The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-18
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FR,pAY, Feb. Ia, 1851.
DEFERRED DEBATE ON PRINTING.
(Confinned)


DEFERRED DEBATE ON PRINTING.
(Confinned)
Mr. MOREIIEAD obtained the floor, but
yielded to
Mr. BAYLY, who sad The gentleman from
South Carolina Mr.. ORR has stated that one
of the successful bidders for the public printing
on Saturday, has engaged TO do the work lower
than Mr. Richie is doing it for
Mr.. ORR. In one class.
Mr.. BAYLY. That gentleman (Mr. Iamil-
toni is in the House, and has authorized me to
state that his bids are higher than Mr.. Ritchie's
on every description of printing
Mr.. ORR. will say to the chairman of tho
Committee of Ways and Means, that Mr.. Rives's
bid is lower than Mr.. Ritchic's upon one class.
Mr.. BAYLY. merely wish to say. that the
gentleman who gets the greater part of the
printing has authorized me to state that he gets
upon one class fifteen cents page higher than
Mr.. Ritchie's bid, on another ten cents page
higher, and on the press work he is paid from
five or seven cents higher--certanly five cents
and probably seven cents higher.
Mr.. MOREHEAD (resuming) said: Mr..
Speaker, have listened with much attention to
the argument which has just been made by the
gentleman on the other side of the House, Mr.
ORR, ard confess
Ar. McLANE, of Maryland, Gnterrupting,)
said he would like to ask the gentleman from
South Carolina, MIR. ORR,] if he was not under
misapprehension in saying that the class of
printing obtained by Dir. Rives, on Saturday,
was taken for less than Mr. Rtchie's bid?
Mr.. ORR said that according to his under
derstanding of the matter, there was but one
class assigned to Mr.. Trenholm.
Mr.. McLANE said nc understood that there
was but one class assigned to Mr. Rives, and
that was the class before assigned to Mr.. Towers
Mr. WENTWORTH Undressing Mr. Nc
LANE) said his statement was correct.
Mr.. MOREHEAD Continuing said Mr..
Speaker, if can get the attention of the House
for short time, will endeavor, as briefly as may
be, to state some of the reasons which will in
fiuence me in the vote may give upon the reso-
luton now presented for our consideration. Ac-
cidentally, in consequence of not being here at
the commencement of this session, have been
placed upon the Committee on Printing for this
House. have consequently, sir, as a matter Of
duty, had my attention called to the very subject
of inquiry now before the House. have no
disposition to do injustice TO any human being.
] have no feeling to do ought but justice to Mr..
Richie. Unhinching justice, and that alone, is
all that desire to mete ont to him on the pres
ent ocassion. | know, sir, that there is much in
the argument made here that has weight upon
my mind--that this is an attempt to break up
the existing laws of the land, and that, as such,
we ought to discountenancc and frOwn upon the
proposition to give the compensation asked for
on The part of Mr.. Richie and those employed
by him, or those who bid for him. | have looked
Mt the matter, and confess that the arguments
used have had some weight upon my mind |
find that one gentleman, one of the contractors,
had made assertions tending to show that he had
such n motive in making the bid which he did
for the printing ! have been unable, however,
to perceive the slightest shadow of testimony
that Mr.. Richie ever participated in that feeling
or design. On the contrary, he has distinctly
and emphatically disayowed it. Mr.. Richie diff
ters with me in politics. As far back as ] can
remember, we have been upon opposite sides.
have strong party feelings rs most gentlemen
in this House, but with all that, and from every
inquiry which have made, or from all that
ever heard in my persona! Intercourse with him
| have never been able to find single instance
of his making-unnecessar makng---an I'M
true statement upon matter of this kind. lie
states, in the most emphatic terms, that when
he made the contract, he had no such,intenton
rs has been charged, of defeating the purposes
of law of Congress. That being the case,
that matter, so far as it should affect my mind,
is out of the question altogether.
call the attention of the House to the ques-
ton, whether or not this contract is likely to be
or has been, matter of loss to Mr.. Richie 3
The gentleman who has just taken his seat Mr..
ORR has admitted the fact-as it is admitted
by all those who have Investigated the subject
that this contract for printing will involve ru-
inous loss to all who are concerned in it, From
the investigation which have made-slight as
it is-and from the little knowledge have had
in relation to printing, am perfectly satisfied
that with Mr. Richie it is question of utter
and entire ruin. Unless some relief is afforded,
he is, in pecuniary point of view, totally and
entirely ruined That being the case, are there
any considerations which should influence our
votes in his behalf? | think there are sir
What are the considerations which have in
fuenced my mind and judgment in relation TO
this matter, and which have compelled me to
come TO the conclusion, that we ought to do what
is proposed in this resolution, as an act of sim
pie, sheer, and naked justicel II is not unknown
to us--to every member bere-that we com
menced the last session Of Congress under the
most peculiar circumstances. Congress was
not really organized for more than six weeks
after it convened, and there was difficulty until
the day before Chrstmas--the day before the
Speaker was elected. There was still longer
time tefore the Clerk was elected Daring all
this period Mr.. Richie, with about one hundred
hands under engagement and pay, was entirely
idle. When he entered into the contract he had
every reason to believe that the printing would
commence as soon as the session Of Congress
commenced and that he could 90 TO work at the
usual period. He went on printing as soon az
the documents were placed in his hands On
the h of February, when the Presidents mes
sage and the report Of the Secretary of the
Treasury had been finished, and were ready to
be delivered, the contingent fund Of the Senate
was exhausted, and the fund was very soon ex-
hausted in the House. From that period until
the time when the deficiency bill was passed,
replenishing the contingent fund Of this House,
documents were printed, but were not paid for
according to the Notwithstanding to reason
able xpectations--accordng TO what had been
the constant and unvarying practice of Congress
in paying for its printing.
From the time when these documents were
presented, there were no funds from which he
could be paid Mr.. Richie wrote n letter to
the Committee on Printing, on the 4th of Feb
ruary, $780, in which he says: that unless |