The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-04

of the Wing party that have arrayed themselves
against the President, has precipilatedthe exist
ence Of a new order of things and new state Of
parties, for neither of which ought the President
10 be responsible and yet to disregard which
would be- on his part, and on the part Of his
real friends, inexcusable blindness. Of this,
however, the editor of the American may be
assured, as may also all others, that the Presi-
dent will retain no man in office under himself
whom the People have indicated, or shall indi-
cate, as unworthy Of such trust and none whom
he shall have cause TO believe are, either with
or without the knowledge of the People, re-
creant 10 those official relations which they
would otherwise be left to enjoy undisturbed.
MR.. DAVIS-PUBLlC PRINTING.
1t may be seen from the proceedings Of the
House of Representatives that that body has
been involved in an entangled debate on the
hackneyed theme of the public printing and
public patronage by the pertnacious ingenuity
of Mr.. Davis of Kentucky. The subject enlists
all the talent and all the energies of that digni-
fed and erudite statesman. OF the purity of
the motives by which he is actuated all express
no doubt but we do not perceive that he has
adopted the right plan for attaining his objects
nor the clearest manner to prove that his prac-
tice is consonant with his professions.
He says he had three objects in view in of
fering his amendment The first was econo-
N.Y. That this end will be obtained by the
method suggested by him and Mr.. Fillmore we
l. h. IL IN
that its inevitable result must be oppression Of
the industrious poor and the encouragement Of
wealthy monoposts. But, as any remarks we
may have to make on this subject apply more
Immediately to the amendment proposed by the
latter gentleman, we shall waive for the present
our observations upon it.
The second Of the motives stated by MI. Da-
Wis is "to give publicity to the information
printed in the newspapers" For this purpose,
he wishes the laws 10 be published in the papers
having the greatest number of subscribers. Now,
he received the information that the list of sub
scribers is no criterion whatever of the extent Of
the circulation and his protested object would be
better attained through those papers which have
no subscribers at all. AT this time, in all the
large cities, this is unquestionaby the case.
The penny papers not only circulate more wide
" than the large sheets, but the information
they diffuse is disseminated among the whole
mass Of the people, and yet these presses have
scarcely any subscribers
We need waste no words in proof of a fact
50 well known, as il is not with the penny
press or any other press we have now to do,
but with the conduct Of Mr. Davis He was
opposed to the modification Of his amendment
proposed by Mr.. McKeon for the sapient reason,
that the extent Of circulation could be ascer-
tanned only from the subscription list The reason
assigned is not worth comment. 1t is too
Aimsy to hide the true motives, which prompted
the movement.
Mr.. Davis again "wants TO wrest from the
Departments some Of the spoils which they now
annually distribute among their followers"
Here is again a Jealous exhibition of hostility
to corruption, but it is shown only in relation to
the Departments. What pity tits that Mr. Davis
does not feel any Of this holy horror with respect
to Congressional corruption. Does the Exec utive
evince greater degree of corruption in giving
its principles, than the majority in Congress
selecting printer merely on account of his po-
litical views? Did Mr. Davis vote for the
Globe at the last election for the printing of
the House? We believe not Would press
perfectly neutral, have obtained his support ?
would. Lethim show his zeal against this spe-
cies of corruption in Congress, and we might be
induced to believe that his motives are such as
become patriot and statesman, instead of be-
ing-as we think they now areas belonging
only to malevolent partisan and reckless
demagogue.
Will the plan Of Mr.. Davis take the patron
age of the Government from the partisan press
Certainly not. Its result can be but to give a
portion Of it to those papers which are opposed
to the Administration but it will be still the par
tsan press of one side or the other which will
receive the support. Mr. Davis himself does
not wish it to go to the neutral papers, or he
would have adopted the suggestion of Mr. Nc
Keon-the penny press being generally neutral
in politics. To take away the patronage of the
Departments from their followers is the aim
of Mr.. Davis-not to divorce it from the parti-
san press
| We have devoted more space to this move OF
Mr.. Davis than we intended, or than we believe
his insignifcance deserves. But it is proper to
draw attention occasionally to the true aspect
Of the acts committed by some who, too weak
for the conception of great measures, are in.
fected with proneness to mischief proportion
ate to their imbecty and are so obscure, thai
the motives of their conduct are apt to escape
observation