Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-30


by the Senate for the like service under the con-
tract approved by the New York Press generally,
including, certainly, some of our present assail-
ants, if not the Evening Post. So much for the
comparative COST
Now for the positive profit, to the Publishers,
of the plan which the Post has undertaken to
represent at from forty to fifty thousand dol
lars year The Senate has now been in SEES
sion for three weeks, during which the plan has
been in full operation. The amount of the bill
rendered to the Senate for the work executed I'M
der the contract during those three weeks is as
follows:
For reporting and publishing AZ columns and 1856 res of
Proceedings and Debates. S35s so
The cost actually paid by the Publishers for this
work is exactly as follows:
Paid to the Reporters ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1868 so
Do for composition, at 81 per column. .... IS 81
Total cost. ....................:..S4 59 IL
We leave it to the Post" and its compeers in
the work of detracton to cipher out this sum, viz
If three weeks produce loss of just one hundred
dollars, what profit will thirteen weeks the duration
Of the session) produce! Admitting, however, as we
do, that the three first weeks cannot be considered
fair average for the rest of the session, enough is
proved by the figures to show that the cost to the
Public will be absolutely insignificant in compari-
profit to the Publishers, if any thing, will be nomi-
nal merely and that the forty fifty thousand dol
lars Of the Post" are counterfeit coin altogether,
not light in weight merely, but of the basest metal
But, il seems, Mr.. AsHMUN, the distinguished
member of the House of Representatives, who,
having been Of the joint committee Of last year
which made the foregoing report was DESTROYS to
extend the obvious advantage of the Senates plan to
the body of which he is member, and made mo-
ton to that effect, falls under the visitation of the
posts" displeasure-which we trust he may be
able to survives having been seduced by the
Press Of this city TO introduce this proposition. As
Mr.. Ashmun is not likely himself to notice this
statement we take leave to say for him that there
is not word of truth in it. He acted upon his own
responsibility, with laudable zeal for the interest
Of the Public in the matter-as also we have no
doubt did Mr.. McLANE, who, with the same object
in view, proposes to the House different plan.
The" Post, moreover, drawing upon its fancy for
facts, assumes that the Proprietors Of the National
Intelligencer were ashamed of it Mr.. AsHMuNs
proposition and asked the mover to withdraw it.
Let the following letter, addressed by the Propre-
tors of this journal Mr.. AsHMUN on that occasion,
answer for itself, and put to " shame the calum-
niator HIMSELF:
OFsIcE NATIoSAL ISrEILreEScER,
DECEMBER 8, ls4s.
Hon. GEORGE AsHNUs:
DEAR SIR Observing that proposition made by you
Thursday last provide publication authority
House Of Representatives Proceedings from day dsy-a
proposition which doubt had for its motive, in part
least desire relieve the Publishers Daily papers this
city from the expense which they have heretofore in
Cured in that paculaand learning that the proposition
has been opposed being intended of emoument
to the conductors Of those papers, We for part
Poeors Of the oldest Of those Journals deprecang such
construction silence might under the circumstances
give color to- and earnestly protesting against accepting any
such arrangement unless the weunderstood ground OF
reciprocal accommodation the House Of Representatives
and the Publishers, do most respectfully request favor
us that you will withdraw the proposition, being content
for ourselves that the relation between the undersigned and
the House Of Representatives shall is, until
the House shall have il in its power, without reference
them their interests wishes upon full delberator,
adopt plan for an authentic publication from day day,
Of lis proceedings.
With the highest respect, are, sir faithfully, &c.
GALES & sEAToN.
Mr.. AsHMUS, with considerale kindness, CON-
piled with our request. And so the matter stands.
The whole subject is now before an enlightened
committee Of the House and we take this occasion
TO say that we shall be entirely content with the
adoption Of any plan whatever which shall have
for its object TO place before the Public, in any
form, authorized Reports Of the Debates in that
body, Of which reports, when published, we shall
avail ourselves, for the information Of readers,
far the convenience of our columns will allow
continuing meanwhile TO keep our readers accu-
rately informed, from day to day, Of the business
done in the House on the day preceding.
But, says the post" in the only approach TO
an argument in objection TO the plan now in opera
ton under the authority Of the Senate, "There is
no occasion for the Government 10 be at the ex-
/" pense Of reporting the proceedings of Congress.
All that is worth printing, and great deal more,
|" is laid before the public now, through the enter
"prise Of independent journals" Let us test this
argument. The Evening Post" claims, we pre-
sumo, to be an independent Journal" and not
TO be wholly destitute OF enterprise" What por-
ton Of the Debates Of Congress does the Post :"
habitually report for the benefit Of its readers |!
Nay, what portion Of them does il publish when
gratuitously placed in its hands in the columns
Of the Washington papers What would IFS read
ers know Of the Debates and Proceedings in Con-
gress if they had no other source Of information
than this independent Journal" or were depen-
dant upon its enterprise" alone for knowledge
Of what was going on in the Government And,
whilst we are in the way Of interogaiing, we de-
mand Of the Post" if the character of the legis-
la,on Of the nation be Of so little importance TO be
known by the Public, why il is that appropriations
are annually made, and public money expended,
- n