The southern press., 1851-12-31

losniA Mr.. Gwsl ssems to have fallen toto a
mistaks--an evident mistake---as 10 the nature
Of this joint resolution we are now proposing 10
press upon the consideration Of the Senate. He
soems 70 suppose that we are merely referring
this subject to the joint committee of the two
houses that they are to make some preliminary
stsps; and after the joint resolution is passed,
we are to have some control over the matte.
But, sir, the effect Of the joint resolution is to
put the committee in the place Of Congress, as to
the disposition to be made of this printing -
They are 10 make the contract without any re-
port to US, unless we give further direction; and
their contract 10 not TO be sanctioned BY US ;
when made, II is a contract of the government
Now, sir, the Senator says this census---the
returns Of this censns-ought to be published
because they are needed; that was the gentle
mans reply when requested him to assign his
reasons. 1t then appears that what We are now
considering is mere question OF time. Every
body admits that these census returas ought to
be printed. But desire to know whence arises
the necessity Of having them published immed-
ately! What public injury will be sustained by
delaying the publishing of them one week! Why,
sir, surely it is impossible TO assign any reason
why we shall be in such hot haste to have these
census returns published. They ought to be
published in a reasonable time but they ought
TO be published in such manner as to do justice
to the country. II should be duly considered,
and every precaution should be taken to have
them published with 3 me reasonable care, and
that there shall be no unnecessary expenditure e
made IN their publication. And particularly, as
my friend says, in passing joint resolution for
publishing the census returns we shall trans
form the head of The Census Bureau into his
tricgrapher and biographer of the United States,
and all the States and counties thereof; for
presume this notice must include particular in
formation with regard to the first families or the
principal counties, in that part of the United
States where they happen to be so fortunate as
TO have first families.
New, sir, | think we have right to obtain
some information about this matter, and it must
be done when we have sufficient time to look
into the subject. And now, Mr.. President,
ask you il such thing as refusing to postpone
no important subject as the one before us has
ever been known since you have served the Sen
ate? Certainly there has been none since
have had the honor of occupying seat upon
this floor Sir, this is matter of vast import
ance-involving an expenditure of half mil
lion of dollars, and some gentlemen say mil
lion and hnlf--too much, sir, to be hurried
through this body during the Christmas holy
days. Such thing has never been known since
haye been in the Senate.
- -. sir: here is the Senator from Con
Z. SMITH who says he wishes to
subject of this resolution, and
DOh why he does not wish to
nkfk at length upon it on the present occa-
sion. He wishes 10 be heard by full Senate
not by body that consists of a very little more
nopuffut;opol md tbo
indulgence of having it postponed until the next
day when the Senate shall meet. Now, ask
you, in your experience in this body, if such q
request as this was ever denied to any senator
Mr. President, t..is is an important resolution
besides the amount of public money to be ex'
pended for the publication of the census returns
trust that is not the primary consideration. ii
this census work ia to be published, wish il TO
be published we'll; and wish those who are tc
publish it to be well paid forit. But this reso
luton involves principle which we are now
about devatng from; and if persisted in, it will
ultimately subvert the system which has for
merly been adhered to. As far as the system
of printing is concerned think agree will
the Senator from Indiana, [Mr. BRIGHT entire
"; | am opposed to the contract system.
have been ready for year to vote for join
resolution establishing law to abolish it.
Our experience in this body, and in the othe
House, has shown that under the contract sys
TEN we get our documents published on bad pa
per-. the printing is worse, and the binding il
still worse. Sir, am tired and sick oft Thu
publications are disgraceful to this body. Prob
ably most Of Them lin the course ofa few years,
the ink will destroy the miserable substitute fo
paper upon which ii is placed will become abso
lutely illegible. Ny mind is made up upon thai
al.
BRIGHTl / wish the Senate, when his resou
ton comes up, would attend to the subject; anc
l should be glad to see joint resolution passed
for repeating the law under which the contract
system exists. If the honorable Senator from
Indiana Mr.. BRIeHT,l will consider for a mo-
ment think he will be fully convinced that his
subject ought 10 be considered in the presence
of full Senate. ! am not at all opposed tc
pass a resolution directing a contract to be made
for printing the census returns. ] wish TO have
it made by competent persons, and wish then
to be well raid for it. ] have no sympathy fol
the wretchcd policy of inducing men to bid of
these contracts at ruiDous rates, for the sake o.
saving the government little expense, anc
thus entaiing upon ourselves the shame and dis
grace of ordering such badly executed docu
ments. ! think it better TO engage competent
persons, We them ample time to perform the
services, and then compensate them with fa
and honest equivalent. AT the same time,
would suggest to the Senate that this resolu
tion ought not to be pressed upon us at thi'
time If there were no other reasons for it, ac
cordng to the usages of this body, the single
suggestion made by the honorable Senator from
Connecticut. Mr. SMITH, that he wished to b,
heard and the reasons assigned for not giving
his views when he was prepared to be heard
ought to induce us at once to defer it TO another
day. There are no reasons why it should b,
published so soon; and if we should postpone
the matter ten day apprebend it would prove
no very serious detriment to us or to the coun
try.
Mr.. GWIN. Mr. President, the Senator from
North Carolina Mr. BADcER] speaks of ho
haste in this matter. Why, sir, is it not known
to every member Of the Senate that this subject
was brought forward for consideration nearly
year ago! Is it not known tbnt this question
was pressed upon us then, and should have beer
acted upen9 And has il not been before MS
nearv from the commencement of this session