The southern press., 1851-12-31
v hat Z 70 ~ printsdl n 49, -


was settled; it it is TO be such work as has
been prepared in reference to MARYLAND. We
ought to know il, and each senator ought TO
examine It before we should vote for such a
work as this To be published But if it is Of suf.
!, fcient value TO be printed in this form, then IL
ought 10 be printed in the best style, regardless
OF The cost. III It Is such great national work
as to be printed at-all, | repeat, it ought 10 be
printed in the best manner, regardless of eY.
pense. For one. l desire to see and examine
The sample of the work which the Secretary of
the Interior says he has prepared to exhibit to
the Senate, and which is now being printed. and
which will be laid upon our tables. | desire
that II shall be laid there, and that may have nn
opportunity to examine for myself and know
what 1t is before we pass this resolution.
Mr. HAMLIN. VIII the Senator from Mary.
land allow re to inquire whether the printing
TO which he has alluded has not been suspended,
Is 1t now IN the rogress of being printed 2 I
ask this because have been nformed-and the
information is such as deem reliable, althouoh
do not state it from my own knowledge--thaf.
for some cause to me unknown, they have sus.
pended the printing, and nothing is now being
done towards the completion of the printing of
the census of Maryland
Mr.. MANGUM. If the Senator from Mary
land will allow me: had an interview with the
head OF the G nsus bureau two or three DAYS
! ago, who Informed me that This work was in pro
gress now, and would soon be completed: and
that it was impossible TO form any lust estimate
OF the whole expenditure that would be reanred
until that work could be laid before the Senate
think, slr--though have no sort of objection
70 tnese gentIemen-that this is an unusual pro-
ceed'ng. II the gentlemen named in The resolu-
t'on shall be employed, have no doubt that thev
VIII perform the duties as we'll as any other per-
sons; l have no choice in that respect at all.
but do think, before embarking in 10 large an
expendlture-and we recollect what immen a
sums it coat ten years since-we ought TO know
something of the extent to which we are about
70 contract. hope the Senator from Indiana
VIII not press the immediate consider alton of
ths resolution in the absence of this nforma.
uoh, but will let us know what we are about To-
do.
IL has been said that half million of dollars
will be required Sir, it will be three half mil.
lions in all probability; nearer that sum than
half million. When we proceed to contract
upon this magnificent scale, | hope we shall not
take leap in the dark. hope that a matter 80
important as this, affecting SO deeply the public
treasury, will not be pressed upon scarcey a
quorum of the body At all events, befns. I
give vote atirmatively upon ally lror not
OF this sort, desire to know what viii Ttt:tlv
probable amount to be expended and that can
only be ascertained when this work shall be laid
upon our table. 1t will be mere approximation
even then.
Mr.. PRATT. do not know that the work
has been suspended know that it has been
commenced; for have seen the proof sheets of
some twelve or fifteen pages, and perhaps more.
OF The Maryland census of which the Secretary
of the Interior speaks lfit has been suspended
should like to be informed why it has been sus.
pended. l wish for information upon that
point. do no know with whom the contract
was made to print it; and should like to know
whether the printer under that contract is to be-
connected with the contract 10 be made under
this resoluiion and to know whetaer the sus.
pension has not been from desire to pet the
work to be contracted for under this resolution.
know nothing about it; but should desire To
have all this explained.
But my great object in rising was to ask the
attention OF the Senate to this single point: If
the york is to be published in the manner pro-
posed by the Secretary of the Interior, we
should examine it and see what it is, and whetb.
er it is work which will do credit to the conn.
try, before we order its publication If il ia
merely publication of the census, and if il Is
like the last census, mere tabular statement of
population, &c, then should have no obiee.
ton to any mode of publication which should
be required by any senator. But if il is to be
published in this EXTENDED form, as seems to be
The view of the Secretary of the Interior. as il
has been proposed, and rs it will be published
4 this resolution passes say that we have not
sufficient information with regard to the charac-
er Of the work TO enable us to vote understand
ngly upon it.
Mr.. GWlN. | think the very argument Of
the Senator from Maryland and the Senator
rom North Carolina justities us in pa siny
his resolution now. The main object of delav
IS advocated by hem, is the want of informa.
ion at present. We get clear of that difficulty
'y referring the whole Of this subject to Joint
committee Of the two houses The resolution
s to print the census. IT is not to print his.
orcal account OF each State Of the Union, as
he Senator from Maryland has suggested. Ir
is thought necessary to give such a history.
he committee will come to US for instructons
o extend the publication. This is a publication
# the seventh census. Ii is now wanted at
his very time.
Mr. BADGER Gin his seat.) What for7
Mr. GWIN. What is it taken for, if it is not
wanted | should like to know if il is not in.
ended 10 go among the perm anent archives Of
he country; and il it was not wanted. il
you'd not have been taken | want il pub.
shed at once, A sen tor says it will cost sew.
raj half millions. Well sir, if we postpone if
rom week to week, will it cost any less? If
re intend TO print it, let us do it at once. If
'e intend to give it out by contract, let us do it
once. Why need we postpone itl / think
would go very appropriately before tie Joint
committee on Printing and if they want add.
oDal power, they will come to the Senate and
iouse OF Representatives. We want action
pom the subject We want the work pro.
ressing.
The Senator from Maryland intimated that
ne volume now being published might be print.
o IN The Office OF these gentlemen, or that they
llght directly or indirectly have been the cause
the suspension, | take it for granted that
lis Is not so. The public want to have the
'nsus printed. IL we po stpone it to next Mon.
ay, we have another special order then
mother mt resolution-upon which the Sena-
'r from Louisiana lIr. Dowss] has the floor:
nd so We shall keep putting it off from time TO
me for J know MT how long think il is
et'er to have il pissed now, and have the work
80.