The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-20

Information Of he country and might il we should be
unfortunate TO have another collision WIN Mexico
prove of immense value and not would be val
liable contribution to the geographical knowledge OF that
country With this view explorations had been made
all the lines OF the march 81 our army 10 mat country
An extensive map OF the country had been ordered in
this case, and large portion OF the expense has been al
The report accompanying he map should also Ie printed
The OF printing the report would be very lte and
YET il imbodied all the information deneated repre-
scented in the map. II appeared 10 him folly not to
print the report now when the map had been already
dered
Mr. KING said appeared to him that the policy adopted
by Congress OF late OF printing reports and engraving
maps in which we have no interest," at great expense
and Of no public utility whatever was not the course that
should be pursued They bad ordered 5000 copies q
This map 70 be printed. What map was it One 10
show with what facility could drain the valley Of
MI BoRLAND wished il the senator would permit him.
very general and minute map Of the city and valley of
Mexico. This report report Of the engineers, in
regard ga. E,M@ so shs draining ANN q thai valley.
compleed or II not is nearly The proof sheets
are already here Now, why was all this expense in
curredl lconceiye it entirely unnecessary because
government, il should have remained in the War Depart
ment which could have any number Of copies Of pre-
pared for their Mr.. K. hoped that map Of that
kind would never be needed for any such purpose the
honorable senator from Arkansas had suggested in the
event OF another war with Mexico He thought for
that we had difficulties enough, and trusted we should
have no, more He wished to know if any senator
present believed Tor moment that any citizen OF the
United States would be benefited by knowing how, and
Ssv o ana s takes
officers would be glad to their abers spread before
the country. Even if would be at moderate expense,
knew what moderats expense generally amouaed to,
and was opposed 10 The whole thing.
Mr.. BUTLER. know that there may be, perhaps,
very much in the report and the map which will be very
the general reader. hut a "A loss
know what jurisdiction Congress has subject OF
this kind We have gone very far in making books;
and it almost that when any wants book TO
be made and in anywse to under the character OF
public document is to be printed at the public expense
But object to this also, for much higher reason,
triumphs in Mexico. | would not have them 60 out to
mortify the people Of Mexico whose country we have
overrun; much less would have them printed with any
them in any we may have with Mexico, Il is bad
enough to have them morty the people OF Mexico but
still worse to do anything 10 intimate that we have any
disposition again to make war upon her. and to enter that
territory In any poin! OF view, think national deli.
cacy requires not to publish these papers. They may
afford great deal Of useful informaton,-
* Mr.. BORLAND, tinterposlng) Will the senator al
low me sste that this map and report were prepared at
the express suggestion and request of Mexcans during
occupation q the city ! Mas their express ap
pared. The publication, therefore, SO far from mortify.
ing them, viii Be just what they would be glad to
Mr. Butler resumed doubt very much much whether a, ss
very complimentary 10 them II il is for the benefit Of
Mexico, have very few words to say upon the subject
doubt not that ii the Mexican minister wishes to have
copies Of the papers he at any time procure them
We have often procured similar papers from England
taken from the colonial archives OF that government,
prior to the separation Or if hereafter, any wishes
10 imbody them book, think Cong will give him
leave to extract from them enough to make his book.
whether for geographical OF for historical purposes But
have idea OF making Congress the convenient ve-
hcle for printing all the documents OF this kind that you
nj. HAMLIN Being myself upon the printing com.
mittee, wish to say that the arrangement which has
been made this session has been such that that
mi,tee holds ts sessions when compelled to be else
where. concur most cheerfully with the suggestions
OF the senator from Alabama Mr. KISGl as well as with
those OF the senator from South Carolina, lblr BurLER]
Had this matter been submitted TO oil the mem-
bers OF that committee, should not, most assuredly,
have given il my recommendation assent. The sug-
gesons they have offered sufficient to satisfy me, and
it would that they would satisfy the commit.
es Mould naye been ans pss . s.as &
one and woud be much acceptable 10 the Senate
and the country. The very and objections which
would apply 70 the printing Of that volume oy Cong!ess
much greater degree. What have we to do with this
matter? What connexon have we with the subecti
II the departments desrous TO avail themselves OF
any OF the Information they gather from these engi
neers who there during the last war, It is within
their province. and they may do t. But that we are TO
give publicity 10 the country to a document which only
tells us what may be may be the best method OF
draining the swamps in Mexico, think IS asking too
much There are some swamps OF our own which
should much rather feasible plan OF draining,
and certainly it would belong to more appropriately TO
attend 10 our own swamps than TO those in another
country although would be the last man to favor IN.
ternal improvements II has been suggested that we
have already ordered certain number OF maps 10 be en-
graved. would say that that, too, - subject which
has passed under my inspection, and that hink
the resolution have been adopted at some time by
the Senate when was not in my seat IL seems TO me
that the better way would be 10 eace the steps we have
already aken and, instead of passing this resolution TO
latnna tka
the Senate and TO stop the engraving which we have al
ready ordered hope the report oi the committee VIII
mot be adopted.
Mr. BORLAND. In justice to myself, the chair
man OF the Printing Committee, would say that the
senator from Maine, lMr, HAMLN,l as member OF
that committee, has right TO complain because ne
is absent The days fixed io the sessions oil that COM
sion and he has attended any meeting Of the COM
iitee since he has been upon another committee Wnch
has been necessary for him to attend can say iur
ther that there understanding win inal senator
that npon matters OF printing ii not necessary ex-
cept in extraordinary cases. where there was
OF opinion, consult him. understand that sucn mas
been the custom Of The Committee on Printing heretofore
The chairman usually made the report unless tnere was
division upon the committee,
AS the map to which the senator REFERS never was
before the Committee Printing at all was oeIore
the Committee Military Affairs, and, after carelul
examination, was reported by the chairman Of thai com,
mee, and the map was submitted to the SENATE -
think here two occasions and, alter the express
sion Of the views OF the Senate, IT was ordered 10 oe
printed, aud large number were TO be struck on az
stated before the merits OF this particular work, now
under discussion, were not particularly considered ~
making this report in favor OF printing But inasmuch
the Senate had deemed the map OF sufficient import