Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-07-31
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
Letter from Gen. Geo. C. Dromgools

received by mail last evening, observe a.
editorial article on the subject OF The Joln' ieso
lu,ion for reducing the rates paid foi Inc pu'''
priulins. After stating The provisions OF '"e y
solu,ion and giving a very messre sketch oil IN
debate in Committee, yon conc'uue WIN '"' -
lowing remarks: :,
eve have given a yer, imperfect 40
e,ract OF The debates published IN Inc "asn
incton papers; bu, the MAN points a'e aao
10 presented. we think. We make no con,
,nsn,s-ihe pabc can Judge Tor themselves "a "a.
The VIRGINIA members present voled asains' We
ras,l,,ion except Messls. Atkinson, Dio"S0'>
and pendelon." .,a. .or-
v,,r suan,ed phraseology can ne'her c'n-
al MIR DISGUISE your meaning ana your WISH
~. mean 10 condemn The vote on the aaopaon
.,,ls resolution. and you desire the pubic TO pro
oannce conde,nnalory judgment; aud IN con-
neyon with your palpable purpose, you seisc'
,hs names Of three members II The virginia nc.
,aoa,ion for no other imaginable object OUT ,ha'
H., M become conspicuous victims OF Puo'e
Condemnation. | am one OF your selec'eu ,ii'ee .
your paper circulales extensively through .n
a;sirict which l have been chosen 10 represent,
and also throughout The Stale and the oniou' =.
:, has vpt considerable infnerce with Inc
democratic party to which party, ana 10
;,s General ,eneis and prominent prihcip'eS
~ action. | have consistently belonged since
S,., thought | might form and entertain
no,;,iral sentiments. Under such ciIcuuis'dhtes
yop canno, deem il extraordinary, or wonoeIiui'
,ha, | should be somewhat sollcitous 70 pe Plo'
nerIy understood as 10 The course ~hicn I'd
nursued from solemn and dislniefes'eu seh>e ~
duty, and should be also somewhat aua "aa ~
he nosed situation in which you nave pideeu INK
- v;ndicate myself not only before that pof'iono
,nr constituents who read the Richmond Enquirer,
Iand there are many but, likewise, before the
amone, ,r;bnnal Of The Public. Your unbiased
lander and liberal feeling will appreciate the mo-
,;ves which prompt me 10 wish mat my e4Plana-
,ions NAV be published in YOUR journal, ana your
sense OF Justice will, | confidently trust, secure
,beir admission. TO proceed ihen-wniis' you
acknowledge that you nave gwen d sHg MP NO.,
feet sketch OF The debates, you think mat 'ne man
noints are fairly presented by you II IS no parl
nl my nnrpose here 10 deny that your sketch IS
verv imperfect, or 10 call 10 question your belief
Thai The man poiats made in the debate are lairiy
represenied. II is my decided belief, IN when
fiauer myself with your concurrence. that iair
representation Of the main focts OF me case are
equally il no, more important, than ialI repre-
sen,ation of the main points made oy Tue SPEAK
sIs in The debate in sting the public 10 judge
correctly for themselves. 1 heartily coiuc"e
with YOU. gentlemen, in the grave enumeration
thar "the pnblic can Judge for themselves that
The great mass OF free A lercan citizens can per-
ceive the right as coniradisiiDsnished from me
wrong and can clearly discriminate between 'Iutn
and error. Equally capable, 10 my es'imauon'
is The common mass Of our ie''ow-nen W WI.
coniederacy, 10 Distinguish between the subtle IN
genuity of the advota ale in defending artluliy Sc
lec,ed points, and a candid state menl oil facls.-
Whenever the people are induced 10 think long
and seriously upon any subject involving lac's,
principles, or morals, they are sure 10 altalb 10
think right. Even the celebrated DR.. johnson en-
tcrtained and expressed such favorable OPINION.
And Horace, | think, has POLITICALLY, yet, truly
said
"Inlerdum vuleus rectum vde,:"
A great admission Tor Roman Poet VINO else
where had declared
'.odi profanum vu!gus, e, arceo"
| trust, gentlemen, TO your literary taste and
love of classic lore, 10 forgive my Latin quota
tons.
