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

contractors to do printing that Blair and Rive
have been employed and that they have entered nt'
written contract, with all due solemntes TO perform
their duty If the original resolutions be unconstltn
tona or If there be in what have done any want o
conformity to them il We, and not they, who are re
Sponsble So say justice and common honesty, as wei
as selfrespect
But, SIR, have stated the case far stronger than i
necessary Tor the side support night waive our un
uonbted right TO employ persons TO do printing by
contract; might admit it to be doubtful whether the
BOND gwen by Blair IL Rves is contract or not, ant
"heher tney are in fact officers merely employees
ana gel stand on impregnable grounds in maintaining
that you have no right to pass this resolution. Eh
rest the question on the simple fact that you selected
them Printers, and have entered into a written in
strument with them that they TO do the printing
and might concede that II IS disputed and doubtful
point whether they are officers in the sense you con
tend for, not, and yet show cuncuslvely, on the
soundest principles, that have right TO do hi,
act We are one party, and they another This
acton-wc the powerful, and they the weak and j,
there any rule more fundamental, according to tho
code OF morals, and the prime pies of our free po
tca SYSTEM than that one has right to Judge IL
his own case; Or that the right Of decision, in sucl
this, belongs 10 another and appropriate de
partment and not TO us: 10 assume the reverse
would be- 10 that Legislature had the right
aside the contracts entered into by its predeces
sors, whenever question Of doubt De raised: no
still stronger entered into by ITSELF for the Senate is
perpetual body 1t IS the body which authorized tins
transaction, that il undertakes TO undo. Pass this
resolution, and you would set precedent, ncons
derabe the interest involved i'll this case, which
would authorize any State 10 cancel It's bonds, To
woke charters, and annu its contracts, and make
il question Of mere expedlcncyof personal and par
ty like and dislikeand not violation Of the eternal
principles Of usce-whether they should or not adhere
10 their engage ments.
And with whom does so dangerous measure orgi-
nate With those y no have assumed 10 be the pro.
tecors Of the sancty Of contracts-the champions OF
yes;.i rights and chartered privileges who, in their
ZEAL stgmntizcd their opponents Loco Focos. Agra
rams, and contemners of plghted faith And let me
ask, al what time is such measure brought forward;
AT the moment when the Indebtedness OF the country
is greater than has ever been known when many OF
the States have thonghtlcssy plunged themselves in
debt almost beyond their ability 10 meet their engage
ments when the pressure of tic times, and the eS-
ample of the non-tnlh!ment OF engagements by the
great moneycd institutions OF the country, have done
50 much To weaken the force Of contracts the esti-
nation Of many; and when especially it is the duty
of all good citizens, and this body in particular, which
has such just and great influence over public opinion,
TO avoid any act which can BY possibility, be interpret,
ed into disregard Of the sacred obligation o.! contracts
II is, at such moment that the party which processes
TO be the special guardian Of the public faith, call on
us to do this dangerous act and for what purpose
The poor the ptiiul Of turning out Printers Of one
political faith, in order to put IN others of different;
10 put out Blair and Ryes TO put in Gales and Seaon,
the performance of their duty, personal respectable
lily, are their superiors ! cannot but express my
amazement at the step, coming from the quarter u
does, and with the course which, it is understood.
the party from which it comes intend TO take in re-
ference TO leading of policy--l refer 10
a National Bank. II is said, and believed, that
il will be of their first measures, and that on
which they rely 10 carry through their avowed
policy. Do you not see that this measure, as IN
considerable as it is, will furnish ground from
,rhi 10 an
fleet You propose 10 set aside this contract be-
cause you believe that the Senate has no constltu-
ona right 10 make il. Is there not large party in
the country now accidentally in minority, who be-
lieve, and have believed from the beginning that Con.
gress has right charter such bank and have
resisted its establishment in consequence OF such be-
lief; You believe that the instrument signed by Blair
and Rives to do your printing IS not contract Is
there not a considerable portion Of the community who
beve that bank charter is no contract That II is a
grant merely Of apuhlic franchise, which can be with
drawn the pleasure Of the grantor If may venture
an OPINION would say il far more difficult to prove
that this instrument IS not contract, than that char
ter of bank IS one
make the appointment Of Printers that would
soon he in minority; and that If yenturcd, III
spite of such warning to appoint, that those we might
select would be dismissed when the majority changed
sides. VIII not the same warning be given when yon
come 10 propose bank charter Will you not be told,
that it is clearly unconstitutional that you have seized
on the accidental asccndancy Of your party, 10 force il
on the country, against lis sober and habua conyic
lion both to its expectancy and conslitutionaiity
and that you venture to act under such admontlons
your acts will not be respected when you come to be
again in minority
Thinking, as do, in reference TO a National Bank,
would rejoice to you raising up such difficulties IN
the way of the establishing one, could the effect Of
this perncious example you are about 10 set De con
fined TO that But that Is impossible. II wi! 20 inr
4 ~ 4. Ian, iirpll Ia pyIls
as hope, the ofustIce in the public mind should
react aga nst what you purpose to do
As 10 myself ], the present occasion, act on the
same principles which guided me IN lc3l, on the 1ues-
ton Of the removal Of the dcposes by General Jack
son | then, and now, believed that the Bank had
right 10 the use Of the deposcs under its charter and
OF which could not be Invested except just aPpre
that they not safe in its vaults or Tor It's
neglect mismanagemcnt as the hscal agents OF the
Treasury Thus regarding It, acted with those whom
now oppose in opposition 10 the removals ana that on
the principle on which now act. OF The two, re-
card that less clear case, clear as consider II, Of
than the present. and this resolution, should II
pass, n more pal pabe violation OF rights secured by
contract than the measure then opposed.
MIR. KING Of Alabama said he was not disposed 10
enter into long argument. The clear, forcble and
ground occupied by The Senator from
South Carolina, mir. Calhoun,l rendered IT unne-
cessary that he should say any thing He felt that this
motter was settled He felt that argument was OF no
propriety would be disregarded that every cons'de-
ration which ought TO influence the Senate IN the DIS
charge of its duties, TO be set aside IN TINS case
Did the Senator from Mississippi MIR Henderson,
know any thing of the history Of his Government a, ns
cass,r;Iv be an Office because the individual executed
their printing # that s. Senator d would nd out a5n h'
individuals had been employed BY contract up 10 me
wear 1919 Previous TO lSl5, they were employed by
The officers of the two Houses, and they entered INTO
bond for the faithful execution of the work The Print
ers we're not elected by this the other House, but the
Secretary and Clerk caused the printing TO be exc
cuted for their respective Houses In 49, in conse-
ouence Of its being believed that It would be more
economical and better for the country that the oii-
GERS of the two Houses should be associated together
contracting for this work, resolution was adopted
which he would read 10 the Senate The resolution
was read and directed the Secretary of the Senate and
Clerk Of the House of Representatives, Immediately
after the adjournment of that and each succeeding
Congress, advertise for three weeks SUCCESSFULLY IN
two newspapers printed in the District Of Columbia,
for proposals for supplying the Senate and House OF
Representatives for the succeeding Congress, with the