Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-06
Twcnty-tiirli Congrcss---.sd Sess.
Tuesday, Deccnbcr 2.
IN SENATE.

Mr. Morris, of Ohio attended to-day and took hs scat
Alr. White, from the Joint Committee appointed TO
wait on the President of the United States and inform
INN that qorums of the two Houses of Congress had as
semo!ed and were ready TO receive any communication
he might be pleased to make reported that tey had ner
formed the duty assigned Them and that the President
would, at IL o'clock this day, make communication to
Congress in writing.
The Annual Message of the President of the United
States was then handed to the Chair by Mr. Donelson
his private Secretary; which, after being read,
On motion of Mr. White, 1000 extra copies of the Mes
sage, and i,'oO of the accompanying documents were
ordered Tl p to De printed for the use ofthe Senate
relative to supplying the Senator'S with the usual nuIr
OF newspapers was taken up.
, Mr.. King of Georgia, said, that inquiry he found
that resolutions, such as the before the Senate had
been passed by both Houses of Congress for number of
years past without any interruption this constant
Pachce III seemed, however, that period in the
purer days of the Republic this practice was houoIt
Improper; and If it then il was equally 90 nov
lie hoped therefore, that gentleman who was ia
Yorable to the resolution would undertake TO sbev what
connection there was between the progress of Legislation
ana the purchase of newspapers. He thought Il would
be just easy 10 shew the necessary connecfion
between the purchase Of newspapers for the use of
the Members, and the purchase If Inc last Vaverlv
Novel, one of Mrs RadcliiF.'s works /, ,sss
perfectly true that the daily newspapers might con.
tam interesting speculations on political subjects
They did, and so did the writings Of Voltaife 30.
ngbroke and other political writer's. Il was also true
mat they contained (somc Of tem0 the proceedings of
congress- but they did necessarily contain them -
dhey were perfectly independent Of every branch of the
government, aud had possible connection with their
operations Admitting, said Mr.. King the power on the
part OF the Senate to subscribe tor these papers was
ihcrc 10 such Thing expedency he considered -
What ne wished TO impress the minds Of every egs
lator, and every officer Of the Government was that
power ought not TO be exercised merely because was
possessed There was not Improbable expeudi.
nrc than that for the purchase of newspapers for the
mcmbcrS 1T had been said chat The publications were
useful but how far useful lie would make an an
P1catlon that would be understood Was there mem
Der OF this or Of the other House who had made suai
Gent progress in political knowledge to qualify him
Tor ins station That did not subscribe for more papcs
uian he had time 10 read lie answered that tbors
was not one The expenditure, therefore, would be en-
ufely useless one. You sir. continued Mr. kim lad
dressing tie presiding olccD occupy "a station from,
which you can observe all tha passes You must have
seen every day, at twelve o'clock when members t,tc
oct their mail, gentlemen taking out of their covers Tire
Lady Book, or the Mirror the lbion or Some fash
ionabe periodical, and looking some new Rondo or
fashionable Overture, and then folding the work nm
again and putting it back the shoulders of Mr. Barry
~ order That u may be conveyed 10 their wives or sec
hearts or friends And thus it is that the revenue + in
lured ana That the mail stages improperly burdencd
lie could not see any connection between the power Of
Congress to make appropriations and the practice Of pur
chasing these periodical publications. The practice fsb
scrlDing Tor particular books, which had prevailed for
many years was last session, arrested by the Senate
FMS was done by the majority and 10 that majority c
credit was entirely due for the party with which he
was generally IN The habit o acting had no power to do
either evil Or good