The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-27

buspess they have been engaged in for the lasl hsI
century And are we to SIT and listen 10 such tales 4
this Sir the people in the country would wer,
scarcely iii TO be here But, sir. when look at ,as
report OF the Committee Printing IN our own body we
find that sum was paid Tor his pnlng Of The
opinion OF the Supreme Cour-a much larger than
ANYBODY expected and the price fixed upon aoV
principle, as supposed BY the senator from North Caro-
lima My understanding is that .he printer hrs demanded
the sum OF thirty. odd thousand dollars s9e gT
Mr.. FOOTE, (inierposing) viii the honorable ssna.
Tor bear with me while assure him, as have done An
ready that that statement is without ioundatonf Tia
contrary is the fact He made no specific claim at ali
Mr.. TURNKEY I did not give way 10 a speech
Mr.. FOOfE. | am not making speech, but only
stating that i Is not true ~ polat o. tact that aay such
of $i3.5oO was voluntary act on the part Of Mr.
Richie. 10 my certain knowledge,
Mr. TURNEY. Mr. Richie first demanded compeu.
saton, as understand iron report OF our own CON.
mtiee upon some rule either under the contract soma
law, showing that he not governed BY the contract
estimating the price at upwards OF $4,000
Mr. TURNKEY Well, SIR we could tell il we bad
time to look into all these reports Senators look at what
is said TO be proven in the committee OF the House and
sta ed what was my recollection OF the report OF the com
mittee OF ibe Senate believe the report will show Ls
fact as have stated il and the senator cannot uion
us upon what principle MT klche ss ..naglanlmousy
thousand dollars Did he do i as grauty, BY way q
making donation to impoverished and bankrupt gov
enment! Did he do Y as an act o. charity! Or upon
what principle did he reduce the price voluntarily from
thirty,od thousand dollars down to twelve thousand
five hundred, Sir, the senator does not inform Us
Mr.. FOOTE. can inform the gentleman. \ was
that he was fairly entitled TO proper interpretation Of
the law upon this subject, BY which he entitled q
$36 600 That the opinion Of legal men with whom
the Senate and Of the Clerk Of the House Of Represents
ives But Mr. Richie was 30 much struck with the d.
proportion between that amount and the actual expense
he deemed himself bound to rslnqush large propc,
Of that sum. twas upon such principle-a principle
Of honesty and magnaninty--tha Mr. Richie acted;
and upon the same principle claim we ought to esas
him and those who have proper appreciation oil this
principle will trust be inclined to cooperate with
and Others and release him upon the same principle acted
= M BRIGHT viii the senator allow me 10 correct
one fact The question as 70 the right OF Mr.. Richie
receive the amount he received under the contract O
printing the document alluded 70 was referred % the Dis
Treasury; and they both gave their opinion that The
terms OF the contract entitled him to receive the amount
MT. TURNEY. That is new Information. certainly,
and was not before the Committee on Printing d d.
Senate. They certainly did not know il; for IN their re-
which read with some care--they could not a.
count for the of this deduction from $4,000 down
to $l2,5o0. They couil discover no rule Tor changing
$36 OOO nor could they find any rule for estimating al
$125OO They were further from discovering any in.
ciple for putting at the latter estimate than al toe
from Mississippi and the senator from Indiana attempt
'pMSy HI. oFooTE, (in,erposinx hope the Senate will
bear with me while state this facts The matter was
referred to practical printers, who assured Mr.. Richie
that il could be well afforded for $500. and upon
that knowledge he at once voluntarily relinquished The
overplus.
MI TURNEY. Well. Mr. President these accounts
conflict, fhe senator from Indiana says il reduced
upon the decision OF the District Attorney and the Audto
establishing the principle Of allowing the Sla 500; and
ka, xhnta fva
by Mr. Richie The senator from Mississippi says, no
that not the principle, but that the principle upon
which the reduction was made was Mr. ktchie's con-
them il seems that he at first did that sum, but yet
his conscience told him il was too much; and, without
resorting 70 any principle whatever, or to any data
voluntarily down TO Sl2,50O Now, it will be remen
bered that this report was made by senator who ar
practical printer and who knows very well what ssa
printing can be done for and IN that report an 10
mistaken, he goes to prove that 10 some three lou
times the amount that should have been paid.
Mr.. WALKER, lin his seat) Some twelve times n
Mr. TURNEY. The senator from Wisconsin says
was some twelve times the amount OF fair comPeln
lion. Why, sir, if his conscience was so elastic - h
lake it would require but little more elasticity
have demanded all he could obtain. Sir that argum1
is not sufficient one with me-
But, now, sir, if we are 10 act upon this matter. =
remarked, II must be done in this hurried and conua
ss eas q q. dSs e, . o.. iA. sns
ought TO occupy our attention when we are fresh romeu
homes and from our people-when we have months "
fore us in which to examine and investigate j. ln@N
Of that it is brought up in the last hours OF the sess
when all is hurry and confusion hope, SIR the csns
will press through clam Of this description 10 ns
manner, in violation Of the rules, BY lacking i upon
appropriation bill Nt7 tst q sf9
Mr.. CASS It's obvious, Mr. President. iha, We an;;
not have vote upon this question this Afternoon !
would therefore propose that we take recess annl
o'clock for the purpose OF devoting the evening 70 sxe
live business.
Several SENATORS. Oh, no.
may be made BY the chairman Of he Commiiee Print
ing, and that we may have vote.
MIR. CASS II seems that propositions may be SUP
mtted here, and i Is taken for granted that we knoH
something about them And then one will get M and pe
mise thai the other sixty have had no opportunity
learning about this matter, and after repeating and re
pcating the same thing, the thing s gone over
some OF the rest There IL an immensely Of business
fore the Senate. and Of very important business wnh
3 Mr. HAMLiN. / desire to ofIer an amendment 10 ID
resolutionto substitute the clerk Of the COMMITTEE
Printing OF the Senate, and the serks Of the Senate %
The House, instead Of the Committee on Printing o.
Two houses. 20 make the contracts and audit NE 4.
counts BY the present Law il b made the dny Of
Committee Printing, on the par Of the House sndm
Senate, 10 audit and allow ell accounts for printing
known thai there is a vast number Of documents -
other matters which are nor printed and will moi b gn
duty Of that committee to remain here during the re'
for the purpose Of auditing and allowing these scecu
Now propose 10 do away with that This aaendnI
simply proposes TO take that duty from the c0mmiess
the committee and the Secretary Of The Senate and .n
Clerk OF the House Of Representative. and thus fs"
the Committee on Printing during the recess -.
Z Mr.. BRIGHT. Iaccept the amendment OF the nohes
able senator from Maine, as have right 70 40, "a
will take heed Of what my friend iron Michigan be- -
oropisnS IL mn mo vary hvief hut st nus