The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEBATE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

TUESDAY, December %.
immediately aier the reading Of the journal,
MI: HAYNES rose and asked the House now to GO
into Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the Union,
,or me purpose of resuming tho consideration Of the
Presidents Message
But at the request Of Mr. WISE, Mr.. ii. withdrew
his motion for the present
! Mr.. WISE then, on leave given. offered motion TO
PRINT 20 1000 copies extra Of Documents Nos Ill and
297 OF The I'd session Of the 25th Congress- both be-
ing documents in relation to public defauters)
/ Mr.. CURTIS hoped the gentleman from Virginia,
(Mr. WisE) would modify his notion so as to include
10000 extra copies Of the report from the Secretary OF
the Treasury in relation TO the defacaton Of Mr.
Swartwout.
Mr.. WISE modified his motion accordingly.
Mr.. DEGRAFF suggested 20, 900 copies of this
latter document, and Mr.. WISE modified his motion
accordingly
Mr.. CAMBRELENG said that, as he presumed the
gentleman from Virginia wished to have documents
printed Of ive or SIX hundred pages, which Mr.. q.
thought u was very doubtful whether any one would
read, he hoped that they would be printed separately
Mr., WISE said he had objection, it being his de-
/ sire TO have them printed.
Mr., BOND moved that the printing be done in such
order that the documents having reference to tho same
persons might appear consecntvely.
| Mr.. WISE hoped the gentleman from Ohio (Mr
BoNDl would suffer the printing to be secured in the
first instance. The document read the other night in
relation to public dcfaulters, printed in such man
ner as to present the dea at first sight, that the Secre
ary Of the Treasury had been very active very ener
geic indeed in keeping the public officers their duty
but when the letters to certain individuals Harris and
Boyd) came to be examined, It found that, far
from putting the spurs up to the rowels in the sdesof
public defaulters, he had only been writing them letters
| Of supplication. He (Mr W. hoped Mr.. b. would
withdraw his motion-which Mr. b., after expressing
his opinion that before the printing the Secretary should
be called upon to state whether all the documents were
genuine or rot, consented to do.
So the aforementioned motion was withdrawn
Mr.. CRARY made some remarks, not distinctly au-
dibe on the right OF the Chair protesting against throw
ing away the public money thus unnecessarily, he
conceived it 10 be- One Of the documents mentioned
had been printed for the Of the MEMBERS and
ira number for distribution. The other document had
been published for the of the members, and infor
nation OF its contents had gone to the People through
them, Besides, Mr. c. objected that it was unjust TO
send forth the document containing the long list pub
lie defauers when the accounts of many of them had
| since been adjusted. To do SO would he to spread
false information. II the gentleman from Virginia (Mr
WisE) would specify any particular document, the
printing Of which was requisite, he (Mr CO would 60
| for it. .....
Mr. TILLINGHAST said he could readily agree
with the gentleman from Michigan, that there had been
on many occasions and particularly in recent years
great extravaganza in the expenditure Of public money
for printing. But 1t by no means followed that all
pense for printing extravagant. He would dlscrm-
mate to the objects Of the expense retrenchng in
where the object was not much to inform the
public mind by bringing it into direct acquaintance with
facts to bias by opinions and arguments in favor of
particular theories views Of individuals or parties
Enormous expense had been egalized in this and in
the other part Of the Capitol for publication Of argu-
ments OF committees public funconares, in the
shape Of reports, wherein facts assumed without
sufficient evidence, highly colored or too family
touched, bu, partially disclosed and made subservi-
ent to particular design. He would instance ALSO
the Presidents Annual Message as a paper upon the
printing Of which, without the accompanying docu.
ments far too much Of the public money was periodi-
cally expended. The lumber ordered to be printed
was always, IN his opinion, unnecessarily large That
paper in the form usually given it, could hardly be
called document, In the appropriate and strict of
that term. II was rahera commentary npom facts com
municated in 1t, than the original and simple evidence
of facts. The largest portion of sure to be an
argument drawn up, generally, with great ability and
care, sometimes with great and aroitness intended
to impress upon the public mind the particular opinions
and views, and perhaps also advance in public esti
nation the particular cause prospects, hopes of the
individual author Bat the very interest which it ne
cessarly excited-the eager and impatient interest
with which it was expected by the whole counry-en-
sured for IT, without the aid Of Congress the public
purse the earliest and most extensive publication Be-
fore the reading be half finished in this Hail. il is
gone miles away, flying forth in every direction, upon
the swiftest wings of fiery expedition TO every portion
popuous waste, of the vast Republic Il is reprint
ed at every press and read at the distant fresdes
long before the extra copies ordered by this House reach
our desks.
To these and to other like subjects of expense let
the gentleman apply his economy and retrenchment
and thus save and secure liberal fund for furnish
ing the People with information and evidence in
stead of argument and opinion; with facts instead
of theories and projects with such original, unds-
torted and authentic proofs Of fact and transactions
of the highest interest as contained in the docu-
ments which are the subject OF the present motion
In this course he would cordially cooperate. But he
could not butee surprise and regret that there should
be in any quarter, or in any portion of this House
particularly in that portion from which the opposi-
| ton seemed about TO come an objection to Civ
| ing TO the People the naked, ungarnished truths
contained in these documents. Whence did these
| documents come? From high Department of our
| Government; originated in that Department and
| authenticated by its head. They were not only the
best evidence of transactions which the People
had right to be truly informed; but the two most
important documents in truth the very transac-
tions themselves This was the sort Of information
which ii was not only expedient and proper that the
| Representatives OF the People should furnish, and
which they were expected TO furnish to their con-
stituents; but which it was the right of their con-
stituents to have, and which it necessary they
should have, to enable them to form true judgment
of the doings and intentions Of those whom they
trust with power and TO act correctly in the perform
ance Of their own civil duties and the exercise of
their civil rights. Here were the acts and pro-
ceedings of their public functionaries whole and I'M
garbled and undistorted uncoored by defamation,
undisguised BY sophistry, going directly and naked
to the mind the intelligence Of the nation, with all
their original motives, notifications, and objects
fresh upon them. WHY should they be suppressed
They were of the highest interest to all who feel
interest in the administration of that vast Executive
power which, legtmately or ilegitimaely, for good
or evil is exercised and brought to bear upon all
the concerns Of society. They related TO the Exec
utive management of the finances and the patronage
OF the nation; the welding Of that power of pow
ers, the money power, which, in the hands that
know its potency and its appliances, overreaches,
subsidies, and controls all other powers. Now, II
could not be disguised that genuine, perfect, unso-
phiscated information OF the acts Of public servants
from the highest To the lowest was the great want
| OF the freemen of this country. II was of the ut