The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-06

NEWSPAPERS AND REPORTING At WASHINGTON.
We observe that an attempt has been made in
the United States Senate, in Washington, to
annu the new plan Of reporting the debates OF
that body, which has bef1 so successfully begun
and carried out by the reporter whom they have
engaged the last year-Mr Houston, the steno-
grapher Mr.. Niles, of Connecticut, figures in
the business. We believe that this gentleman,
before he tOcame great man in Connecticut, was
the editor or contributor TO some little country
paper in that State. His ideas are, therefore,
formed on a narrow model. Instead of taking
any steps 10 abolish the new system of reporting
the debates in the Senate, both that body and the
House of Representatives should unite and en-
large the plan, in connection with daily newspa-
per, TO be entirely under the control of Congress,
and TO be managed in its reporting department by
such competent man as DIR. Houston, and his
reporters.
We mean that Congress, if it has any common
sense in regard to It's own business, Its own re-
porting and the public good, ought to establish
newspaper Office OF It's own, on plan somewhat
similar, but more improved, than that by which
the French Government published what is called
the Moniteiv, in Paris. The two newspapers in
Washington that pretend to give any reports of
Congress--the Union and the Hteiiigencer-are
utterly incompetent and behind the age. There
is not man connected with those imbecie Jour
nails that knows anything of the real tactics of
newspapers-the system of getting them up, the
manner in which they ought to be conducted, or
the independence, enterprise or genius that ought
10 govern them in all their details Those jour-
mails, like all that have appeared IN Washington,
are merely organs of cliques. No newspapers can
exist in that region of any other description but
as the organs aud instruments of ciiQues of poll
tcans. An independent journal could not exist
there. An independent journal requires large
community of independent thinkers and actors,
such as we have in New York, London, or Paris.
The next best thing that can be expected in such
a city as Washington Is large newspaper estab-
hshment, organized under the auspices of Congress
itself, and especially engaged in publishing every
morning, full and accurate reports of the debates of
both houses, in the same style, and with the same
freedom and talent, that have characterized the
reports of the Senate during the existing engage
ment with DR.. Houston. Why should not Con-
gress expend a little money on so important mat
ter as furnishing to the country, and to the world
at large, authentic, accurate, and rapid reports of
their debates DO they not expend thousands and
thousands of dollars on less deserving matters
IHey nave Wdstcu many InllllOnS OF DOL
lars in endeavorng to sustain the miserable Jour
mails heretofore published at Washington So
miserable, so destitute, and so bankrupt that they
could hardly pay their reporters and compostors
their ordinary wages. In fact newspaper de-
partment ought TO be at once organized by Con-
gress IN connection with the legislative and execu-
tive departments. Such journal, of proper size,
is required to publish the official documents of the
L
hsh them, and also full reports of the debates of
both houses, the next morning after the debates
take place. AS matters now stand, no journal in
this country gives anything like faithful report
ofthe doings of Congress but the Nelr York Herald
Not single journal in Washington goes to the
expense which it costs the Herald in furnishing to
its readers this important and interesting intell-
gence yet Congress has the contemplate mean
ness 10 endeavor to throw obstacles IN the way
of the only journal in New York, or in the Union,
that gives them anything like fair or full reports,
while it throws everything into the hands of the
lmbece journals there that are utterly useless for
any purpose.
We trust and hope that Congress will take this
subject INTO consideration, and act efficiently
upon it before the termination of the present
sion. They ought at once to organize a great
newspaper establishment In less than two years,
if properly commenced and conducted it would
not require an amount of money to carry it on,
further than few thousand dollars II would pay
for itself with the exception of the compensation
that would be required for the reporters and edi-
! tors The subject ought 10 be taken up IN this
! view by Mr. Niles, If he is broad enough and wide
enough in intellect to be able TO entertain such
conceptions for moment.
HIeurY IMPORTANT PoLuICAL INTEL1IGENcE.-
We find the following choice paragraphs in that
paragon of enterprise energetic, correct, and ex-
cruciating truthful newspaper, called the "Natioa
IntelEeencey Washington, August 4, 1852
The following appears in of the Washington let
tiers of Wednesdays NeU York Herdia:-
The Albany Committee addressed Bolts, of Virgil
MA asking Clay had pledged himself to Taylor Mir.
Bolts replied that lie had not but day he adds
postscript to his letter in which he states that
as MIR Clay receives General Taylor's to the
whig nomination. he will publish card denying his
acquicseence in Tayor's nomination, and suggesting
a separate wing ticket
We are authorized by MIR Botts to state, as mat
ter of Justice himself and Mr. Clay, that he has
never made such statement Of what Mr. Clay VIII . 40,
ar that he has information from Mr. Clay 10 the
effect of that statement.
We publish this awfuly important article with
the most profound feelings of regard and venera-
tion; and IN addition, would respectfully ask of
Mr. Bolts, whether the report OF the talk between
him and Captain Tyler, when they both slept in
one bed with their boots on, was correct or other
wise! We would also ask Mr. Bolts, whether he
can recollect accurately what he ever says or
writes on politics for the space of one hour there
AFTER We would also ask FIR. Bolts how tall he
is, and how much he weighs-also the relative
height of Dir. Clay and General Taylor, and how
much each measures across the abdomcnl Also
! Can the venerable Mr.. Gales tell us how the
monkeys cha tered and the bears growed, the last
time they had a menagerie at Washington Let
US know every important matter with accuracy
! But seriously, our correspondent had authority