The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-24

Mr.. BORLAND. / concur fully with the remarks
made by the honorable senator from Michigan upon the
Importance Of proceeding to the ques ion OF the pub
lie printing have worked very hard upon this subject
as chairman OF the Committee Printing and at the very
earliest moment at which could do so, got the com
made report to The Senate, which has been lying the
table do not know how many weeks. There has been
action on the subject L could not &c got up or con-
sideraton am therefore very much in hopes that the
subject will be taken up and disposed Of
Iwould say, sir. regard TO the remarks OF the hon.
orable senator from Kentucky, lMr UNDERWOOD that
have been informed OF the occurrence to which nc re-
iened, and wilkstae the circumstances. BY joint
resolution OF Congress- all the documents already ordered
or 10 be ordered by this Congress-
| Mr. DOWNS, (interposing) do not rise to make a
poe Of order. but anxious 70 take up another bill
an must say that doubt whether the honorable
The CHAIR was understood to say that the senator
from Arkansas speaking to subject growing out Of
remarks which had been made in objection 70 taking up
the bill TO which the senator from Louisiana Mr..
Mr. DOWNS i would remark that the bill which |
called up would have been disposed Of before now.
reeoecs 1 ihat he senator om aaY Kentucky M UNDER
wooDl made statement affecting the official conduct Of
the Committee on Printing; and in relation to that was
In obedience to that joint resolution Of Congress- the
Committee on Printing contracted for the binding OF all
the documents that had been ordered, which might be
pnsa III ma q
given out upon contract for its faithful performance
standard according to which the work to be execu
ted was exhibited by upon this floor upon the passage
Of that Joint resolution and was made part Of the
tract The first half dozen perhaps eight or ten vol
umes bound under that contract, were sent here's and
upon being examined by the committee were approved OF
and adopted under the from the contractors
that the work would be OF that quality OF paper and that
quality OF binding, and OF the same material and execu-
ton throughout For some time we received nothing
more OF them When the next came TO hand had some
iniimation that it was OF inferior quality and Ia
king the envelope containing the volumes 70 my
m ..,,a~ and ava amin md IN
the work I found that it had fallen below the
standard in respect to the binding, and thought 4
proper not to receive them. Al fns next meeting Of
alton They agreed with me that this work was not
properly executed in compliance with the terms Of the
and that was o such an .eor gus ina,
should be rejected entirely addressed note to the
contractors stating that this work, both in the paper and
which was adopted and which had been furnished BY the
printers and binders themselves that could not receive
any OF it; and we accordingly instructed the officer
OF the volumes when delivered, not to receive them.
This all that we can de- until the Senate proceed TO the
consideration Of the resolution WHICH the committee have
reported and which will enable us, II adopted, TO have
u Mr. FooTE. With With reference to the Importance Of
attending the public printing, fully concur in all that
SIR however that think the bill alluded TO by the hon
orable senator from Louisiana MIR DowSs] might well
form exception to any general rule that may be laid
Senate. He is venerable and aged mana man who
has been exceedingly useful in his day and generation
refer especially to the services he rendered the country
at an early day, in ascerainng and settling the bound
| aries and geography OF the territory OF louisiana.
There is no man to whom the southern and south
western country s more greatly indebted than to hm
claim upon the government whether we consider his age
his condition in life his character his moral worth, OF
services % be has % not as s ls
This claim is al equitable one and inasmuch as 1t has
been long delayed and as i is question OF Justice TO
make his BIN an exception to the general rule that no
private bill should be considered until the question oil
printing s disposed OF.
sterny adhere TO the rule, we shall be overwhelmed with
similar smeritorious We shall soon be spending
time in discussing the priority Of bills OF private
nature than in passing the bills themselves.
Mr. DOWNS. Mr.. President, this subject was referred
TO select committee AT the last session OF Congress, TO
make arepor upon the subject Y Is based upon the
services rendered by Mr. Darby 10 the nation many years
ago in the early survey and boundary OF ouisiana soon
after the acquisition OF that country from France IN 1903
and by the construction OF map. which was OF great
service 10 the government OF the United States and the
nation and for which he was never remunerafed. tie
did than any other man to develop the geography
of the South and southwest The delay IN tins case has
been very great and il may be said that il is an old
claim. That is true, Mr. Presidents but the reason of
its being delayed long not because II was not
just claim but because the circumstances oi ne gentle
man who rendered these eminent services did not render
this remuneration necessary II Is al present de has
rendered yery great services the country and has done
more, perhaps, than any other 10 develop the re-
sources OF the South and southwest, besides being
most valuable contributor TO American Literature in the
department OF geography and statistics We still refer
10 him as the highest authority upon those subjects He
has been 80 considered Tor years, and is know
that during this session OF Congress, application has
been made to his researches, and his information has
been used by members OF Congress and Others greatly
their advantage He ought to have been better rewarded
He finds himself, in extreme old age, poor, occupy
ing little Office. up in the third story He has only a
years OF age who, il be had lived in other
tries where preemnent services rewarded by salaries
would have had provision such as we can give TO nc
one under government. He does not ask that He
only asks what is due him, and he has been unwilling tc
do that heretofore; but in his old age, in his inmity
and m his poverty, he is compelled to do so. shall say
no more on the subject II is not matter in which my
not even citizen OF my State, and has not been fol
years. do not speak Of him as local but as national
character.
| The committee were OF opinion that a much large
than that which they reported might properly b.
awarded but in order not TO call up opposition and dis
cussion and to insure speedy decision, they reduced
TO the sum mentioned in the BILL II any further inorma
from Ohio, [Mr. CoRwN,l who is familiar with Tho
whole case, to state what he knows IN regard to IT
There are peculiar why decision IN this cass
/ should be had at once. The applicant Is old and In
distress. II will be Of service to him, unless he re
ceives il soon He wants TO know his fate and TO know
i now There are among the papers here statement
from General Jackson, one from General Gaines, ant
| l will read the report OF the committee.
1.-The honorable senator here read the report OF tn,
/ Mr. WHITCOMB inquired whether the petitioner wa