The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-09
THE u MON.

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Messrs. Wendell Van Benthuysen have addressed to
the Senate. Had these contractors sufficiently reflected
upon the true position which they hold, they would
have understood that il is portion of their sduty to
PRINT the executive documents ordered by either house
Of Congress, and, until ordered. they are perfectly
blameless inieHing them alone We certain that il
would never enter the herl of any SENATOR any one
else, TO suppose them guilty of an unparalleled omis-
SION IN not performing what never required OF
them But If these gentlemen hal made the least inquiry
OF any oil Their friends they would have learned that the
established usage OF which they speak has been
the very reverse OF what they assume
regret that the contractors should be 80 sensitivey
alive to subject on the practice OF which they knew
so little; but in point Of fact every Executive has uni
formly ntrused the "prnng in advance OF the annual
Message to the person in whom he could confde that
the contents OF the document should not be made public
until regularly laid before the body to whom is ad
dressed This is obviously due to Con-
gress itself, that we suppose there is one but would
consider 1t mark of the highest disrespect to that
body to violate it.
II is the Presidents duty under the constitution from
time to time Uo give TO the Congress information of the
state OF the Union" He would discharge his duty by
sending IN his message in the manuscript form but it
has been customary to have copies printed for the
more immediate convenience OF Congress and of the
country, which copies are kept back until the document
shall have been officially communicated to the body for
~,
as well as confomabe to usage; and of course it be-
comes his duty TO every prevent the mes
sage from being published before it is officially commu
nicaled This is the plain state of the case and it is
surely the Presidents right to select the office which shall
PRINT his message and to Judge in whose hands it may be
safe The President did Major Hess the business partner
OF the Unlon the honor of placing the manuscript in his
hand, holding him responsible for its being confienty
printed lie had had his two previous messages printed
IN the same Office and the first one at a time when
there was no public printer; and this was the case
under the former system. The Union office had twice
proved faithful to Its trust Not copy of it had ever
escaped In the present case, not an eve saw the pa
per- after was handed to Maj Hess except that of
the persons who were engaged in printing it. The print
ers were not in possession OF the manuscript until about
o'clock on Monday night in consequence of the Presi-
dent having some doubt whether it would be called for
IN time the next day, by joint committee of the two
houses. The proofs submitted to his own revision
SO that no printed copy could have been authentic
Official, or correct even if il had been put into the hands
OF these contractors of the public printing They might
like several oihershave applied to the President Gas they
say they did> for copy but he did not know them as
well as he did the business partner of the Union office
and ne had had no opportunity of knowing any of the
many employees who working in the office of the
public printer This is the plain view of the case and
we are perfectly that the President neither intended
TO violate any usage, give any offence TO Messrs
Wendell < Van Benthuysen
Ii ii would be any relief to these gentlemen to know
that they are not the first of this Congratulated
OMISSION we will state that the practice has BEEN from
time mmemorial, the other way Not to go further back
we refer to Mr.. Tylers administration; the gentleman
who furnished the copies of his several messages sprint
ell IN ADVANCE, chosen as printer 10 either
house of Congress.
But even the President should inrust the execution
of the printed message the printers to Congress in this
case il is by clear that the gentlemen in oues
ton would be entitled to the distinction There arc other
printers 10 that body besides these complanants, who. if
any would the better suited to its execution
We happen to he tho agents of the gentlemen who have
contracted 10 execute the confidential printing of the
Senate, among other things. These are bound not alone
to keep secret any document or paper of a
confidential nature which they required to print
But we have said quite enough on this subject Only
word more:
1t has been MISUNDERSTANDING openly sad--that we
have made great job out OF the printing of the message
and that the President has thrown it into our hands for
the sake OF the profit These querous and pretty
high party times, when almost anything may be sus.
peced and perhaps believed For the edcaton of these
grumbers therefore, we beg leave TO say that we have
sold these messages at 100 copies for rs centshree
quarters of cent apiece; and any printer may estimate
how much prof, will be made after paying for the paper
printing and other expenses Our business partner says
we have cleared not cent.
We not the slightest disrespect, by ANYTHING
have said to the printers to Congress We hoped
to remain good terms with them II shall not be our
fault if do not hereafter remain on the most amcabe
relations.