Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-09

TCrn Mckay but that he was upprchcnsIve he would
not have the same reason for continuance OF mat con-
f1encc to the chairman of that committee III the pre-
semi Congress- that this movement was bad beginning
AIR ! .ypresscd hope that the honorable member
from South Carolina would find Cause for diasat'sac
ton with the present chairman OF that committee on The
score of economy and that e thought the not"h SUD
rned BY him the other day Tor printing the map &C
complaining the Report of the Secretary ought not 10
create anv suspicion i'm his mind preudcia TO the pre-
sent chairman of that committee. He begged 10 re-
mind the honorable gentleman, that during Tie last
Congress- the Report Of the Secretary OF NaT was ac
companies! br 4 map of Florida, which was ordered ~
the House be printed upon the motion oil Inc CHAR
man Of the Military Committee III that Congress, III
whom Tn. gentleman had so much confidence lie had
not examined the Journal but had been informed tins
morning bv the Chairman Of that COMMITTEE
Mr. THOMSON rose 10 state one fact Tie con
tract for printing the maps, he sad, was 10 be gwen 10
person in this city, who was TO be subjected 10 the
same process of taxation that proved 10 have been
practised in New York. and other cities. That is (sad
Mr.. T) The person who does the work IS 10 submit TO
assessment the price OF the printing which he Is
to contribute 10 the support OF publication" very mn
portant to the party in powcr-the Democratic Re
view.
Mr.. BANKS observed that he should have pursued
his usual course in silence in reference 10 the motion
Of the gentleman from South Carolina, but for one fact.
1t had been ihc pursued by that gentleman,
with many Of The party who acted with iiii TO endc
sor To- Produce impression Oh liz. pubic mind:
that there paris in that House disposed 10 print
public documents, merely to reward their political ia
vortes. He knew Of such iayortrs: and knew of
no such design in the part Of those with whom he acted,
and denied that he and his friends had ever been go
vcrncd by any such motives. He readily believed,
however, that the House did print too much, and lie
had never voted for the printing ola document, unless
he deemed it necessary for the public service. With
regard to the motion under consideration, he
should vote for it, believing that the printing the do
cument was unnecessary. But, said Mr. b., while the
gentleman says much about useless and unnecessary
printing, lei me call his attention, and that Of the rem
iemcn who vote with him. 10 The cNtravagant waste of
nIs g, papcy las, Session printing !e,0u0 extra
relation to denlcaiios of public q The Treasury, IN
Of these extra copies Of old documents Si,
600 of the public moncy. and 1t carried through
the House b: the Of the sentc.nan and his friends
Mr. THOMPSON of South Carolina. The gentle.
man speaks at random, and states what is not true.
do not vote for the printing of these documents.
Mr.. BANKS resumed The document he referred
to- document 297, being the Report of the Secrc
tary Of the Treasury, III relation to the dealcationS OF
public officers assert, sad he, that there was pro-
position 10 print 200G extra copies of these old docu
mcnts, that ii carried through by the vote, of the
gentleman from South Carolina and his party, and
that the journals Will show it.
Mr.. THOMPSON again interrupted Mc Banks,
and said that the gentleman had stated at random what
was not true
vote for that particular proposition, il certainly was
carried through by the votes of the party with which
he acts; and when the gentleman is cndeavoring 10
create false impression abroad that the friends OF the
Administration were seeking to cApcnd the public mo-
nry i'll useless printing, fer the purpose OF rcwardIng
political avortes it was but fair to bring up, as an
Offset it, this extravaganza Of the last session, car
RED through By his party, as well as 10 deny the
charge. With respect to the particular document nn-
der cons;d ration he felt il due 10 himself to say, that
i he ut n ht.l
il 10 be necessary for the public information. As to
the vote Of the gentleman hlihselt on printing the do
cumenis he could moi say with certainty how h. voted,
without reference 10 the journal; though his I'M
preston had been that the gentleman had voted for 1t,
until he denied it; but he did say that the printing was
carried through by the votes of the 9cm;cmans party.
MIR. WISE was sorry that h;s colleague had thought
proper - make attack Oh the motion made by hiIi
last session for the printing OF the report relative to de
falcaton (sad Mr. w made the motion to print
the extra copies of document G'1, which would show
to the thousands OF voters OF this country that the late
MESSAGE Of the President not true. The message
stated that, independently Of the dealcaion q" S:yar
won't ONLY 500 600 were lost rtic Government in
sequence oi the drtacaons of pubic officers. That
document II" ~ would show that, by the land officers
and collectors of the prescn, Administrations nearly one
million Of dollars were lost while the message stated the
loss nj only goo This document dsprovcd the
truth Of the Presidents message, and showed either
that he DISPOSED TO cover The dC!aca0ns OF MS OIL
icers Chat he deceived by his Secretary OF the
Treasury. He would frankly say of Martin Van Blu
rem, believing him 10 be gentleman, that If he had
read the document No. ao!, he wonli not have made
thr statements he did "a his message, IN opposition 10
facts shown by the records within his reach. Permit
10 say TO my colleague, continued MIR. W. that the
printing of that document better calculated pro-
public economy than any other; and that he would
at any time, be willing pay ten dollars from ont of
the public Treasury show to the people how dol
lar had been taken from it, either by fraud
qucncc ofIguorance or acknowledgement. Dad the gen
tleman mean 10 say that there not another motive
besides economy that induced him and his party 10 vote
against The publication OF these documents: Sir, (sni4
Mr.. W. if could get the vote Of the House 10 day,
would prn: the report of the Secretary of the Treasury
III opposition to the message and If could get my
colleague 10 circulate il in his district, his constituents
would hold him accountable for voting as he did against
publishing document TO circulate the truth. After
some additional remarks from Mr.. W.,
Mr.. BANKS said he hoped his colleague had not
understood him Directing 10 the original printing of
document No 2J1. 1t important that il should be
printed for the of the members of the House, and
c voted Tor it, Bnt, SAID Mr. b., objected, after il
was printed and possession of ever member Of the
House, 10 the printing Of 20 900 extra copies, by which
expense of $4,000 was incurred He did not deem
it proper al tins time, to goInto examination Of the
President message and he therefore would not reply
the remarks of hIs cocagu" OF that subject: but he
knew that an intelligent people had had full benefit Of
the document his colleague referred 0-that IT Was
widely circulated and discussed a. public meetings,
and that It's statements were met and proved 10 BE-
false in many particulars Tor it was shown that ma
ny persons stated in il to be dctaucrs had since paid
up the balances against them. aud that many were
OF necessity reported such, from the mere fac, that
their accounts unsettled lie had never voted
against circulating useful or necessary information
lie ready to give light the people any man.
and whether by the rira principle and against the
secret system ofvong, by useful and necessary pub
cations he wished all his TO be known to the peU
pie. He would have nothing concealed or mIsreprc-
scented, but all his acts be above. board As TO the
question undcr consideration, it perhaps small
matter, and nothing would have ladnccd him Ia say one
word in regard to ii had ii not been for the unccasing
cndcavors Of some gentlemen that floor to produce
impression on the public mind that the party with
which he acted were disposed 10 cxpcnd money IN use
less printing for the purpose of rcwardng political ia
vortes. He had shown how the extravaganza, charged
by the gentleman from 5. Carolina, had been practised
to greater extent by the party with which he acted.
How the change had gentlemen this session.
IL, H., IL.