The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-18

strict principle Of law and equity that lie gen.
tenan would now apply, and il would be NOR
ally wrong II We were to depart from then.
There may be other causes Of action than the
mere love VI money; and 10 IA expsnse is
bat poor compensation for the sacrifice of
principles Of law and equity.
The honorable gentleman has referred to the
series of Trades against himself, TO which ne has
called our attention. Does he suppose himself
insenslb!e 10 their influence! When we listened
With so much respect and attention to the GEN
tleman's vndication of himself, could we have
supposed him nsensible 10 the Injustice done
him, II Injustice there was--to the WRONG done
him, II wrong there was, by these offensive i'm
patatons! For one, | do not believe that
they are active in their influence upon his tenn
permanent, ana upon his line Of action here Be-
cause. how else am to understand my honora-
bic friends course, when he tells me that the
contract has been violated; that it would he a
losing contract if il had not been violated: and
that we had to violate it to. keep it from being
losing contract! am disposed to exercise the
largest charity towards the gentleman; but he
certainly did say that it was the violation of
the contract that made up the losses of the con-
tractor and that sixty per cent off the prices Of
1919 was necessary to pay the losses under the
original contract.
If the gentleman will agree to give sixty per
cent am ready to go for it. should not like
to be found taking the initiative in voting the
smallest sum while the whole concnrring testi-
mony is in favor OF larger sum but have
TOO much anxiety to prevent wrong to the cor
tractor, that ii the honorable gentleman will po
for sixty per cent. Off the prices Of 1919, Should
like to see that course carried out, rather than
an arbitrary determination to violate the con-
tract. AS have already said, il nv honorable
friend will agree to send the contract To the At
torney General, would agree to that settlement
rather than to any other. thi k it would re-
lieve those who have undertaken to violate the
contract it we were now to send the contract
and the contractor, under the auspices of the
Committee on Printing, to the Attorney Gen
eral and to abide by his decision. But cannot
respect that course which refuses to allow tho
contract to be construed under the auspices Of
the law officers of the Government but would
violate it whenever the discretion Of Congress-
shall choose to violate it, and carry it out lust
when Congress chooses to carry it out Such
course Is morally wrong. | should be very
glad II those who entertain these views would
agree to such sentiment as would provide an
efficient check in future against demands for
extra compensation; but if exceptions are Thus
made to prevent the contractors from demanding
extra compensation; but if exceptions are thus
made to prevent the contractors from demanding
extra compensation, should suppose that an
exception would also be made to prevent Con-
gress from constructing the contracts according
to their discretion, without regard to the laws
of the land
have entertained the only two objections
that understood my friend fir m South Caro-
Ina to present First, that it is difficult to get
at the prices of 1919, or at settlement under
those prices have answered that by avowing
my willingness to abide by a reduction as pro-
posed on reference to the Attorney General,
Again: have drawn the concession from his
own lips, that the contract has not been err
| forced, and that it cannot be made the rule of
action; and let me say to him. what the House
may not have reflected upon, that this class of
printing in relation to which the contract was
violated, is the very class upon which the con-
tractor relied to make his aggregate and average
profit.
Now, will briefly refer to the bids of the
last session of Congress- 1t has been said upon
this floor, that Mr. Rves bid for the same class,
at q lower rate than Mr.. Richie did, and that
this is, therefore, conclusive evidence to the
House that no relief was necessary
ask my friend from South Carolina If he
has ever read Mr.. Rives's bids! Does he know
that Mr. Rvess bids are fifty per cent. higher
than tie prices of last year for all the classes of
printing except the fifth class, and that the
l8l9 was only about $4,000 or S. 900! Twill
call my friends attention to the audited account,
and he will find that that fifth class to which he
has referred, and which Mr.. Rives has bid for at
an insignificant price, is composed Of three parts
The whole work done in the first part amounted
to 1880; the whole work done in the second
part to 1856, and the whole work in the third
was 1897. The total was 5000
Why. sir, men are talking about coalition.
How will they explain it when the bids are fifty
per cent higher than last year on the great body
of the work; fifty per cent. higher on the four
preceding asses and only little lower on the
fifth class
| | have to apologize for OBTAINING the House
so long, and thank gentlemen for their attention.
Mr.. RAYMOND moved the previous ques-
| ton.
Mr.. MARSHALL appealed to the House to
vote it down.
Mr.. CROWELL asked the gentleman from
Virginia to withdraw the demand for the pre-
vious question to enable him to offer resou-
ton.
Mr.. RAYMOND refused.
Mr.. THOMAS called for tellers, which were
ordered; and Messrs RICHARDSON, and HARRIS
of Tennessee, were appointed
The question was taken, and rcsulted-ayes
81, noes 78.
90 the previous question was not seconded.
Mr.. CROWELL offered an amendment to
the resolution.
The SPEAKER stated that it was not in or
der.
Mr.. CROWELL a ked that his amendment
might be read for the information of the House.
Several MEMBERS objected.
Mr.. CROWEl.L said that he would then offer
it as an amendment to the instructions, instead
of as an amendment to the resolution. 1t GER
tain!y was in order as an amendment to the in
structions.
The amendment was read, rs follows:
AndProuided, also, The same relief be granted
and compensation allowed to the printers of the
l'hrlieth Congress, and upon the same terms
and considerations as are allowed to the said
William NJ. Belt under this act
The CHAIR was understood again to rule
the amendment ont of order