Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-09-29


that printing must be done for die Government
Il is looked upop as the glory Of our free Gov
eminent, that al he acts are exhibited ln print
and fuil information afforded to an enlightened
community Of even thing done BY It's public
agents. This IS he medi IN through which the
Gdnehonarios and representatives Of people
oversproadng continent, are held 10 an account
liability, sircier than that which the people Of the
ancieal Republics could command ia a district Of
country not gTeaier than one Of our large coun-
tics. The only questions brought uP by my col
leagues display Of the public printing done by
the Globe establishment are, has II been done
well Has il been done cheaply 7 Has II been
done honestly BY bringing together The abors
Of great establishment from ITS foundation TO
the present moment, my colleague Mr.. Is.
would insinuaie an accusation OF exorbIIani char.
ges against tho Government on the fart Of Mes
srs. Blair and Riyes. My colleague showed his
caution in thus accusing by inuendo. lie was
perfectly aware Of tho uaimpeachablc honesty Of
the pFoprietars Of the Globe office, and did not
dIFe to make a single specification against them.
But member from Tennessee, Mr. CROCKETT
IN pursuing the game ol the Opposition in pri
vaie letter, charged that three or four hundred
thousand dollars Of tho public money had been
pad TO the Globe Office for printing the speeches
Of Messrs. BESToS and CALHOUN in defence
Of the Administration. His colleague, Mr. CAR
fER perceiylng that this exceeded by some hun
dreds Of thousands all the public money that
PASSED through the Globe office ia payment for
work done and materials purchased for all Ihs
Departments and Congress, came to the rescue
Of hts friend Mr.. CROCKETT by declaring
that a iaKtH k.I t.a lusI r.. r. a.
clerks TO make up The sum paid for publication.
The moment that pso charges appeared, the
Editor Of tho Globe, through his paper, ohalleng-
ed an investigation by committee Of Congress.
The members Of Congress who made them were
told i was their duty to bring the delinquent they
denounced to Justice My colleague aud his nc
complico advisers shrunk from meeting the man
they bad charged, before committee Of our boz
dy. Mr.. Blair then appealed to this House, by
petition, 10 refer the matter TO q committee, and
have full scrutiny Of all his accounts with the
public. Tho special committee was ordered by
This House, and then commenced the effort of
the Opposition to dcleat, by indrccon, tho in
qury. which they knew would disgrace the per.
sons they had put forward to stigmalizc tho Ad-
ninsiration and the official paper by their accu.
siilons. Only six weeks Of tho session remain.
cd, and tho Opposition knew how difficult il
would be, when u the business Of tho session
was huddled into this narrow space. TO take up
postponed question, especially in regard to Pc
iiiion which could only come up, by tho rule, on
the Monday Of every alternate week. An hour,
therefore. after the inquiry had been ordered by
special committee, a Conservative Mr. IIorKINs,
OF Virginia moved reconsideration This
hung up tho decision two.wceks, and was nm
afraid, Intended for that purpose. When the
subject was again taken up, every nrtiiico was
resored 70 for the purpose Of defeating inquiry.
u was first proposed TO refer il to standing com
mitttee, composed of one OF the acc,sors Mr. |
CRocKeTT and others, making a majority Of
Opposition mombers who hid shown themselves
afraid OF the investigation. II tho case had boon
referred to The accasers as Judges, would not the
whole inquiry have been smohcred, OF report us
ioul aud erroneous as the original charges return
Cd by those making theml The accusora BoNp,
CROCKETT, and CARTER exerted themselves in
this attempt, but was voted down by the House.
An effort 10 lay the subject on tire table, and 80
get rid Of Il, was tried by the same party in vain.
Al last, after tho committee was appointed, and
had the instructions Of tho House TO inquire into
the whole subject Of public printing, when il came
forward and asked the ordinary power Of sending
for persons and papers to obtain evidence Of the
facts i was required to report, the Opposition op,-
posed thus and moved 10 discharge the committee
altogether from the duty assigned.
This Jailed, and the committee met and organ.
lHed Tor the examination. Ii opened its stings
almost every morning OF 8 o'clock, but not one of
the accusing members came forward to make good
their charges. AT last tho committee addressed
ano'e 10 Mr. CnocKITT, inviting him Is support |
bny evidence, the allegations made by him in the
House and his private letters. Mr.. CRocKErr |
replied, u the investigation was to be confined 10
the prayer olhe petition, TO scrutiny embracing
only the accounts Of the Globe Office with ne
Paohc Departments and Congress, he could
hare nothing 10 do ,Oiih II; but il the committee
would 50 out Of the instructions Of tho House,
add inquire into the pirate accounts Of the editor
OF the Glohe, he would examine Witnesses How
The committee treated this evasion, am not in
formed; probably with sen, contempt. Butt am
authorized by Mr.. Blair to say that he is willing to
submit his private accounts and his private life to
me closest scrutiny. The bold assailanis in This
House skulkrng thus from the summons the com.
muec Ind no alternative but 20 seek out testimo
NJ on the allegations made before tho representa-.
i've body, by inter- ,gatng those who, from the
nature o. the charges, must know their truth OF
falsehood
10 be concluded in our merit