, only applicable TO
expenses peculiarly belonging to this House But he re
is matter in which DO Houses have an equal interest
and in which beyoad all question, the consent of both
should be previously obtained. II you cam without
cent at your disposal, by simple vote Of the Senate
charge 800 ,0O9 TO contingencies, YOU NAV charge
million and thus all the security intended to be afforded
by the forms OF egislan and the express provisions
OF the Constitution will be rendered of avail If the
Senate can bind the country by this resolution to the
payment of 100000 dollars to Gales & Seaon |
know not why they may not bind the country TO the
payment OF any amount to any person. and for any pur-
pose whatever But, sir, mark the extraordinary fact
that the Senate have refused to refer this subject 10
Committee for inquiry; have refused repeatedly and in
every shape Now, sir, who before heard OF con-
tract being entered into by legislative body involving
an expense OF upwards OF hundred thousand dollars
without referring the subject to a commitee?-Here is
matter involving important facts and calculations. We
do not know what old documents are required 10 be
re printed-whether five volumes a hundred: nor do
we know the proper cost-genemen differ on these
points, and still all inquiry is refused. Such are the
forms which have been observed, rather neglected
this occasion But this is not all; have evidence before
us, plain, not to be misunderstood, conclusive to shew
that we are actually about TO pay for printing these do
cuments, at least fifty thousand dollars than the
work is worth. Gentlemen have differed somewhat as
TO the extent of this overcharge but one has attempt
ed 10 deny that TO pay TO Gales and Seaton much
more than get the work done by others
The gentleman from Maryland, (Mr. Chambers) submits
the statement most favorable to his view of the subject
and even from his statement, ii appears that to
pay upwards OF fifteen thousand dollars than is
necessary. But how does the gentleman reduce the
overcharge from fifty thousand dollars fifteen thou
sand dollars? Why, by allowing thousand for index
es; so many thousand for paper and binding; so MANY
for types; and number of other errdS, all OF which
ought to be, in whole i'll part deducted Surely sir
is not nended that we shall first pay full price for
the books and then pay much for the paper the
types the binding; first pay for the thing itself then
for the materials OF which it is composed But the Sc
nator from N III. (Mr. Woodbury. has clearly proved
that about to pay less than $50 more than
the work is really worth. His statement is plain to
be misunderstood.
lie shows, too, that al the paid for Gorions D-
gest, this work will cost 80 900 than il is worth
But this IL not all; have evidence which no twelve
men their oaths would hesitate TO consider az con-
elusive, in the present state of information We
have three distinct proposals. from competent prners
who have actually offered 10 do the wo k tie one for
less than hdy and the others for a third less than il
charged by Gales Seaon; and one of them offers to
give bond and security, for the faithful performance of
The contact And, TO remove every loop 10 ha ng
doubt on" we have before calculations TO show
that at the established rates notc paid 10 the pnbie
printer, the printing proposed 10 he done by Gales
Seaton, would cost less than $50, 900, while thew
charge sos O00, making difference of near 60 600
Sir, the gentlemen have refused even 10 print hese
proposals. We must then take for granted what from
the proof before u.s. is conclusivcly established that il
IL the object OF il resolution, to pay Gales Seaon
out OF the public Treasury sos, 900 for work which
we can pet az well done for $50 900 thereby give
them S5S,0OO ever and above all expenses and rea
sonhle profit; in plain terms, giving them gratuity of
S55,OOO out OF the public Treasury.
Gentlemen say il is conceded on all hands that a.
printing OF these old documents is necessary Sir
deny IL. We have proof of il. II may be true thai
lew volumes, nearly entirely OF print ought TO
be reprinted, but until the subject is fairly
no man can say whether any, and if any, how many of
these musty records require 10 be reprinted But il be
necessary print the whole of these docuen prior 10
1915, what necessity there be for printing this
enormous number Of copies! We are il seems 70 have
$4,000 volumes Of hooks laid on our shelves at co...
Of near $1,000 Now, surely, eighty copies would
be enough, but allow one hundred, nd we have but
three thousand volumes at cost OF little more than
$4,000 In any aspect OF the case, therefore il an
pears TO me, that this proposition amounts lust TO this
that in order TO put into the pockets Of Gales e. Seaon