Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-17
.ICHMOND, VIRGINIA, T%iIuRSDAY, MARCH, i. 1872.

ana why should you now say that Ibis printing matte
'''"hu o. ae Inception II is n business well under
s'D"o-aiich wi'h men Of industry, of talents, OF capl
'a'' ana oil integrity and zeal-a.l these are TO be cx
c,unea 10 snSllin, perhaps, one man, or one ST., o. men
ne tmf' Mch "a> 'or giving an. equal chance Il
al. ne "or" was act II ANY peculiar character, tia
T. si'ula be s'7"nby any loaj,rlty TO heir friends. |
h'ec'"hic', ~ vatiaIs .t.:cs Of the Union, would DO .it
"orN o' me department. as well aud chca per tnan per
sons heie' 10 not debar them from their Just share %
.he government work. Let il be thrown open to Tho
iea!ihi,ii clcraiIon oil active competition.
MT "ch. concurred IN The opinion expressed as Il
The necessity OF emitting Of the sources cf Executive
patronage; already they had become in,aense.j The
colossal p""css .! Inc Executive were continually be-
tore i:e cyes u the haiinu, and some effort mast Ee
made To reduce t!icn. The immense patronage OF III
appointing power, required not To he maintained by tie
additional po"t! 10 contribute to the support Of parti
cIiar presses, II hc selected At his will. The proper re
gard Tor economy, so londly called for nv all sides
would also ac re- ?ecied, by insisting Oh this proviso
! we iea'e th'a matter 10 the Departments, witlIon'
Tie restriction, he OR. Nick had no doubt the whols
amount ''5..d BE- ~erpsntcl hIeh e "i!i appropriate
bidders, would result in saving money to the Treasury
Mr. Mex. SAID he was DESTROYS Of taking from lie
Executive office that false glare, that splendor which, 'ts
power had thrown around l.. Reduce il 10 more Re.
publican proportions: make your President, ike your
Representatives, eligible every two gears. This done,
yca would hot hear tins continual din-you would mol
EN'' '''"N @'&t 1850 ''-AJ ''NN'h - ~, ''F'
dental elccimn, which So frequently, IN the struggle 10
elevate men, impede the whole movements OF the legis
latIte business o! the nation.
Mr.. MASON OF Ohio was understood to say, that tine
principle winch had guided him in his public career,
was To do that which would result in line Creates,
amount OF public coed. And in reference to the case
of reform 10 which allusion had been made by Ike gen
ilcman from New York, [Mr. Mckeon,j it was TO be
barne in mind that the proyiso alluded TO was inserted
when the reign o!terror etexisted, and at a time when
nothing could be dane III the way of reform unless some
!,itle spr!!. oi II could be thrown mo an appropriation
bIi. The Effort, persisted in 10 the last, had been car
ried, but 10; without strenuous opposition. But this
had changed; and Is gentlemen on all sides now were
willing TO carry out reiorm, there would be no necessity
to legislate b. stealth, Or To introduce i'll d gested. i'll.
conceived, and imperfect reforms into an appropriation
bill. Tha, was no longer necessary; and the %subjecto Of
thc public printing might he referred 10 n coiamittee,
whose report might cone up IN regular order and receive
the consideration of the House.
And here We must sav that the Wing party would
prove rrcre:nt 10 Ie professions and false 10 It's princi.
pies II they did no; take up and prosecute 10 a consum-
nation this reform IN tue public printing, by taking
The patronage both from the Executive Departments
and from Congress. and comforting the business On an
officer appointed by Congress and responsible only to
Congress. He did not believe that his friends would
now turn their backs npon one of their cherished and
designated principles oi reform for they had avowrd
themselves the advocates OF reform as we'll as Of re-
,rcnch;nen:. There had already been done during
the present session more III the way of Ectrcncllmeut
than had been effected in the last twelve years. tie
knew that he would he pointed 10 The newborn zeal
which the party recently III power had OF late mani
tested Tor retFanciimen, and reform, although during
twelve years they had gone against all such practices.
IL was true, to be sure, that, III the last days vi their
political existence, they did bring forward some plans
OF re.renchmen: in relation 10 district attorneys: and a
few other kindred Improvements were proposed about
the last night of the last day of their political existence.
