Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-21
Taesdau, Felrm,u Ia. 1sa5.

.
Alter the presentation of several petitions and memo
rails and other public business having been despatched
MIR Preston moved that the Senate proceed on Thurs
day next TO the election eft printer Ii was he thoubt
That period OF the session at which been usual to
~ sade some remarks expressing u wish tina,
7ectfes might DC i;S=:.fesed % a later period
M benton men read an extract from inc report OF the
committee o. 1913 on the subject Of Congro print.
ing lie adVerted to The plans proposed in TINT report
carrying on me public printing; he urged that the
Senate had right TO elect printer on the oronnd thai
It was the election of an officer for future Congess and
that the resolution Of 1919 limited in its duration TO
the term of two years only.
Mr. Benton expressed his determination to do all in HE
power TO call public attention TO this subject and ecar
Gu nus purpose when the resolution again up to go
MIR Preston begged leave to differ from, The oentle
man who had just sat down He by no means wished
TO throw obstacles in the way of his zeal 10 diminish the
pubic expenditure but he would have been more sats-
ed II that gentleman to exhibit cqual zeal in mai,
eis OF iar more serious character in other departments
as fur, however, as he went, lac mir Prestou) an
proved OF The spirit in which he seemed anxious 10 il
mnsh thecxpenditurc; and he atcred himself that The
country might expect some rood 10 rrsit from i
spirit exhibited by the Hon Senators since if The Adj
mhisuaton concurrcd with oor gentlemen not in liz
ranks, to obtain desirable and rood an object H.,
eIe was some nope that that Tefornation which very
large portion of the country called for might take pln
II inc gentlemen of the Administration were sincere in
uniting ana coalescing with It's former opponents for the
suppression of their own abuses He hailed The omen
ana hoped the Hon. Senator would prove the snccrv ~
I 1eal ny carrying IT out, and exertng il upon many
oScts winch stood IN need of IT, and in much greater
need than the subject upon which he had here begun 10
SHOW MS spirit oil reformation
There was, Mr. Preston Observed a branch of printing
whcn ne believed stood in especial of the jealous
e1erons OF the honorable Senator and now that be had
pledged himself to embark with sincerity into the inycs
ugnuon oil the printing department OF Congress he coud
out the United States.
Mr. Preston proceeded to show that the resolution of
oeng Jolnt resolution, it was competent in the
Senate to reecind it, bound bv the law 10 rro
ceed 10 The election OF Printer and besides the fitness
ana expedency Of that resolution would not have been
proved IN more effective manner than IL has bccn H.,
the general consent Of Congress during the long spac
H years TO act according to the principle Of that reso
Mr. Preston concluded by saying it was not his inten
uon 10 go INTO the subject at presenthe was willing To
assent 10 the wishes OF Mr. Clay and he hoped that he
would indicate day which il would be convenient
to act.
MIR. Clay said he could not exactly concur with Mr. p
In a mat he had said la relation 10 the Printing Char
gcs of Congress. lie could not grant that there was
east foundation for any imputaon Upon Congress in re-
auon 10 It's printing 1t is possible there may have
been an increase in that branch of expenditure f
my own part (said Mr. Coy) am inclined TO believe
that there has heen increase pcrhaps vorv ,rc,t Ia
crease, within The last twelve years; but the cause of
TINS in the Printing ordered by Congress is what
inc Senator from Mo. (Mr Bcnton) las forgotten to no
uce, ne mas tailed TO make the observations which il
would have been right should have nccompaued bis ro
marks upon this subject
what IS then the cause Of the increased expense IN,
culeo ID printing by Congftss' The abuses Of the Adj
innisiation thetis tie cause an not fberefre enr
Pfised lsaid MI Clay that gentlemen of tine Admins
heton should talk much about The onormitv Of orr
printing expenses; for their abuses have been Inc csnse
OF Che PRINTING! 70 lay these abuses before the con,tr
hos neCcssitaied this extent of printing and forc Z
is quite plain thatif there bad boon less PRINTING n id
have been all The better for them
Iakc the abuses Of the Post Office Department: How
many thousands OF the Report on this subject were
printed; Why $1,000; and this great number was rcn.
gcTea necessary by Tie greatness of the abuse; it was
msPensagy requisite 70 make the country acquainted
WIZ ne subject although The Senator from Now York
lNir. WngitJ Kept his copies shut up in 5 Office with
out distribution.
Ofanoihe report 20 900 were ordered to be printed m
me Senate, and 5000 by the House OF Representatives.
nero is to he found hc real Of the increased e
pcnse Of our printing and The misfortune is hat the in
crease OF The printing cannot keep pace with lio great
Again take the Post Office Department as on ex
ample, and we shall find that there has not been print.
ing enough commensurate with thc abuses Of this De-
paftnent " had been possible penetrate into the
rccessos Of this Department and 70 do more than
merely break through the exterior Of its abuses
thcn me volumes 70 be printed would have been far
master Sencra would not open The doors be would not