The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-30

report OF the Secretary OF the Interior, speaking upon this
subject, that he says:
"With the view Of enabling Congress TO form lust es.
OF the importance and varied character OF the inior
nation derived from the late and OF the admirable
SANCTION caused the returns of Maryland 10 be printed io
the OF the members Of the houses Thai State was
selected because from It's central position and the charac
ter OF It's population, soil productions, and industrial puf
Suits i census presented the best illustration OF the ex
tent aud practical utility OF the information which has besn
gained"
Now. sir. have the proof sheets Of part Of the
publication which the Secretary OF the Interior said he
had caused 10 be prepared has not yet been laid upon
our tables The Senate should be informed OF the extent
OF this census for the printing OF which they about TO
direct their committee TO contract The census OF Mary
land which he proposes exhibit TO the Senate contains
short history OF the State, and history of each county
OF the State giving the period at which il settled by
whom II was settled, and great deal OF information OF
this kind II the whole census printed upon this basis
il will take twenty thirty volumes rs large the
volumes Of the archives OF The government and i will
involve the expenditure of at least half million Of dol
lars. Ought not 10 know what il is involve before
we contract tor the printing OF Before the publication
Of work OF this character, ought the work
itself. and to form some judgment of lis utility What
does the resolution say!
BE At rssoeed &c. That the Joint Committee on Printing
be directed TO contract with Doneison Il Armstrong for
printing the census returns, such they
deem reasonable.
What is to be printed Ii it is to be history of each
one OF the United States. and then history OF each
county IN each one OF these States giving the population,
giving the period at which each county settled, by
whom it was settled; if il is 10 be such work as
has been prepared in reference 10 Maryland. ought to
know IT, and each ought 10 examine il beloe we
should vote for such work as this 10 be published But
II 1t IS OF sufficient value to be printed in this FORM then
ought to be printed in the best STYLE regardless OF the
at all repeal il ought 10 be printed in the best manner
regardless OF expense For one desire to see and ex
anime The sample OF the work which the Secretary of the
Interior says he has prepared to exhibit to the Senate,
and which ls now being printed and which will be laid
upon our tables desire that it shall be laid there and
that may have an opportunity TO examine for myself and
uo n0S hlu Into
Mr.. HAMLIN. Will the senator from Maryland allow
me TO inquire whether the printing which he has alu
being printed Task this because have been informed
and the information is such deem reliable. although
DO not state from my own knowledge-!hat for some
and nothing now being done towards the completion OF
MIR MANGUM. II the senator from Maryland will
sus bureau two or three days ago. who informed that
this work was in progress now and would be
peted and that i was impossible to form any just esti-
until that work could be laid before the Senate. think,
sr--hongh have sort of objection these gentle
men-that this is an unusual proceeding II the gentle
men named in the resolution shall be employed have no
doubt That they will perform the duties well any
other persons. have no choice in that respect at ali
But do think before embarking in so large expend
ture-and we recollect what immense sums il cost ten
years since-we ought to know something OF the extent
TO which we are about TO contract hope the senator
from Indiana will press the immediate consideration
of this resolution in the absence of this information but
will LET us know what we areabont to do.
II has been said that half million of dollars will be
required. Sir, II will be three half millions in all proba
bhty nearer that sum than half million, When we
proceed 10 contract upon this magnificent scale. hope
we shall not take leap in the dark. hope that mat
Ter so important this, affecting deeply the public
treasury, will not be pressed upon scarcely quorum OF
the body AT all events before gives vote amatvely
upon any proposition OF this sort, desire 10 know what
VIII be the probable amount TO be expended; and that
can only be asceralned when this work shall be laid
upon our table, II will be approximation even
then.
MIR. PRATT. do not know tina, the work has been
suspended know tina, it has been commenced; for
have seen the proof shees OF twelve fifteen
pages, and perhaps more, of the Maryland of
which the Secretary of the Interior speaks II it has
been suspended should like to be informed why has
been suspended. | wish for information upon that
point do not know with whom the contract made
TO PRINT IT. and should like 10 know whether the printer
under that contract IS 10 be connected with the contract
TO be made under this resolutions and 10 know whether
the suspension has no, been from desire TO get the
work to be contracted for under this resolution know
nothing about II but should desire 10 have all tis ex
planned
But my great object in rising TO ask the attention
OF the Senate TO this single point: II the work is TO be
published IN the manner proposed By the Secretary OF
the Interior we should examine II and what It's
and whether IT is work which will do credit TO the
country before we order lis publication II il is merely
publication OF The census and If IL is like the last
sus mere tabular statement of population, &c, then
should have no objection 10 any mode OF publication
which should be required by any senator. But il il is
TO be published in this extended FORM TO be the
view oil The Secretary Of the Interior il has been pro-
posed, and il will be published If this resolution
passes, FAY that we have not sufficient information with
regard TO the character of the work 10 enable
unders'andngly upon IT,
Mr.. GWlN. ! think the very argument OF the sena-
tor from Maryland and the from North Carolina
Iusthes US IN passing this resolution now. The main
object OF delay, advocated by them is the want of in
formation at present. We get clear OF that difficulty by
referring the whole OF this subject Joint committee OF
the two houses. The resolution 10 print the
is not 10 print historical account OF each State OF the
Union, as the senator from Maryland has suggested If
II - thought necessary 10 give such history The COM
mittee will for instructions extend the pub
LEGATION. This is publication OF the seventh census II
is now wanted at this very time
Mr.. BADGER Tin his seat What for
ML GWlN What is IT taken for, If IL not wanted
should like 10 know II II is not intended 10 20 among
The permanent archives OF the country and ft not
wanted, u would not have been taken want il pub
hshed at once senator says 1t will cost several half
millions Well, sir, If we postpone it from week to week
al once II we intend TO give out by contract let
do II at once Why need we postpone it IL think it
would 60 very appropriately before the Joint Committee
on Printing and II they want additional power they will
come 10 the Senate and House OF Representatives We
want action upon this subject We want the work pro-
crossing.
The senator from Maryland ntimated that the volume
being published might be printed in the office OF
these gentlemen that they might directly indirectly
have been The OF the suspension. take il for
granted that this is not The public to have the
census printed. II we postpone II TO next Monday we
have another special order hen--anoher joint resou
tion-upon which the senator from Louisiana Mr. |
Dowssl has the floor and shall keep putting IL
of from time TO time for know not how long. think
IS better TO have II passed and have the work
printed
Mr. PRATT | hovo ham ainoplarlv unfortunate n