The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-10
THE SALT DOCUMENTS, sc.

half OF lis columns TO cipher out an explanation Of
the rule and figure work published last Saturday
andin reply TO communication Of Hon. James Gar
land (Which will be found In our pages, and has
called forth the powers all and singular of both the
editor and printer The editor (Mr. Blair,) has
bestowed the issue of his pen upon document
he defauters calendar) itsorigin and associations
and the printer (Mr. Rives,) over his own sigma
tnre, bestows very saisugiaons lotion on the mat
ter in chase, compromising most of the items al
uded to in our article headed " Outcry About Ex-
penditures" We know that the public care very
little about personal controversies and therefore,
what we have 10 say shall be Invested of that cha
racter as much as'practcabe.
Mr. Blair replies to Mr.. Garland that, he gave a
"promnency" with the document Of cancelled
drafts" 10 the document called out by Mr.. Garand's
resolution, because, Of the whole mass" they
were the most worthless, and the most distinctly
marked as being jobs. 1t was to enable Gales &
Seaton to pay sinecure Allen the sums contracted,
to keep the Madisonian alive"
When it is considered that the document here
characterized "the most worthless" has been the
means of exposing the imbecity Of the Treasury
Department, and the sole means Of discovering 10
the people the corrupt practices of the receivers of
the public money, and that il has excited more atten-
tion more surprise and more indignation, than any
similar document Of modern times, we doubt if any
honest man Of any party will be willing to admit that
it is worthless" publicat on. No-the informa-
ton was indispensable, is invaluable, and trust
the country will "pause and profit by its lawful
disclosures" As for "sinecure," "jobs," "sums
contracted excepting alive" &C., We hurl back the
impuations, both for oursef and Mr.. Garland, with
scorn and contempt ..
Mr. Blair says
"Mr Garand's proposition to open up the archives
Of the Solicitors office mine to furnish material Tor
publication in the mint of the Intcgencer, for the be-
neft Of the Madsonlan, the most extavagant on re-
cord since the foundation Of the Government. The
Solicitor had to report the House that compliance
was impossible unless new force Of clerks was added
to his bureau
Let us see if il is "the most extravagant on re-
cord" The document consisted Of 400 pages OF let
tiers and circulars. We have before US Senate
document printed last session by Blair d Rives, en-
the CALL believe, of Mr. Young, OF Illinois, being
Treasury Report of the condition OF the Stale
Banks and all The returns of those banks, and consist
ing of 1924 pages, large portion OF 1t rule and
figure work, and " the most extravagant' document
we have ever seen. 1t must have been three times
more "exravagant" than the calendar of deaulters,
and more nearly worthless" +.
The Solicitors reauisition for a new force Of
Clerks was laid under the table and the desired in
formation came reluctantly forth ioithom "a new
force" although the Solicitor declared that Z" COM
pliance was impossible" ~
Adver,ing to the Madisonian, Mr.. Blair says:
"The paper had no support from the body of the
people
"The paper has upwards Of 5000 voluntary sub
scrbers. Put that and that together and the public
NAV Judge how worthless" are Mr.. Blar's asser-
tons. ......
We now come to the communication of Mr.. John
c. Rives (Mr Blair's partner) which is dictated by
more amable and benevolent heart, and traced by
more truthful and sensible pen. Isruck US, while
perusiug it, that the spirit must have come upon him
when he was in an unusual vein of good humor, or
that he is really
GA fellow Of infinite salt p
Imagine the studious perpatec philosopher
ing his steps to the Capitol, coming deeply the huge
tome which has casped within its DARK covers for
nearly quarter of century, the only true economy
of salt. ard the abs,ruse formula of Lord Kenyon
and Sir Thomas Bernard, thereun,o respecting
Behold, he pursues his investigation to benefit the
great interests of the country" and learns lesson
which he rectes in language becoming philanthro-
pist We quote the homiy merely for its valuable In
formation prefacng il with the recommendation that,
il the document is more beneficial ethan any docu-
ment ever yet printed by either branch Of Congress-,
Mr. Rives would find it profitable to publish it for the
trade. ....
While on nv way there examined the work and
was convinced that a knowledge OF It's contents
would be more beneficial TO the great interests OF
this country than any document ever yet printed by
either branch of Congress. The work is made up
chiefly Of the evidence of successful scientific and
practical men, taken before committee OF the Bri.
fish Parliament TO the qualities OF the several
kinds of salt and the kinds best adapted for the va
rious uses to which it is applied. The information
is invaluable to those engaged in raising stock or IN
putting up meat for expectation 10 TINS knoWledse
is attributed the superiority OF the English Stock
over that of all the world beside and the reason why
the English sailed provisions so much superior
to our own. Many persons in the interior OF TINS
country Of general information, do not know that
there is any salt better than that made at the Kama
wha in Virginia, for putting up pork or beef; when,
in fact barrel of either, before the kenawha salt
is put on it, is worth at least one dollar more than 1t
is afterwards! All the pork and beef put up in the
Western country with the salt made from the salt
springs there, will not bear expectation until is re-
packed with other salt; and when taken TO market
several hundred miles, before ii is repacked, much
of il is found to be already spoiled. How many
persons in this country know that salt may be used
as manure proftaby2 | frankly confess that
never knew it before; yet II has been undoubtedly
proven and besides, that vegetables raised on land
MANFRED with salt are much less liable TO be injured
BY frost than those raised on land where salt has not
been used as manure"
We guessedthe document would cost about $4,000.
MIR. Rives says:
"Say il would make exactly 400 pages the print
ing 10000 copies Of 1.-THE number ordered by the
Senae-would amount to $1,000 precisely.
He continues: .a...