The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-14

MISS AT WASHINGTON, AMONG THE EDITORS AND
CABINET.-We mentioned, some time since, that the
Southern Press, at Washington City, claimed the
public advertising from the different departments,
belonging to it under the law. The twelfth se,.
ton of the act IAN appropriation act) of March 3,
1875, declares
1bsti all where proposals for any contrac. or
contracts to be made by any of the executive depart
meuis bureaus all where notices Of any de-
sciiptiop issuing from the required by law
to be advertised the shall be advertised by pubca
ton in the two newspapers in the city OF Washington
having the largest permanent subscription, and at the
discretion Of the Executive in any third paper that may
b. public in said city provided that the charges for
such publications shall not be higher than such
paid by individuals tor advertising in said papers, ant
provided alse that he said publications shall be made
in each Of said papers equally as TO freqeucy.
The terms Of this law very plain and unanbi
guous. The giving the President the right to select
even one paper, without reference to the public
good, and act of favoritism and Partially, and
the implied approval of the exercise of his power in
that way, We did not suppose was to De found in
any act of Congress. True, he is limited to one
newspaper, to be chosen in this way-that is, sat
his discretion; but this provision is disreputable
to those who adopted it, insulting to the Presi
dent and the press so selected will have the ndeli
BILE brand of stipendiarism stamped upon it AS to
the other two presses the President and the secre
whatever. The only questions are, which two
papers have "the largest permanent subscription"
and are their charges to government :" not higher
than such are paid by individuals,' an are the
advertisements in each paper made equally a. to
frequencyr' The Sotthrn Press, several weeks
ago, proved, we understand, that it has ." the
largest permanent subscription larger than
either the Union, Republic, Telegraph, NationR
Era, or Inietgencg. We have no doubt Of the
fact, and that the Naiosa! Era is mex. to it. The
other papers. Except the little Idegraph,) have
become enervated dull, spiritle,s, uninteresting,
and the public generally, for some time past,
take little interes, in them whereas the two prints
specified have at least " one idea apiece that they
sustain with spirit and ability If the fact is as
claimed by the Southern Press, it has strict legal
right to this printing and one which, il appears to
US, the courts in the District Of Columbia, following
the decision in Mr Kendairs case, would sustain
upon mandamus. The law is imperative re-
fusal to obey it's directions would be good ground
for the impeachment Of any furctionary. The
President is sworn TO take care that the laws are
faithfully executed" He is bound to see that his
subordinates DO not disregard and violate It, II is
Of little moment whether the violation ia from par
tisan partiality or ignorance. 10 such cases, the
crime is in the act. When the terms of the law are
upmistakeable, the culpability Of the motive is
inferable. An honest motive will not excuse such
Illegal act upon an impeachment. The law must
be obeyed.
The delay that has ensued az to the definite de-
cison Of this business, is, perhaps attributable TO
the continued absence of some Two or more of the
administration, for several weeks past. 1t should
be settled forthwith. The President should attend
to it. 1t is bis especial duty. He certainly does
not divide up his official conscience and his eonvic
tons o. duty into eight parts, giving to each one
Of his cabinet share, and retaining share for
himself If so, he ought to constrain the fugitive
members We mean those absent from their Offices
to surrender their respective eighths when they 60
of We learn that the cabinet do not all agree on
this subject, and that those who do agree, take dis
similar grounds One, we learn, has taken 10 cy.
pkeriDg get on. Of the snar and proves by figures
that it takes six weekly subscribers 10 equal one
daily, az the latter gets his papers SIX times week;
and b. this process the Southern press is es in the
vocative. We should be glad % hear the P-esi-
dents views. quondam acting ss.retary, We
Learn, rests the case the absurdiy Of giving the
Thntrg Of the government 70 any press that 4
striving to break it up; and it is rumored that, &c
set-of % til the Southern Press declares its pa
riotic disposition to give at least ten thousand io!
lSrs year Of the profits to sustain he fede- Il
Union, on constitutional principles, &c. Why are
not the particulars of this business made pu5li,1
Are there more state secretsl Delcacy should not
restrain the s, ufhon Press from making fell ex.
position Of the whole matter. Give rs the whole
truth. We want the docsments-they are Worth
a dozen ssrt-loads Of arguments and rigmsrole
tba hav h. D..k
lish Mr. G aham's decision. Make known NJ
Corwin's opinions. Did be forget yoar gene Gus
endorsement: Of his conduct in respec. 10 the Flo
rds and Mexican clsimsl What did Mcssrs s:ulrt
and Conrad cay ? and how did the great expounicr
q he State Department expouod the statute IN
such case made and provided, Why docs not some
patrio propoFe a compromise .opreserve the Unio-?
Why IL not an adjustment suggested TO save the
RquhR This IL an important matter, aud should
be atten ted 20.
We have not inquired as % the decision Of
y. K Hall, the Postmaster General or the
Postmaster Corporal, fot ve are satisfied. IL there
y a wrong side, they are on that side. The way
they construed the lass procured by them TO be
Passed by Congress, TO suit their own fan y,
snl to affect iDjuriously, If possible, subscri-
bers in California and else Fhere, and to keep
the people from learning through its eolu ms, theft
unftness for these places; and their fumbng an
bungling and twisting the law as 70 advertising
dead letters 70 crafty their own wishes. satisfied 80
o. to them in all parti ,uars. We learn sundy edi-
tors intend to prosecute Mr. Han for his conduct
10 is iumatcrial 10 ne. We would not exchange
tie Advertising patronage Of the chambermaril
n this city for all that tho heads Of depart
ments could bestow on any paper, fairly unfairly
-hohtsty, or b. rascality, or distortion Of the
Law
LfrAEI TIRE oF rnE Rausu Mivisrrs. The r.
W. ste'm'hip Niagara, Capt. stone. lsrt here yes
tofday noon. Tor Listrugoi vi.b sigt. -;-, ,-sssr