The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-13

~ ~NN - SA'Btc WIZ W NAot wa eAoH
,aid.
He should not, on his part and he perceived no ne
,essity Tor remarks he hoped therefore, the question
would immediately be taken the resolution.
Mr.. BENTON called for the reading of the bond
MIR. BUCHANAN had no doubt bu. execution
was TO be DONE and that speedily, Blair x Rves.
But, before that, he had few words to say-not in
arrestlng judgment, because he knew that would be
vain, but for the purpose Of stating his idea of the cha
racter OF this case. He apprchended that principle
would be established by this proceeding long TO be
membered in this country, and deprecated
In the Inaugural Address which was delivered the
other day he found this sentiment:
at was the remark of a Roman Consul, in an early
period of that celebrated Republic that most striking
contrast observable in the conduct of candidates
for offices of power and trust before and after obtain
ing theinthey seldom carrying out in the latter case
the pledges and promises made in the former How
much the world may have improved, in many
respects in the lapse ofupwards oftwo thousand years
since the remark was made by the yirtuous and in
dgnant Roman fear that strict examination of the
annals Of some Of the modern elective governments,
would develops similar instances Of violated conf
dence"
What is the aspect before us7 Let us venture our
opinion on it. Does il not illustrate the position in
the most striking manner cited by that distinguished
man, now President of the u. States. This was not
of removing officer Of the Senate, or quasi
officeI-no such thing. But, the of the Senate
undertaking to violate solemn contract could ever
be entered into by human language The case Of the
Senate, now making an attempt, In which they would
succeed-after contract had been made, and after
these men-Americnn citizens, have acquired such
rights under this contradictions before the world he
would not be afraid TO leave the question to any Judi
cal Tribunal, 1.-The question of the Senate coming in
by might and power, and rampng this contract under
FOOT and we would suppose from the style in which il
is done that had distinguished; Military Chief
tain at the head of our Government, its language
very precise, Striking and much to the point:
Resolped, That Blair & Rven be dismissed as prn-
tiers to the Senate for the 9th Congress
Short pointed directly to the purpose 1t was in the
style of Richard the Third" off lcih his head so
much for Buckingham" And if reasons were as
thick as back-berres, he supposed their friends would
not give them one and why2 He believed there was
not one. Had not Blair & Rives faithfully performed
their duties as printers to the Senate And why were
they to be dismissed in this military style2
Was it not because they editors of political
newspaper which has contained editorial articles in
opposition TO the present Administration party
/" or NTH Hehead." What snEhad ever poor Mr.
Rives committeda partner of the 1irm--a mechanic
who had entered into this contract that he is to be
executed, and the sin of Mr. Blair be visited on
his head and the whole Globe be Frustrated on account
of the sins of one of its printers.
This was not a matter, as he humbly conceived to
jest about but question, and he said SO with the ut
most solemnity and sincerity, of greater Importance
than had been before the Senate of the United States
Let us give the facts. In l8l9 Joint resolution
passed Congress, approved by the President of the
United States declaring that each House of Congress
previous to the adjournment of the old Congress,
should elect and provide proper person to execute
the printing for the next session of Congress- The
resolution fixed the in which the printing was
to be performed Ii stated the prices which the con-
tractors were to receive and the obvious policy of the
resolution was cleaIlt utterly impossible that
any man could be prepared (without any notce) for
the performance Was NV IN n;
resolution which called this mechanic an officer of the
Senate, or In the nature of his employment? The
resolution itself spoke of contract and that of the
most solemn character. First he " as to give bond
and security that he will execute the work with neat
ness, fidelity, and despatch And what power is grant
ed TO your Clerk under the terms of this resolution
your printer fails TO comply with it2 The Secretary
has right to employ another, and if he paws an in
creased price, the inference is to be dedueted from
the others wages.
There stands the case. A solemn contract entered
into by an existing law, confirmed in 1929 and here
was requisite election under the law bonds and
security were glyen--a contract, perfect and complete
tor tive years under the resoution and Blair and
Rives had now as good a right ON rendering per-
formance to demand payment, person had in any
bargain Ten times In succession had the Senate
acted under the joint resolution Of 19l9-ten times
elected printerten times submitted to this election
and the eleventh occasion, which was the present
they were to conovert what had before been done by
the Senate: and what is the reasona Our wede-
Scssoho teuVe "t SecH DTOHB. Il ne congress winch
passed the resolution knelo nothing about the propi-
sions Of tic Consultation. ALI Congresses which have
acted on this rule haze been perfect doats.
But they were told that it was so plainly violation
of the Constitution of the United States that he who
runs may read. And now, on this side of the House
they seized with constitutional scrupes and they
think they have been violating their oahs in thus
electing printers heretofore Without proposing TO
cast reflections on any one appeared that they were
practising the old rule That " then should take
IrhO hare The
That was the rule.
Now, if printer is an officer of the body, what
makes him SOL What argument had been used to
prove nun an oihcer OF the body He had heard but
one. he argument of the Senator from Delaware
and which was proposed by some other gentle
men, and appeared that prove this he had to 90
back to period of the world before the art of print
ing II the art of printing had not been discovered
you would have had to employ a great number OF
aman aenses. Would every copyist be an officer Of
the Senatel No. 1t would then be still more ncces-
sary than now to provide, by the preceding Congress
for the performance ofthe work. which then woud have
been much more laborious and expensive. And then
what do the gentlemen ASSERT That there is no
in this Government by act of Congress, to provide
printer before the Congress comes into existence
But is there any foundation for this arguments /.
not the bare style and statement of the proposition
sufficient to convince any candid and honest Senator
of the United States They had entered into con
tract to keep the clock of the Senate going and did
the clock maker become officer of the body Z No
The printing of the Senate was mechanical work e
be performed by men having skill in that art; and they
might as well call any man who performed any duty
whatever for the Senate officer as to call the prn
ter.
The joint resolution was conceived in wisdom
What was the case before2 Congress met--printinp
was Immediately required, and the Clerk authorized
to employ the printer but he was not preparcd-de-
lays took place. and in order TO obviate this difficulty
the resolution was passed.
In his humble estimation, the principle which would
be established by these proceedings involved tremen
dous consequences. Once establish the precedent
that the Senate have right to violate solemn con-
tract deliberately entered into, and what becomes OF
this counryl Does il not go Immediately TO the posi-
tion, which had been attributed his party but which
he had ever deniedthat any legislative body have a
right to annul contracts entered into
The principle on which this resolution proceeded
would, IN his humble judgment justify Gov. McNult
IN the outrageous attempt which he is making to an.
null bonds OF the State of Mississippi II was the
principle which lay at the root of it, Blair & Riyes
UIrfn n0E AAlA