The New York herald., 1845-02-08

opinion of this infamous and illegal squanderng oi
the public money, send you extract taken from
speech made by Senator Benton IN 1889, before
one OF the partners OF the Globe purchased the
right of Matthew st. Clair Clarke to the massive
work called " The Documentary History OF the
United States" Since this purchase Mr. Benton
has not been heard IN opposition to principle that
he here deuounces as "abominable, ,"ss infamous" I"
and 9 frightul." Rlves and Force have received
hundreds OF thousands aready for this miserable,
almost useless, work but, like Oliver, they are
still asking Tor more. The books are now actually
forced upon members, although no appropriation
has been made for their purchase. But read the
remarks OF Senator Benton
la the Senate on Saturday, March I'd, 1889, the
bill, making appropriations for the civil and diplo-
matlc expenses OF the government tor the year
1889, was taken up, and the question being
on the amendment, proposed by the Committee on
Finance, to strike out the Appropriation tor the
Documentary History" TO be supplied to mem;
bers, (the same now asked Tor by " Rlves and
Force.')
Mr. THOMAS II. BENTON, spoke at much length against
the and also against the distribution Of the
books and read from reports OF committees to Justify
what said He considered this whole business OF print
ing books Tor members OF Congress-a practice which
had grown up Within few years past to be one OF the
most abominable abuses which besst the govern
m ant snd he considered this particular job the most
abominable oil the whole. Taken in every way the man
ner in whios il was got through. without the know
ledge OF the most attentive members-he meant
others still attentive than himself the enormty OF
the nvovedthe vast bulk and little worth Of the
work-and the distribution Of 10 the members that voted
for i-and it was truly abominabe abuse. But the
whole practice wrong in ITSELF and was becoming an
enormous abuse e-en for the amount Of money
enormous for the principle enormous for the fright
full progress which it made-enormous for the con-
Ssvs sssn printed and Distributed They multiply eve
ry session We vote the money to the jobber-the job
Der gives the book: to us-and many of u: sell the
chaser Twenty thousand-forty thousand-sixty thou.
sand dollars common VOTE and done with rapidity
which de6es all description and in way to escape the
notice of the most attentive members But this 10
not of twenty, forty or sixty thousand dollars but
and may many the jobbers choose to make it. 1t
is without limits boundaries 1t is also without limit
as time may last for centuries generations and
the families of Mr. CLARK and Force may be pensioned
the Federal for has taken SIX years
to that would at the same rate one hundred and
twenty years complete the work SO slow is the forth
coming work that we have been told on this floor told
by Mr. King of Georgia, who began the good work Of
opposing this businessthat he well informed that
menbe had sold his interest in the whole Documentary
History for which the country will pay million or so,
for dollars in hand. Alter auding to the want OF
moral Constitutional power in Congress- vote money
printing and book distributing business had become
enormous abuse-that the attention ct the
country ought to BE- reused up to it-and II the
whole bin Tor tie support Of the was lost
would rouse the country, and the end millions
For his he had been resisting this business for
six wears without tsct for il growing and in
creasing annually But he should exposing it, op
posing all these jobs great and small He had to en-
friends and foes and TO draw himself censure
and opposition He sorry for it, but he could not
he'p The abuse must be stopped and he had taken q
had put his iron and should yield to neither
friends or foes
Following this speech, the question for the supply
OF this very documentary history for that year was
defeated by vote OF - TO s. and the appropriation
stricken from the bill.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.
The report Of the Committee of Foreign Rela-
lions on the Texas question, was not made on
Monday, as expected, on account of the ndispos-
tion of Mr. Archer. The report will be made as
soon as Mr. A. shall be well enough to come to
the Senate. In the mean time, by the way Of in
terlude, quite an exciting discussion was had on a
memorial from Detroit to annex the Canadas.-
Memorials of this character may now be expected
daily in Congress-also for the annexation of New
Brunswick and, in due time, all the States in the
Western continent will be arrayed before Con-
gress, by memoriasts, for our Legislators to make
their choice, and all their Jewels and their mines,
and the tropical fruits, and the castles of the AL
hambra, may be ours, by resolution, before the
ides of March.
The President has suminoneds sthe'Seaate to con.
vene at 10 O'Clock on the 4th OF March next, to
await the pleasure of the President elect-and
committees have been appointed to count the votes
on "Wednesday week I; and the present inmates OF
the White House are preparing TO hand over the
desolate, uniurnished chambers to the care OF the
Commissioners OF Public Buildings
So all these events denote the near approach OF
the President elect
In regard to the vote Of the Senate on the pre-
sent Texas House bill, it is sufficient to say it can.
nators opposed TO the bi it is whispered, desire
Offices One of them wants the Navy Department,
and the venerable Senator from Ohio, is not very
particular. The mist is not cleared away sufficient
for Office seekers to know Mr.. Folks Cabinet
Cave Johnson ooks very knowing, but says it is
not settled. and circumstanced as he is," he can
say nothing. He has become democratic usher in
general tor all distinguished Tennesseans and lofty
aspirants He walks into the Senate Chamber
every morning, with squad of new arrivals at
his heels.
The discussion on the Post Office bill is being
brought To a close. The most important amend
ment made In committee, thus far in the bill, is
the striking out the entire franking privilege. The
rates of five cents and ten cents retained, after
variety OF Intellectual efforts TO reduce them. The
bill will not pass without the franking privilege
shall be restored
This is the night for the Presidents drawing
room, where strangers can kill dull evening.
Mr.. Webster is here, Mr. Ogden Hoffman, Mr.
Curtis, General Lamar, Colonel Walker, brother
in-law of Mr. Polk, Ashbel Smith, the big commits
sioner, and variety of others. The Capitol
rooms are filled every day with new corners.
Among the new curlosites in the library, is the
work on the Exploring Expedition, by Wilkes 1t
spronounced to be perfect failure in its history
most OF the merit, excepting the music. / pre-
sumo the critics will enighten the public, after a
while. on the great brochure of ficebergs.
p. s. Since the above written, Mr. Archer
appeared in the Senate before the adjournment,
and made his report against the annexation OF
Texas, which has been ordered to be printed.
WASHINGTON, Feb s.
As Iintimated to you, before, what would likely
be the case, Mr.. Benton this morning offered his
substitute for his original bill, which had been laid
on the table by the report of the committee on
Foreign Affairs The main features of this new
proposition, which is going to unite the sections OF
the Senate, are, to admit Texas proper, State,
after the terms should be agreed on by commits
soners to be appointed from the two political par
ties, who shall proceed. with delegated powers to
negotiate on the subject, and appropriation OF
one hundred thousand dollars to be made, to de-