Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-20

weeks past that he did not think necessary 10 say
single word on the subject did he perceive any
cessty the part of his friends He hoped therefore
the question would be taken on the resolution.
MIR. BENTON called for the reading OF the bond o
slrssrs Blair and Rives.
The bond of Messrs. Blair and Rives was read. l
bore date the 9th February, Is4 and, after rccitns
the various laws in relation The printing Of Congress
provided suretcs, in the penalty Of forty thousand dol
Jars, ior The prompt, accurate and neat execution
The work. and was approved by the Secretary Of tho
Senate.
Mr. BUCHANAN said he did not rise TO oppose The
resolution IN the slightest hope that he should prove
successful He had doubt execution was to be done
and that speedily, on Blair and Riyes The Decree The
rreversihe decree had gone forth, and il must anc
would be executed. lie had few words to say, moi
with any exception Of arrestng the Judgment, because
ne knew tins would be vain; but for the purpose of d
rectng tie attention OF The Senate and the country
this extraordinary proceeding. He firmly believed
that principle would be established by the adoption
this resolution long 10 be remembered, and long TO BIZ
deprecated.
In the Inaugural Address, which was delivered but
few DAYS ago, he found the following sentiment:
~; a Roman Consul in an early period
Thar celebrated Republic that striking
,ahc the conduct candidates for offices power
before and after oiauins hemthcy seldom carrying tn
case the pledges and promises made III the former. How
much the world may have improved in many respects IN III;
Of upwards of two thnsand since The remark
by the vilInos and indignant Roman, fear that stTio
examination The annals OF Of the modern elective
would dcvcoGc similar Instances Of violated confidence
What was the aspect OF the case now before them
Did Il not Illustrate in the most striking manner The
position maintained by the distinguished man, tn,
Pres dent of the u. 5. Hereafter, lie would hive M
occasion TO travel back two thousand years. for the pur
pose of citing the authority Of Roman consul 10 prove
that professions before election, and practices atte
il, two very different matters. Ills own friends
in the Senate about TO establish modern precc
dent on this subject which would cast antiquity into
the shade.
This was not merely the case of removing officer
quasi officer Of The Senate, for political offences
such thing. Il this had been all, although it would
have violated that primary canon Of The Wing faith
that "proscrpton must be prescribed, he should moi
nave been, in the slightest degree, astonlshcd Indeed
would then have been nothing than he had
tcipated. But the present far different II
attempt the part Of the Senate TO violate as
binding contract could be entered into BY human
language. Ii would present the spectacle before the
American people Of this body dsregarding its Plghed
faith and in the face of the world, trampling under
foot the vested rights which two American citizens had
acquired under their contract. He would not he afraid
leave the decision Of this question TO any judicial
bnna III the land, upon mere statement OF the facts,
against all the arguments which ingenuity could ad-
dnce on The other SIDE
From the character Of the resolution offered by the
Senator from North Carolina, Mr.. Mangum,l it might
be easily inferred that military chseain at the
head OF the Government. His resolution was in true
military STYLE and lis language precise, striking
and much TO the pon.-witIoui ambiguity, and without
a single unn. ccssary word The following copy
of it
"Resoired That Blair and Rives be dismissed as Print
ers 10 the Senate for the 18th Congress
Short pointed and directly TO the purpose, it was in
the true style Of Richard the Third "Ofi with his
head SO much for buckingham. "lf reasons were
thick blackberres, lie supposed their friends on
this side Of The House would not give one "upon
compulsion =: still less would they do 80, when they
had no give The resolution therefore,
act Of naked power, without any cause being
assigned on lis face for IFS adoption. There was but
legitimate which could, by possibility have
been assigned; and that had no existence in this
If Blair and Rvcs had violated any essential stipu-
ation of their contract, it might probably have JUS
titled the Senate III annulng it altogether, and en-
ployng other Printers to perform The work. lhs
was not, this could not be pretended. 1t had ne
yer even been insnuated that Blair and nireo had
not heretofore faithfully performed their duty as Prta
crs To the Senate; and this the best pledge winch
could be 9 ven that they would do SO hereafter why,
then were they 10 be dismissed III this military style.
why was our own solemn contract with them to De
forfeited Was il not simply because they were the
Editors Of political newspaper, and dared 10 publish
articles in opposition to the party now III power
This had been openly avowed as the
"Otf with his head" What sin had poor Mr.. Rvcs
ever committed that he should be executed with Mr.
Blair, 1t true that Mr. Rves was partner IN the
rm and in this capacity had entered into the contract
but it was equally certain that the duties which he
performed were of mere business and mechanical
character and he had never given cause OF complaint
TO any person. Why, then, should the political Of
fences OF Mr. Blair be visited on the head of his I'M
offending partner, and the whole Globe be Frustrated
for the purpose Of reaching single sinner:
This was however, no subject TO jest about; but
aucs,ion-and he said so with the sincerity and
Notwithstanding principle of greater importance
to the people of this country than any which had been
before the Senate Of the U. S. since he had been
member of the body Should Blair and Rives be dis
ba rdpI nj
precedent and would prove TO be the fruitful foundation
Of many evils in our future history
lie would state the facts OF the case win as mnch
clearness and precision rs he could
Previous to the year 1872 the printing OF Congress
had been executed under contracts entered into with
the lowest bidders by the Secretary OF the Senate and
the Clerk Of the House of Representatives, respect
vely After long experience, 1t was found to be ne
cessary for winch he should not Then enume-
rate To change this practice, and hx The MODE OF
ing Printers by positive law Accordingly, on ne 81
March 1910 a iont resolution was adopted by Con.
rress and approved by the President of the T. 81 de-
Caring that each House. previous TO the termination OF
every should elect suitable person To execute
its own printing 'darirg the ne1t Congress- THIS re-
solution prescribed particularly The manner IN wh'cn
the printing should be done, and prices which were
10 be paid to the Printer. The chief reason for
adopting the resolution was clear and obvious ~
was utterly impossible that any new contractor coud
be prepared with the necessary paper, material anu
workmen to execute properly The pruning LOT e.
ther House Of Congress, without some months Prev
Gus notice. and therefore, the joint resolution gave him
the time for preparation which would necessarily elapse
between the termination of Congress and the meet
ing of another. The Printer thus elected was required
10 rive bond, with suretes, to the satisfaction OF the
Secretary of the Senate for the prompt accurate ana
neat execution Of tie neork." And what power yves
GRANTED by the resolution TO your Secretary over inns
Printer Why, sir, in case of any inconven'ent delay
in the delivery of the work. the Secretary was author
zed To employ another printer to perform any portion
of he thought proper; and If he were obliged 70 pay
an increased price, he directed to charge tins ex
cess in the account against the regular Printer
There was not one word in this rcsolut'on from DC
ginning 10 end which gave the least color to the 'oe'
That this Printer was officer Of the Senate through
out the whole of it he not called an officer, mol
was his employment alluded 10 Official nor was here
sinnle term used which not in strict accordance
with the mechanical nature of the work TO be perform
ed Thus, then, stood this case. solemn cohtfac
had been entered into-under the JOINT resolution 0
1919, confirmed as it by the subsequent Tesouoi
of lS29-with Blair & Rives who had been duly eject
ed Printers to the Senate-ther bond with sue'es, na'
been approved by the secretary-hc agreement
both sides was perfect and complete, and, by us ,rs
was endure throughout the twenty h,n,.