Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-01-08
The Public Printing.

The subject Of Incidental printing for the
Convention, engrossed the attention Of that
body for about two weeks. Had there been
but one journal at Madso2. claiming TO be
the organ Of the Democratic party, the ques-
ton of printing would have been readily dis
posed of, and the printing would have been
done Of reinuncrating price; but the Dem
ocrats, to avoid the responsibility of deciding
between the claims Of the Argus and the
Democrat, determined to let the printing out
to the lowest bidder; and the Argus, like a
great greedy gudgeon, biting at bare hook,
made bid to do the incidental printing for
one cent.
Now, in the first place, il il contempti-
bic piece of business in the Convention, to
be higgling and chaflering and trying to
cheaper the sweat of honest labor; and in
the second place, il is even more contempti-
bic for labor, to crawl, like a reptile, to the
feet of power and beg TO be gratuitousy
tramplcd upon. Ii was reserved for the
Argus, to degrade the business of printing
below the level of slave labor-to work for
nothing and find itself. The people of Wis
consin, do not want their printing done for
nothing; they are able to pay for it. II is
beneath their dignity to accept of il as a
gratuity. What would be thought Of III. l..
DoUsaAS, probably the richest man in Wis
consin, If he were TO solicit, or even to ac-
cept, the gratuitous labor, Of poor me-
chanic, one entire year, for nothing' What
would be thought of starving mechanic or
artisan, who was base enough thus to play
I" fetch and cnrryn for millionaire, for
nothing! Let this principle of letting to
the lowest bidder, 2 be carried out--and if tits
good principle, its application may be ex-
.tcnded--let this principle be applied to the
whole business and agency of government
(for representative government, consists
wholly Of agencies and trusts.) First, up
goes the office of Governor, nj auction.---
In comes the Argus under It's :" lowest bid"
of Que cent, TO 10 the public printing, and
publishes notice 10 the electors of Wiscon-
son, that on certain day at Madison, pro-
posals viii be received to Let out the Govern
ment to the lowest bidder; viz: all execu-
tive, Legislative aud Judicial offices. We
should, no doubt, get avery cheap Governor,
an amazingly low legislature aud Judges at
a great bargain; Wisconsin would presently
be in the attitude Of man standing ON his
head with his heels in the AIR. Society
would he inverted, talent would sink aud
loaicrism would rise. The Office of Cover
nor, would be the eliminating point of in
fanny in the State; and the only way TO real
responsibility, would lead into the most OBJ
scure retiracy of private life.
A Government established on this princi-
pie, would not stand as long as an inverted
pyramid would balance upon the sands of
Egypt. When will men learn, that the sta
hility of government, the purity of justice,
the maintenance OF party principles and
party measures, and the honor and dignity
OF the State, are too sacred to sacrifice to
the almighty dollarl Ii dollars are to gov
ern Wisconsin, we need not talk any more
about Wing principles or Democratic prin-
ciplcs. Let government out, by contract, its
offices, It's patronage, its agencies, and YOU
put all politics in the bottom of purse, and
all decency, all dignity, oil deeorum, under
the heel of shabby Avariee.