Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-30

f''Ses
for the printing of the two Houses. In conformity
WIN That report, the resolution Of 1919 passed and
then II was they commenced designating the indvi-
oua who should execute the work At the prices thus
Hxed They had acted on that reHou on from 1919 10
The present time, without variation or change What,
he would ask, the Printers of 1912, when Way
and Weightman were the contractors Were they Of
lcers OF the Senate: No one will venture 10 make the
assertion. They simply contractors and If they
violated the: contract they were liable have il set
aside, and silt brought against them for damage
What were me obligations of DeKran officer Of
the senate, when he became the contractor under lie
ttJesoiution oil 1912; None-nobody pretended
4shat he occupied any such Official position. II would
have beer ridiculous 10 have done 30: for though the
work val badly executed, lie was held 10 hs contract;
WINE some other PRINTER was occasionally employed
20 60 Portions o. the work, he being compCed pay
The d,he .enee IN the price. liz mir. king) believed
They had never heard Of the Pointer being an officer
OF the Senate, unt gentleman, nov no longer 4
member oil tins body, took oenee al something pub
lished III the paper o. e then Pdlac fr:aer when he
minated his intention TO 5rrg ;fc matter s.fore lie
Senate, and 10 tor the dismissal 0: the Irn,rr
but that gentleman backed ou., for he irew h. c.nd
not sustain such procedure. las Ii l. this. th1
this Senate, actna'cd by political private hostility
by individual grieis, should 81 ltSeil 70 Eui.y
agreement with an individual who has done has work
faithfully: Was any Senator here prepared 70 say the
work was not well done, M: political hostility alone
acuated Senators, and il was ali they could avow. lie
(Mr hngl had traced THIS from the earliest pc
Rod 10 the present time and he could entertain no other
belief, than that the Printer SIMPLY an employee Of
the Government: that he like other individuals
who contracted 10 do work, and II he niied to execute
IT. did not do il correctly, lie liable 10 be prose-
cutcd Tor damages But, as liz had already said, he
felt that the thing settled. The fiat had gone
forth from headquarters, and those who in their
hearts might regret II, were brought To do Of
which their judgments dsapproycd being carried along
by their party predictions to perpcira,e it lie Mr.
1 hlngl would not replv-hs indignant feelings would
not permit him to reply-to the impntaton of motive
4 H. H.
tuacd. Such imputaons were unworthy OF the per-
son who uttered them-uriust towards his (Mr Kings
friends, and unworthy OF tins body. What were
Blair y Rrves-the contractors for the public print
| ing2 Suppose, for 4 moment, they every thing
that Senators their places here have thought proper
to denonnce them tor-suppose they were base--sup-
pose they had charactsr-suppose they did not de-
serve the countenance support of this body-were
these sufficient grounds which TO set aside their
contract, so long The work correctly executed
What it to the honorable Senators whether those
individuals of good or bad character; He (Mr
~ not there the advocate of Blair ~ Riges; he
looked yond that-hc looked the principle involved,
and the consequences which would follow to the
try, should this resolution be adopted THIS act would
become precedent, which must forever shut the
mouths OF the Senators who established it. No more
shall hear Of the Democrats being Agrarians--of
being disposed TO break down vested rights; 10
late the obligation of contracts; they must he forever
silenccd By their act But who is this Mr.. BLAIR,
who has been violently assaed on this floor; If
his (Alr. h. 81 recollection served hun Alright, TINS
Blair resided years gone By in The State Of
Kentucky, where he figured inconsdcrable per-
sonage. lie was then the political friend Of the Sena-
tor from Kentucky; his intimate associate and, II he
was msinlorned, his confidential correspond
ent. Was he infamous them lie presumed not He
Mr.. X knew nothing Of Mr. Blair, except Wy charac-
ter until he made his appearance III tins city some
years past Since that time he had been Of
social intercourse with hmhad observed his conduct
in the social and private relations of life and he felt
bound 10 say, that for kindness of heart humanity and
exemplary department as private citizen, he could
proudly compare with the Senator from Kentucky, or
Senator this floor b. whom he has been assaed
But he the conductor Of political newspaper,
which was abusive in its character. With the manner
which that paper conducted, he (Mr. KING had
nothing 10 DO. He should neither undertake here ap
prove condemn But were they to exclude Printers
of the Senate men who conducted political, or if YOU
please, abusive newspapers Then they must exclude
the who, not twenty days past, in an address deli
vered that avenue, and published IN the National
nelligencer, grossly insulted every man, of both
Houses Of Congress, who opposed to the present
dominant party, by uttering and publishing what he
must have known 10 be utterly untrue. Gentlemen
speak of the importance Of having for Printers men
who conduct themselves as 10 produce harmony and
good feeling in this body. Admitting it TO be correct,
and he (Alr King not disposed 20 question it,
would the man who delivered that address, if elected
Printer produce this kindly feeling: He Mr. king)
knew not who the ority this body intended
TO elect as Printers but he knew that gentlemen, &C
uated by political hate, were running counter to their
declarations; and about TO do what they had de-
nounced IN such strong terms The object cannot be
mistaken 10 wreak their vengeance on political
foe, and provide for political friend lis Trend and
colleague mad Just suggested idea, which lie would
throw Let the country hear ii and let the Senate
understand it, Could Blair d Rivcs, having gwen
bond, resign this appointment, without The assent OF
the Senate: No. The contract was made, and they
could be held to their bond, and the strict perform
ance of the duties they had undertaken. They could
not dyest themselves Of their obligations even they
would yet the Senate, Of the contracting parties,
vas undertaking. the power OF their strength, TO m
nui the contract, the other party refusing 70 set It
aside. Now he did think and hn was ~ the habit OF
expressing his opinions plainly that Tins vas the most
handed ana reckless assumption 81 power that
was exercised by any debrraiyc body under the
sun Il was naked exercise Of power un,nndiul Of
Justice or OF law, Of the sacredness Of contracts
and II gentlemen could exercise that power under such
circumstances, il Tor them TO do H. and for the
country la understand Every man IN tins country
who engaged in executing work under contract with
the Government, VIII BE- told. III language not T. be
understood Though you do your work faithfully,
comply with your contract 10 the very letter you have
no security Tor 4 moment. Any Individual who pos
sesscs weight with the dominant political party. who -
influenced against you by party hostility, or pr
vaie rrcs can procure the abolition OF your contract
even should it involve you in ruin Let the country
but understand that as the true state OF the question
here and he (Slr. King would cheeIiuily abide It's
Judgment lie (Mr. krng) had already said, and said
truly that II not hs intention TO enter at large INTO
this question. The argument all or side ;
and all the ingenuity of the Senator from Connecticut
Mr. huntington had failed to protect his friends from
the force of the arguments which had been addressed
to them by Senators this side OF the house. lie
mir. Kingl was willing 10 crafty the Senator from
Connecticut, and throw aside the Joint resolution OF
1919, under which elections OF Public Printers had
been made for than twenty years But, set u
aside admit that it has binding force-does ~ aisct
this case Not in the least The election had taken
MACE he a Senate competent to make it. What mat
tered it, then, whether the individual was designated
under Joint resolution Of the two Houses, or ny the
no-o al; &c tho Senate The facts that he was legal
" selected that he has entered into the contract and
9yen the necessary bond which is now on the table Of
your Secretary, still stare gentlemen in the face
There no escaping from them He trusted there was
M Senator who would seriously contend that the ma
orty who authorized the contract had not the power
10 do SO because that minority TO be placed
mnority-ior upon that ground every act of the last
ssinn which tie Senate in ia wisdom had thought