The Madisonian., 1840-02-08
DEBATE ON PUBLIC PRINTING, Jan. 30


Mr.. BLACKS resolution for the election Of
printer, and the appointment OF select committee
being under under consideration,
Mr. WISE satd that, universal consent had been
asked for the resolution OF Mr.. Black, he wished to
state why he coui agrec- it, If that resolution
was adopted, lt.woud render the election of printer
oil the House CERTAIN and Mr. W. had made up his
mnd that he never would vote for any printer
this House who at the time the editor Of
political paper No party could expect be power
forever and it equally the interest OF both avoid
such result He asked Mr. b TO modify his resou-
ton omit the election OF printer and IN lieu
thereof allow the Clerk OF the House contract for the
public printing til the committee proposed IN Mr. BIS.
resolution should have brought in their report. Mr. w
said tha, he appealed alike gentlemen OF both parties
Was il not shameful tina, all The legislation Of the mn
try should be set aside while the House engaged in
degrading contest whether Gales & Seaton Blair d
Rives should have the rich bonus Of $4,000 derived
from the profits Of the public printing He would set
both aside He would allow neither to WELD the pro-
fits Of this immense patronage whose tendency was
oav 10 corrupt the public press He for giving the
printing 10 the lowest bidder until committee could
report and If the gentleman from Georgia Mr. Black,
would so modify his resolution, Mr.. w. would give it
his support
Mr.. STANLY said, as 10 The amendments pro.
posea by Mr. Black, if the House elected printer
at all, he must be elected under the law Of 1919,
ana that law declared that printer to be APP
pointed for the whole Congress; SO that if The print
er was elected under that genemans resolution in
stead OF being elected only for ten days, or untl
committee sholld report he would be ile printer OF
the House throughout this session, and the also
The genemans resolution could not repeal Joint
resolution of both Houses, which had the effect of
law.
MIR. s. then returned to the subject Of the Govern
ment ra,ronage and stated that the Clerk of the
House had thrown into The hands of Mr. Langree,
editor OF the Democratic Review, Ca party perodi-
cal got up 10 secure the election Of Mr. Van Buren,
contract for stationery &c. to The amount of S76-
up nil real
izsd was stated at ten per cent. The Ceik had en-
poyed the same Mr.. Langtree a literary and
editor OF Review, TO execute the lithography
dered by the House
Mr. s. then quoted certain returns 10 show the
amount paid TO the editors Of the Globe during the
last seven years for the printing Of the Houses oil
Congress and Of the Departments, from which it APP
peared that Blair and Rves had, during that time,
received over $375000 The printing Of one single
document Che Sah document, ordered by the Senate,
on motion of Mr. Benon} had cost the country Ssl7,-
900 Mr. s. further quoted returns 10 show the
amount paid for the engraving of maps, &c which
he stated at s509lG. This also passed through the
hands Of Mr.. Langtree, showing that the editor of
the Democratic Review enjoyed, through the inter-
vention of the Clerk OF the House, Government
patronage Of over one hundred thousand dollars
year. From these data, Mr. S. argued the necessity
Of further investigation before printer should be
appointed,
He further observed, that he understood the gentle
from Indiana (Mr Davis had been sent here main
and he would suggest to that gentleman that by suit
able rctrenchment OF the profits Of the Globe and De-
mocratc Review, he might save enough TO carry the
National Road through Indiana,
Mr. S. advcrted to the Presidents Message having,
on former ccason been sent TO the Senate before 1t
was sent TO the Honse by which arrangement the Globe
got the exclusive printing OF that document; and also
% the fact that when the printed copies OF the Message
folded in The foldug-room prospectus for the
Extra Globe was put up with each copy, unknown to
| Tho nf hD fhua ado
tho instrument Of frankng all their constituents pro-
posals for the Globe fact which produced very great
surprise, and elected llt,le Indignation many parts
OF the country. Sl6,0 900 more had been given TO the
Globe for printing journals OF the House, and az
ter document had been printed for the Senate, and
composition and press-work been paid for by that body
and the document afterwards printed for the
House, the House chsged though the types had
been set up In Massachusetts, the public printing
done at ior,yhv per cent. less than was paid by
Congress- and better donc andmorevef al tins very ses
sion oler had been made to the Clerk OF the House
by G Siambaught to execute the printing Of Congress
at thirty per cent less than now paid. Mr. 5 APP
poaed the Clerk to say whether this was the fact,
and what had been done with the proposals
The CLERK through the Char. replied that such
proposals had received, and had been returned 10
Mr.. Stambaugh
Mr. s here sen, to the Clerks table an article from
the Democratic Review, containing description Of the
Clerks person. and eulogy his character and
qualifications
The CLERK commenced the reading OF tho docu
ment, aud had proceeded time when
Mr. CRARY. Of Michigan, to.order
MIR. GRAVES speech was full OF the most aStoniSh-
ing facts showing the progress OF corruption IN INC
Government. Among other iacls' ne s.a:eu sna, -
far as the documents would show, the printing and
Stationery Tor Congress and the public otces, IN The
year 1919 was only about 10000 dollars but that,
during the last Congress, their printing and station
cry, and the printing and stationery OF The Depart