/, has no, been coniroverled as tar as have
been able 10 ascertain ;ha, the rates paid Tor the
public printing ough, 10 be reduced; especially,
when the same persons are elected printers to
both Houses OF Congress- and also WHEN large
extra numbers, or long numbers as they are call.
ed. are ordered Such thought 10 BE- the general
sentiment OF The members on the meeting OF Con.
gress, and before the election was made in either
House Some attempts were made, or some eI
pressed the wish that the reduction should be
made before the election No specific reduction
was made before the election; but can hardly be
mistaken in the impression that II was generally
understood that The election was made IN both
Houses with the general understanding that Inc
~ i;itins Tor Tee Cons.en> were to Re cob
Jeci, Notwithstanding the election, 10 Subsequent
reduction and regulation. Ii | am mistaken, ]
believe the mistake was common 10 very large
majority OF members in both branches as seems
10 appear from their preceden, and subsequent &C.
lion.
II the printing then was undertaken with The
understanding that the price was subject 10 future
regulation, does.t al all affect The praneipie VI the
admitted right 10 regulate and reduce, whether this
RICH; be effectual!y exered Immediately on the
election, or some months thereafter? The delay
in Congress 10 REFUGE and regulate C 'nld not add
10 the manual labor and expense OF executing the
public printing. Nor could the prompt action
of Congress, ia any degree, diminish such labor
and expense. II the printing be executed IN the
manner directed, then in neither case would Inc
quantity, quality, price Of paper be affected, or
the number OF hands 10 be employed, or the
wages of labor 10 be paid, or other expenses
necessarily 10 be incurred II the public printing
can be shown 10 have been undertaken for this
Congress subject 10 reduction and regulation,
then the undertakes have willingly and knowing
" consented To abide The discretion OF the TWO
Houses as 10 the extent Of the reduction and reg
uation Of compensation, and as 10 The proper
time of action on the subject do not justify the
DELAY which occurred in the House, and whilst
resre, and dsapprove il, DO not mean TO charge
any one particularly with having contributed 10
this delay. The Senate acted very promptly on
thus subject, and in the House an appropriate Sc
lect committee was promptly appointed. IL may,
however, perhaps b. asked, without offence TO
any one if there we're a portion oil The members
who sincerely believed and intended that The rates
of printing shoud be reduced and that they ought
10 he reduced, bat al the lime thought that the
reduction could only operate upon printing suisse
quenlly ordered, whether II was not peculiarly IN
cumben, on such members 10 urge speedy ICON
elusive action for the purpose oil maniteslins heir
regard TO the public interest, and placing the SIN
cerity of their professions in favor OF reduction
beyond Question or doubt. II would have been
an iIl-iudsei and medtlesome friendship Tor The
elected public printers, 10 give them assurance
that The reduction il any would operate PTospec-
lively only on orders thereafter 10 De gwen and
executed, whilst all previously ordered would be
estimated at rates existing al the time OF their
election; and that, consequently, delay was The
policy Tor them and their friends 10 pursue, be-
cause it would greatly augmen, their receipts,
and consequently their profits. II would have
better comported with sincere and candid Trend
ship for the printers, founded upon pure and dis
interested motives and not to'med upon selfish
calculations of iulure advantage 10 be derived
here.rom to have stated that they had been elect
ed To execute the printing o! this Congress; that
by express reservation vi The appointing pow
er, and agreement on their part oy acceptance
The printing was subec, TO regulation and reduc.
lion; and that upon inquiry what printing wa.
thus subject 10 regulated reduction, it would pro
badly be argued and successfully maintained
that it was the printing OF thus Congress. By
such course, the true prospect would have beer
expanded 10 their view and 10 their rational con
temptation, and they would have been opponune
ly preserved from The pcgnan, modification 0
having an ample chace, filled TO tho brim will
the nectar OF anticipated rewards and profits, sud
denly dashed from their lips, leaving them L
chew the bitter cud OF disappointment, and 10 ex
perience, without allevia,ion the pangs OF blight
ed expectations and demolished hopes.
The same arguments, and the same parity o
r.asoa which are EMPLOYED 10 establish The posi-