L.. ,In, ,Var. ppt,tI.J IA nn rrpdrf FIR fnam
The CHAIRMAN requested Mr.. NJ. 10 contine HIM
self as much as possible TO the question before the
House.
Sir. SMITH, of Virginia, hoped that, after being al.
lowed 10 abuse the Democratic party So long without
lnlerruption, the gentleman would be permitted 10 pro.
coed.
Mir. MASON proceeded TO remark that If any re.
forms at all werc made, they would have to be made by
tie Wing party in and out OF Congress: and if his pc.
iit,cal friends here did not carry ont this princip pie in
relation 10 the public printing, he should complain, and
should consider that the friends of the party through.
ont the country had reason also 10 complain. lie
considered this 10 lie one of the greatest reforms That
could be executed. IL was n cherished principle with
hun when in the minority, and II was not less so now.
Whether it would result in a decrease Of expenditures,
lie would not no@ stop In inquire. He was for re-
,renchins wherever it could be done consistently with
the public servlcc. THIS great work oil reform get re-
manned TO be done.
MIR. NJ, (after some further interruption on n point
of o-der,l proceeded to remark on the evil effects OF
political patronag" on the press OF the country. The
patronapr of the Executive had increased, and was in
crcasinr. The effects Of that patronage could be traced,
rs by broad stream OF light, directly to the printing
Offices scattered throughout the twcnty.siX States.
Mr.. NJ. urged the necessity of taking up this subject
in n direct and formal manner during the present sss-
sion. If they would do So. they would redeem al! their
pledses in relation Ia reform. There vas no other item
or reform so inporlnnt-so far. reaching in lis effects,
A.. .;poio ma az spnnratinr tho u1.ronaup al the
Executive and Of Congress from the public press. II
M o.te. gentleman moved IN the matter, lie pledged
himself 10 offer 4 resolution referring this matter either
IN enc Of The committees already constituted, or I" a Sc
lec, committee 10 be raised. aud 10 winch the "inie
suh;ec, should be coEfded. II no,l,in. else should be
done N connection with the subject of reform, this one
,c, If completed, would he enough 10 distinguish and
characterize the administration Of the Wing party du-
rinr the current four years.
Mr. W. SMITH said, when he came here, it was his
desire, and he had prescribed Il rs a rule to himself, 10
n,r,icipa,e in the debates ur the House with strict re-
r-rence TO the matter in hand before them; bui although
he had prescribed Tina, rule 10 himself, it was not 10 be
ernected that he, NJ one at a party constituting, as he
believed, a decided majority of the people, could s't
here in peace ard hear That party rev'led ant asSa'ied
ly The tunr,:p of vi;upcra,ion and malice, as was too
frequently the case during the sitting oil Copgtess; and
i, was not to be wondered Al then that he shon'd rise
and repel The aiinck when gentlemen INDUCED in Ian
ruare altogether contrary TO their representative duty
and dignity. Ifeen,'emen would disregard the dignity
IF this body, and assail members on this floor, and mem
bcrs Of a sscat party in this country, they should have
their reward
And wha' did they stc there: WAY, a hrau'i!ni IT,
lrs:ralinn 81 the sincerity, ay, tie sincerity and the no
nrsty with which seulirtnen we've disposed to do their
duty. They saw the gentleman froi' OHIO moving
his friendship for the proposition OF his COLLEAGUE from
Virginia, [Mr. WISE which seeks TO get rid Of the I'M
provemrnt proposed, and going on to make an arEn-
men; in favor Of changing the amendment already pro-
posed 10 be secured. The amendment OF the gentle
man from New York fslr. Fillmore would effect a
treat, important, and fundamental reform: Inc gentle.
man went on 10 d. monstrate it, importance, mud yet nc
told the House lie was opposed 10 The amendment
Here, then, was Wing practice, and Wing professions
During the ate canva>s-durng the fire and strife OF
ba,t!e-what were they told on The subject Of %expendi-
lures: Why, that Sl5,oo0 GOO wonld be an aniplr
amount 10 de!ray the expenses Of this great Govern
.nent, economically administered: they were 20 return
back 10 the halcvon days of the first Adams, and
II .o00.G eco we're In be enough to carry then On.
The CHAIRMAN intima,cd that the gentleman was
not combining himself 10 the subject before the commit