Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-14
From the Weekly Pilot.
THE PRINTING or CONGRESS

THE PhlN AAkNO VI CONGhESS.
The Joint resolution Of 1910, as amen.
lod nroyides, that 'untilotherpise ordered
tSe printing of each House Of Congress
hall be done by printers, TO be appointed
no the Senate and House Of Represen,a
ICES. respectively. The printer oives
bond, and the Jaw provides, that if he fails
IN executing his contract, the Secretarv
nClho Senate, or the clerk of the House
sbon cause the same to be done ar he
cost.
The Senate few days before the ter.
,r;nation Of the late Congress, elected Mr..
G. Rives, Of the Globe, printer 10 TIM
hody. A motion to vacate this apnoint.
ment has given rise to angry debate. n
which Mr.. King, Of Alabama, in vindioa-
inc the character of Mr.. Blair, used of.
Ssnsiye words to Mr.. Clay, who retor,ed
nv saving, that the declaration of ,nr. X
vas "i.njuSi, untrue, and cocardly." lis
understood that a challenge ensued. and
AR. King is held to bail.
May we not hope, that public attention
will be directed 10 this subject, and that
,be necessary measures may be taken
70 provide for the execution Of the public
printing by the government. We hold
This. to be the greatest of all reforms. We
hold that the present administration are
pledged to il by Mr.. Webster's Richmond
soeech. The printing of Congress, and
the Departments is worth from fifty, to
one hundred thousand dollars per annum;
his now given as the reward of partizan
services; aud the necessary consequence.
Is. that the Iarty in power, brides their
nress 10 defend all their measures, lei
them be right or wrong, while the party
ont of power, brbe their press, On the
hopes Of reward,) TO assail all the measures
Of the party in power, and to censure
them. let them be right or wrong. The
consequence is, that the source of public
Intelligence are poisoned at the fountain
and the unsuspecting people, are the dupes
Of unprincipled men, who labour for the
rich reward ofpolitical prostitution.
We call upon the press, the independ
ant press throughout the country, to speal
ont on THE subject. Mr.. Webster's re
mark, at Richmond are as true in refer
once TO one party as the other. The di
voree Of the Government from the pres.
Is the great measure of reform. Give u
free press.
Does any one ask how the public print
inc is TO be donel We answer, let tn,
limited States establish a printing ofiie,
Of their own-let them appoint a compe
tent printer, with salary Of two or tire
thousand dollars per aunum, and two o
more suitable assistants, as proof reader:
,tc..-let these employ journeymen I
work by the piece. There would thus b
great saving to the Government. Their
would be an end 10 jobs and pensions
there would be no abuse of the printn
patronage; the press would be no longe
brbed to defend the wrong, nor to ASA
the right
will this be donel Both parties al
pledged TO do it; but tits to be feared tn;
all that has been said, will end IN cor
promise. The Globe will be pensione
by the Senate, and The National intelIigel
Ger. by the House. We do not belie1
that there is independence or public Writ
in either House to reform this abuse. TT
leaders, aad members Of both Houses ha,
been so long accustomed to use the priu
inr patronage as a fraud 10 reward Il
press for its partizan services, that no,
ever much they may be opposed to
willie they are in the minority, they W
no, relnquish it when they get the powC