The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-08

MR.. HUDsoN-THE PUBLIC PRINTING.

Lest silence 10 what transpired in Congress
yesterday might be miseonstrued into acquiescense
Of its justice the undersigned takes this occasion to
make the following remarks;
Thst sagscious statesman, Mr.. Hudson, Of Mas
saehuselts, yesterday undertook rigmaroe effort,
on the floor Of the House, to 'raise fuss" about
the delay in the execution Of the public printing;
which he first sscribes with a degree Of eandor
somewhat remarkable in that gentleman) to the dill
atory proceeding Of the House relative furnishing
the engraving necessary TO complete the document;
but il rejecting that he had acted with too much
sincerity in that ayowal, he Immediately changes
ground, swallows his own words, and attributes the
delay 10 "ineompetency" or the "want Of type or
force enough" the part Of the public printers. To
reconcile so wide discrepancy, is no part of our
business; fortunately, neither our dalecics nor our
ethics were learned in the school OF Mr. Hudson and
VIC leave il to him and "the gentlemen abou, him."
to escape from the dilemma into which he chose to
thrust himself.
The country is pretty generally aware, by this
time that Mr.. HIS theories not facts; so neither
always his statements; for small as is the COM
pass Of his reported speech Of yesterday, smaller still
is the spirit which seemed to aetuats him. and small
er yet his reliance on truth. We are, Of course not
very well qualified to judge, ourselves Of the usage
which has heretofore obtained relative to the dev-
cry Of the public documents; but We have made in
quiry in certain quarters in which confidence may
be placed, and we find that the Presidents message
and documents Of the present session have been ex
pedited avorably to compare with any preeed-.
|
number Of copies worked, are taken into eonsidera-
| lion.
But let us examine into some Of Mr.. II. q state
msnts, and compare them with facts which cannot
| be controvsrted. Mr.. ii. said
"As all the old members knew il was now some
three or four weeks later than the time AT which
| these documents usually furnished. With the
exception Of the last session. when there great
delay in furnishing the message, that document had
generally been delivered within the FIRST fortnight Of
| the session"
"All the old members" know that no portion OF
''these documents" usually furnished earlier than
about three weeks after Congress conyenes; and
even this is Of not very common occurrence
| But at the last session, 80 far from there being
great delay in furnishing the message" we have il
from the best authority that the then efficient pub
lie printers laid copies the tables Of the members
iust two weeks after Congress met,-6shg shorter
PERIOD BY GEEK than had before been accom-
DShed in Ii is true, that at the second session Of
Congress, when no delay is met on account Of the
election Of printer, that officer has some advan-
age the preceding session, in point Of time and
other circumstances; but this does not in any man
ner detraet from the efficiency and promptitude
which the late printers exhibited; nor does it bear
out Mr. II. in his bold and broad assertion, that
with "Iho exception Of the last session, when there
great delay IN furnishing The message that docu-
ment had generally been delivered within the first
fortnight Of the session." IL will thus be seen that
Mr.. Hudson's exception, like his whole statement,
is the reverse Of truth The maps, indeed then, as
now, impeded the delivery Of the whole number Of
the document ordered: but what control has the
printer over them' AS well might the printer be
held accountable for the enactment Of the present
tariff, any other abominaton. But let US pass to
another passage in his speech. He says:
"rhe report Of the Secretary of the Treasury
with which we we're generally furnished during the
first week Of the session, had not, Mr.. III. believed
been heard OF since II went into the printers hands
Why this delayH
The report Of the Secretary of the Treasury has
not sheen generally furnished during the first week
Of the session." it is very questionable whether il has
been furnished at so early period as that
designated by Mr. H.; but, if so, must have heen
| at time when that document was essentially diff
ferent, in its dimensions, from the present volu-
| minous report From an examination Of the reports
IF the secretary, published few years back, we
ind they did not exceed some 80 or 80 pages, and
Al. l.Ir Al. -
| Of plain matter which required but comparatively
little time in its preparation and compleon but the
report Of this year is very different thing; it is
bulky document, containing vast amount Of statis-
teal information, and is comprised mostly Of tables,
which necessarily more difficult, as well as more
'edious in their execution. IL is work of distn-
yushed merit, exhibiting the highest order Of ability
and assiduity in it's construction; and we need
scarcely add, that are quite anxious as Mr.
Hudson possibly be to sec it perfected we'll for
our pecuniary benefit to spread the light of truth
and fact before the people. We are advanced some
what with it, and we think we promise Mr.. Fl.
that he will see it quite enough for him and his
high tariff friends.
"Gentlemen all about" Mr. H., it seems, assured
him that "some documents, usually delivered within
the first ten days of the session, had not yet been
furnished" What these "some documents" ara,
not informed. Mono, that wo aware
Of have been withheld; but are quite certain that
If any are wanted in preference, an intinaton 10
that effect will always be met with despatch. As
to what is important, or what is unimporant, that
is matter somewhat difficult Of decision, as it is
quite within the bounds of possibility, that what
Mr.. II. might consider unimportant, others may con-
ceve Of the highest interest.
But we have said more of this parsonage than we
designed when we commenced this article Our
chief object was first to set the matter right as to
the cause of delay in delivering the documents;
and, secondly, to give to Mr. Hudson the informa-
ton which he sought to obtain through the House
Of Representatives. This hope we have nc
compshcd.. But we cannot conclude without
expressing our grateful sense Of the confidence
which the Housc Gmpedlv nj least0 chose To place