Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-04-12
,yNCHBURG. APRIL ~, 1890.

in recollec G., the noise made by Duff Green,
and echoed by tho Richn 1ad Enquirer, few
weeks ago, relative 10 a vote in the. Senate,
which has since been virtually repealed. au-
,ho,izing a subscription to a number of copies
of valuable Public Documents proposed to be
printed by Messrs. Gales & Seaton. Scarcely
had Gales Il Seaton issued their proposals, he.
I'm Vaccinations were set on foot TO defeat
their purpose; and, well aware that their es-
tablished reputation, not only as practical prin.
,e,s but a, talented editors aud honorable men,
,yould entite them to the preference, should
their competitors act with any sort of honor or
fairness, Duff aud his fellow conspirators de.
,srmined to resort 10 subterfuge, the cunning
of which every man of ordinary sagacity might
atonce have detected, had not their minds
been blinded by party rancor. Gales Seaton
nvop osed TO do the work for IS % per volume
which, We assert (upon our knowledge of what
.uch work is WORTHY TO be not larger SUN than
will nav a fair profit. In this opinion, too, we
are sustained 10y the evidence Of the largest
nubiishers in Philadelphia, y. York aud Bes.
ION. Forthwith, a A!r. Greer (whom nobody
knows, and who is said TO be wholly unacquain
,sd with the business, and who of course would
have been an unsuitable person TO. employ even
Il his pairiotism should have prompted him TO
do The work for noihing) underbds 6. T. S.
He offers to print the work for 50 25 per vo-
Tune Then comes Mr. De Kraft, who, not
MANY years ago, when Congress determ ined TO
. save a penny" by putting out the public
printing on contract, did exactly the same thing
that he has done now-that is, be underbid
Gales L. Sealon aud thereby obtained the work
-. bu, executed il 50 tardily and so badly. that,
before the expiration OF the first session after
his employment, the contract was taken from
him. and Gales & Seaton re'instated in their
CORNER functions and on their former terms.
So, that Mr., De Kraft was not a man to be
trusted with the execution of a work Of such &C
knowledge importance. II he could not print,
with sufficient nea,ness, the ordinary DOeu
mems required by the H. of Representatives,
which are mostly of a fugitive character, and
destined to temporary existence. much less
could he BIZ entrusted with a work, which is
designed to endure, it may be, for centuries
aud which, 10 addition to mechanical neainess
of execution, requires some talent in the selec-
lion and arrangement of the Documents of
which il Is to b. composed. Bringing up the
rear ofthese Observation-Disclosures rats" in the
profession who so often in lure others without
heneiuing themselves, follows the redoubtabe
Duff Green, who proposes TO do the work tor
81 62t per volume exactly half the sum de-
inanded by Gales l. Seaton. Under these Gil
cumstances, it was matter OF some surprise, to
ilose who were not acquainted wi h the secret
motive OF the underbidiers, and that the know
every member of Congress, who chose to look
fairly at The subject, and by those likewise who
have been attentive observers OF the proceed
ing' Of that body, thai the proposition of Gales
q Seaton should have been accepted. To us,
however, it was not matter of surprise, as our
readers know. Atthe moment OF the DECISION, we
stated, that il was based upon the know ledge oil
members. that the underbidding was made sole
ty with the design Of defeating the proposition
Of Gales & Seaton--tha,, if Duff, who was the
lowest bidder. and consequently, the most
sneaking of the "rqts," succeeded in carrying
thro his proposition, he would either not do
the work at all, and thus defeat the purposes
and wishes of,he Senate or, that, having done
II, he would follow up its execution direct ly
with Memorial and n statement Of facts,
showing that he had los, certain sum by the
work, which he might make to appear even
greater than the difference between his original
proposals, and those Of Messrs G. e. S. ask ing
reimbursement at the hands Of the Senate
which they would grant 10 him, as they are in
The yearly habit OF doing to othe, contractors,
who lose by their contracts with the govern
ment, and who can show that they have done
So II is not the policy OF the government, and
IL would he derogatory TO its dignity and sense
"i justice to make auy one of its citizens sus-
am loss by his contract with it, when il can be
SHOWN THAI it was not caused by improvidenCe
anc neglect in its execution. This Duff we'll
snew, and hence his readiness to enter into q
contract, which, ii had been entered into and
Vigorously enforced, would have eyentuaed in
ais oankruptcy.-But, the truth is, he did not
intend to do the work at all as is clearly pro.
Sed by the fact that he cannot do that which |
Already presses upon him These things will
he made more clearly to appear by the sub
Joined letter, written by Judge Smith, Sena
LOT from South Carolina, and ono of only two
jackson Senators who voted for accepting the I
proposals of Messrs. Gales &, Seaton. 1t is
hardly necessary TO say, that Judge Smith is
rare instance ola man who has at all times, |.
ana without regard to minoriies or majoriies,