Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-06

he did not like TO be dventhat the afterwards voted
direct gratuy 10 political partisans
In much that had been said BY the honorable gentleman
Mr. Is. fully concurred la the propney OF diyorcing the
Government from the public press he most heartily concuned
Whenever 1t should be in his power without Inconvenience
to the House Of Representatives, and without attaining
political object IN seeming effort TO avoid it, TO effect such
dvorcewhenever he could up directly TO the point and
do what was proposed TO be DONE in that House would
further than he to effect desirable object But he did
to act in view Of amy particular printing
bshment in this city.
Here the Journal being handed Mr. b. be said that he
found he had not been very much the way alter
ALL when he had designated the gentemans earnestes
the present occasion newborn zeal" He now found
that the of restoring the eenchcd Is per
in 1912 the gentleman from Kentucky had voted in ror of
H. Here the record before him thco could be pis
take Now, the gentleman had told the House about the
large expenditures in printing the census and had insisted
that the letting system would have saved the country
than S70 0O0 If So why had he voted add the is per
cent the allowance by law Yet there stood his
corded in the affirmative.
The gentleman seemed TO think il utterly vain
pcct any thing like caado mpartaliy, truth from the
public press long remained under the patronage Of the
Government. But Mr. g. hoped the press quite
corrupt the genenans fears contemplated He knew gem
emen who conducted who intellectual and hon
the generality OF other politicians. He had not him
self any evidence Of that great and hopeless corruption
TO which the gentleman alluded He knew but presses
in this city which had enjoyed the Government patron
ages Of these the National IntelIgencer and that
PRESS he believed, had received for twenty years
Had the honorable gentleman discovered in that press the
proof OF the corruption he pathetcaly amened Mr. b.
had no such evidence That paper conducted with
ability, with very ability, and far he could per-
ceive with about much honesty any other in the
TRY be would say nothing of the other establishment of
the individual he should vote for but he could speak with the
confidence OF personal knowledge of him who was now the
head of the opposite press having known him intimately from
his youth, and he would say Of him that this Government did
not possess patronage enough to corrupt his integrity
/ Mr.. b. readily admitted that public patronage especially
in corrupt times, calculated to warp the course Of an
editor but he freely confessed that he had the
proofs of this effect in neither of the presses alluded to-
though he believed that of them had enjoyed that patron
during about nine out OF every ten for long
period.
But 10 return from into which he had been led
by inspection of the Journal he would ask the honorable
gentleman from Kentucky whether he believed in his
science should that amendment be adopted, that fair and
broad competition would take place. and the ayowed objects
of getting good printer and of saving the public money
would actually be attained Would the House wait till pro-
posa be acted in New York. Boston, and elsewhere
If much paid, let the price be lowered. AT the
last session Of Congress majority Of the House had reduced
the Of compensation, and that without following the
ample set them in the he had alluded to- of making
to the printers by restoring the price after had been reduc
edof first making show of rerenchmen and then without
necessity bestowng gratuty on the printer.
He hoped the House would vote on the amendment so
that if it should prevail they might 60 and elect their
printer If however, the House should be disposed to let
out the printing proposed (and MIR. b. not IN princ
pie opposed to such couse let be done by passing law
advertising proper time for proposals. and giving the couI
try fair chance Of competition after notice But ne could
pay such would perhaps be saved, to encounter
the inconvenience of hastily letting this work any person.
If the gentleman would ask leave bring in bill TO effect
the object embraced in his amendments Mr.. b. not pre-
pared say he should with the gentleman in aiding
| its passage.
Mr.. DAVIS now called for the reading Of the resolution,
Of the amendment and also Of the printed offer by certain
printers in the city the public printing lower
II The reading had proceeded time, when
j Mr. J. THOMPSON, OF Mississippi, observed that the pa
the Clerk reading had been printed and laid on the
pnfu he
further reading bc suspended.
Mr. DAVIS heeupon said that he would not insist on
having the rest of il read, nasnuch the offer had been
stated. He would offer few words IN reply to the
speech of the honorable gentleman from Virginia (Mr Bar
Lr That honorable gentleman he believed poli-
clan Of the strict construction school, and he would do the
gentleman the justice 10 admit that in general he adhered with
great scncss and enacity to the faith. Now he would
ask that gentleman whether he wanted Government
press appendage the Government Of the United States
Under what clause of the Constitution under which of
the resolutions Of 49, did he find the authority for such
adjunct The gentleman, he had doubt, had adopted his
political principles good faith and proessed them with per-
feet cando and full belief and in his general went Tor
carrying them out into action but he would ask the gentle
whether in the present instance, he little de-
parting from his creed ,
Mr. MCDOWELL here interposcd to ask the floor for
And the floor having been yielded by Mr. DAVIS for that
purpose
Mr.. MCDOWELL from The Joint Committee appointed
TO wait the President Of the United States and inform him
that Congress had assembled that quorum has been formed
in each House. and that Congress ready
muncaon he be pleased make reported that the Joint
Committee had discharged the duties assigned and that the
President would make communication TO the Houses Of
Congress forthwith
Mr.. DAVIS resumed. Hewoud again turn the gentle
man from Virginia. and would ask him review bis princ
PIES and look the consistency of throwing his Acknowledge
ed ability and influence in favor Of fixing the Government
government press. The gentleman represented Accomac.
Could the House forget that the genilcmans predecessor Mr.
WIsE had been leader in pressing the very object pro-
posed to be effected by the amendment Yes that gentle
mans " iustrious predecessor the first Mr. ID. had
heard his in favor Of separating the Govern
ment from the political press Of the country.
RECEPTION OF THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Here Mr. DAVIS interrupted by the appearance at the
bar Of the Presidents Private Secretary with the Annual Ex
ecutive Message, which was received and read.
The reading of the message (which consumed an hour and
fifty mirfues) having been concluded
Mr. CHAPMAN, of Alabama, moved that the message do
lie the table, and that the usual number Of copies thereof
be printed
Mr.. G. also moved the previous question.
Mr.. BRODHEAD the table to have read the fol-
lowing resolution
Resoied that the message OF the President Of the United
States be referred the Committee of the Whole the state
Union aud that fifteen copies h and twenty
thousand 1o the accompanying documents be printed Tor
the OF the House, and that the printing be done by the
printers 10 be hereafter elected.
Mr.. CHAPMAN accepted this modification Of hrs
motion and
The previous question then seconded put and earned
and, under its operation, the resolution submitted by Mr.
BHopHE and by Mr. CHAIRMAN a modification