The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
MONDAY, AUGUST 20. 1850.

SENATE.
The resolution respecting MIR. Palmers book entitled
"A Comprehensive View Of the Priscipal Independent
ale on the question OF It's passage
Mr. BENTONsaid As / was not present when this res
oluhon was called up The other morning. proceed to
state my objections TO It's passage. | do not to
strike al this resolution only but TO endeavor TO embrace
the whole question OF supplying members oil Congress
with books think this proper occasion on which 10
try the whole question Of this abuse, which commenced
seventeen years ago, and which has been increasing to
enormous extent from that time up to the present In
the resolution before u.s. believe, comprised all the
enomities and abuses oil the system; both in the thing
ITSELF the purchase OF the books, and the OF do
ing 1t is therefore my wish to try the whole system
upon il, and is my intention endeavor get the Sen
ale to consider that they are voting upon the whole sys
when they shall 10 vote upon this question
think this is period when may consider the whole
system, with all the abuses which have grown up, and
grow under ~ and apprehend that after
years experience, and after having every evil that
was foreold BY those who opposed il in the beginning
having every OF those evils come pass, and
immense number OF others still outrageous,
which man fnresaw al that time after having
all this, we now pass resolution which is in itself
epltome OF all the abuses which have grown up under
the system, shall sanction the whole, and have nothing
to do but TO pass these resolutions Tor books to members
they presented. shall move the conclusion of
my remarks, for the indefinite posiponement OF this
luon II that fails, shall then offer, by way OF giving
point this last effort resist the abuse several definite
motions to Tecommit with instructions upon certain
points, for the purpose Of making opposition in the most
grow cut OF this whole business.
This abuse began III the year lS32-33 My attention
was first called TO BY the senator IRON North Carolina,
lMr MANGvM,] who, am sorry 10 is not here for,
although he supported this resolution originally, yet, |
think. when it brought forward in the shape OF trying
the question OF the whole abuse this subject, that
will 60 back TO the point at which started together.
and from which was his follower | was member of
Congress in 1882, and were you sir. (addessng the
Chair An ACT then passed for the printing of do
cumentary history OF the American revolution was
attending member al the tme but knew nothing of the
Of that as and STATED IN n" and
ded assent But am very certain that senator, now
longer among but who always attentive 10 the
business of the Senate, great small had knowledge
o, | mean Mr. Calhoun. He, you. and had all stated
that in places The first knowledge that had OF
such act being passed at all was year after was
done was walking day-a hot one--in the shady
Capitol grounds with the IRON North Carolina al
aded to, when he told Of the passage of that act and
OF the enormites which might result from it. That was
the first knew of it, We then looked into il, and found
that the terms Of the act loose and comprehen
sive, that il computed that the work to be done
derit would cost million and half OF dollars 1t then
began TO attract notice, and the subject, you
recoleci, OF repeated struggles on This hoor and
The floor Of the House OF Representatives. Finally,
those who were opposed 10 IL succeeded, BY
limiting the number of volumes, in reducing the
expenditure from million and hall OF dollars TO about
hall million; and that was considered great point
ganed-a million saved Amongst other things TO be pub
shed in this documentary history of the American revo
uion besides everything that could be collected In the
States and from individuals were iansards Debates IN
yeas-iom the time of the stamp act, IN l7o4, TO the
conclusion OF the debates the treaty OF peace, IN
l7sldurng all which time the subject OF the American
revolution the prominent topic OF discussion. hose
debates as far as America the subject were TO be
reprinted part of documentary history. That was
one OF the enomtes. | al the time IN iavor oil
stopping the work. andii there any damages fairly
accruing TO those who had undertaken IT, paying such
DAMAGES and being done with the business. II was de-
Tended the ground OF contract, and OF vested rights
Now Mr. President paying little attention to the de-
bates in the House OF Representatives, day or two ago,
found this passage
Distribution BOOKS.
Mr. Brown, Of Mississippi moved to strike out the fol-
ITO enable the Clerk OF the House OF Representatives to
pay for hundred and copies OF the eighth volume
Of the American Archives DE delivered to members oi
ue twenysixin Congress, at sixteen dollars and egh
sixteen dollars and sixy.six Gems"
lie wished to know why this Congress called upon
books members OF the sixth Congress
has been nearly years since this Congress expired
Soue Of the members have died, and others have changed
their places OF residence and the Clerk would not be able
TO find them Make The appropriation and the result w
be the numberoi the books Will be lei In TIE od
ingroom aud the Doorkeeper, somebody elsc viii sell
Mr. Barry said thni If the appropriation should be
stricken our, IL would crafty than himself,
But the matter books ordered
OF the land and by law providing Tor their pub
Mr. JosEs understood ha, the contract was made with
Messs Cake and Force for the publication II it could
be repealed ho should be glad 6u' hs remarked, the
contract in existence and the books were pub
Mr. BHows said that objection much the
printing pay books the difficulty Of de
hseug More than hy members oil the tweny-sixth
Congress graves and others have changed the
residences The question TO whom shah the books be
d,lveTcdl
Messrs scHKscK and swfErsER made few remarks
when the OF Mr. Bnown To stfike ont the clause wa
disagreed
Mr. HusrrR was Understood TO suggest amendment
and the proposition books to dead meu
and those who bad moved away riiicnions. He
therefore hoped that II The books be paid of they
would be given To persons now in existence.
This impressive illustration OF the abuse OF this
book buying sysem-an illustration going far beyond
all imagination al the time it was detected. Ii is fac
beating fancyfurnshng books backwards. RETROSPECT
lively, reroactvey dead, and the moved away
and 70 The le out OF Congress- IL is like penslonba
members-pensonng with books, Transmitted into
money-pensoning the 26h Congress
IL has been now some ten years. the debate in the
House OF Representatives well says that Conges.
expired Some oil the members dead, and others have
changed their place OF residence and many left ont b,
their constituents and the Clerk could not be able 10
find them and therefore the argument upon which this
abuse wit, that these books purchased tc
enable members better discharge their duties here car
hardly apply suppose IT cannot apply to those whC
have ceased 10 be members OF Congress, who hav,
ceased to be inhabitants OF this world, though beev
tie argument would be about strong IN favor Of th
dead as in favor OF most OF ot the living Certain It
that never have read page of any OF this documen
ary history, for which wepay $500 600 u might as wei
have been voted TO dead man as TO me. Many member
sell them; that is notorious in this city and some sci
eheaE-dog cheap-less than cost II was stated o.
Tins floor By gentleman who assisted us from the be
ginning in making head against this new system 0
pook fade-a senator from Georgia, Mr.. king-tba
ne had been informed that the chance Tor these book
mao been sold in many instances 10 dealers m oil
books N this city. And he named an Instance-no