The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-06
TmRntg= Eighth Congress

FIRST SESSION.


After Il c Message was read e -s7ee -st
Mr.. WISE moved the printing Of the usual number
Of copies of the Message for the Of the House, and
ten, thousand extra copies, with the accompanying
documents. rai
Mr.. BARNARD said he had no objection to the
question being taken the motion to print but il it
was likely TO lead to debate, he must irsst the
order Of business which occupied the attention Of the
House when the Message was brought in.
Mr.. STRONG inquired how many the usual num-
Der was.
Mr.. WISE replied that it was one for each mem
ber.se fes
Mr. STRONG said he would not object to such
number would be strictly required for the use of
the House, but to any useless expense he could not
agree and TO print great numbers of this Message,
when il was well known ii would appear in all tho
newspapers, (Which were the ordinary channels of
communicating information to the peopIe,) was
tainy useless expenditure. He bad intended to
that additional numbers be printed with the
documents; but on conversing with the members
around him he found it the usual practice; and
he wished TO state that it in conformity with the
wishes and opinions expressed by others that he
Trained from making his notion He therefore Sc
conded the motion of the gentleman from Virginia,
(Mr. Wise)
Mr.. PAYNE said so far as his feelings were con-
cerned, he should prefer larger rather than smaller
number and yet he hoped it would not be supposed
that he should favor any useless expenditures He
would state, by way of justification, that he looked
upon this message one of the most important that
ever sent TO American Congress. II touches
matters Of vital importance, and the people should
what The Executive thinks on those questions
He was of opinion that the expense OF printing extra
copies Of this document could be better incurred
it expense which ought to be incurred and #
he were to crafty his own feelings, he should vote
for 20 600
Mr.. WISE observed that, as there were a great
many new members, they were not perhaps aware
of the great importance of the documents The
message, without the documents, not so impor.
tant; and the printing of large number Of messages
alone would perhaps, be somewhat useless oxpen
dlure but when they had supplied the officers of
the army and navy, and the heads of the civil depart
ments who were all interested in the subject; therein
contained, the House would discover that 10000
copies would be found scarcely adequate to supply
these and the wants Of their constituents An old
custom had been to print $4,000 with the documents,
and 900 without. Another had been to print all
With the documents, and none without he was now
requested TO increase the number and he would take
the maximum number--l5 900, and omit the print
ing of any without the documents remarking that,
if 10000 not too many in times past $4,000
would not be too many now. D
MIR. CAVE JOHNSON moved to amend the mo-
ton by the addition of clause 10 the effect that the
wo he executed by the printer to the House, here
after be elected sIl
MIR BELSER was in favor of the proposition Of
the gentleman from Virginia Mr.. Wise lie had
listened TO the reading of that message with delight
He would not now say that he agreed with it in all
the doctrines there advanced but this question Of
Texas and Mexico he was glad to see that the Exc
cutivc exhibited proper spirit. II was by far the
most important message that for the last 90 years.
had been submitted to the Congress of the u. States
and he wished the largest number to be printed, that
il might go TO every part of the country Disguise it as
they might, the question there involved was TO be met
and its discussion must come up before Congress
MIR BARNARD rose to question of order III
they were to have discussion the merits Of the
message on the motion TO print he must insist the
ject which had been already partially discussed
lie alluded to his motion for the correction OF the
journal.
Mr.. CAMPBELL reminded the House that some
times delay had occurred in the appointment of prn |
ter; and he thought il of little consequence to
the country whether A or printed these documents.
[Cncs OF Question question:
The SPEAKER then put. the question on Nj
CAVE JoHNsoN's amendment, and it was carried.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON then proposed further 10
amend the resolution, by striking out Is 900, and in
serting TO- 900. 1t
Mr. BELSER said he was opposed he had be-
fore staled to the proposition of the gentleman from
Tennessee Mr. Johnson He in favor of a
greater number and he should therefore, support the
proposition of the honorable gentleman from Vir-
pinia. MIR Wise1 He would here take occasion to
repeat that he admired the spirit of the Message,
more particularly that part which related TO our in
tercourse with Mexico for, as he had before init
mated to The House, it was question in which bis
constituents felt deep and an abiding interest