Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1851-03-08

ton larger than these contraCtorS'.-
Ii you relieve Mr.. Richie, what JUS
tlce do you propose to mete out to
Iowersl He obtained the printing
Of the first class by submitting low
er proposals than the contractors who
now importune you most inmodest-
ly; and because he has executed his
work promptly and faithfully, strictly
according to the specifications, and
has made no petition for increased re-
enumeration, you will admeasure to
him no farthing of your generous
llberality out Of the peoples money.
Wendell 81 Van Benthuysen were
the printers to the last Congress, and
the first contractors under the sys-
tenn Of letting the printing to the low
est bidders. They had no experience
to direct them in framing their bids.
1t was with them an unttied expert
ment. They executed the work un-
der that contract, and with as much
prompitude and fidelity as MIR. Rich
le, at a loss to themselves of $4,000.
Mr.. Ritchie had all the light which
their experience furnished, and under
took voluntarily the contract he now
seeks so approximately to cancel
Now, sir, how could the sense of JUS
tlce of this House consent to vote
thousands of dollars Of profit TO one
contractor, as this bill proposes, with
out at least indemnifying the full loss
of another equally meritorious?
The agricultural part of the Patent
Office report for lS49 still fingers in
the hands of these .'prompt and faith
ful'' contractors, when our constitu-
ents should have received them at
least six months ago. Many of the
documents ordered at the last ses-
sion are now just making their way
into the light of day; but still these
contractors shave done more work,
and delivered it as promptly as their
predeceSsors"l Mr.. Ritchie has here
tofore made a moderate fortune out
ofthe public printing, but now, threat
ened with loss, he appeals to Con
gress to rescind the bargain of his
own making, that he may add liber
ally to that fortune. His age anG
services are pointed to as an argu-
ment in his behalf They may very
properly stimulate a becoming res
,pect for him, but do not furnish
sound reason for quartering him on
the Treasury of this Republic.
Mr.. Speaker, [ have gone more
eIaborately into this subject than
desired, but it was necessary to vindi-
cate myself from the imputation of
ignorance, which was so hppantly
made through the columns of the
Union against me.
/ know, sir, that shall be fercely
assailed- for that man is unfortunate
indeed who thrusts himself between
the lion and his prey-but / expect
the independent press Of the country
to do me jusctice. | have exposed
the parties implicated in this transac-
ton boldly and fearlessly, not with
the hope of making reputation, but
for the sake of the country and my
conscience. And, sir, whilst it is my
desire to cherish the kindliest rela-
tion towards my fellow-man, yet |
will permit no personal considerations
10 swerve me from the performance
of my convictions of duty. / NAV
have misconceived this whole sub
.ect; if so, / will have the magma
nimity, when convinced of my error,
to repair the injury, But until more
light is disseminated upon the ques-
ton, it is my duty to protest most
earnestly against the passage of the
bill now upon the Clerks desk.
The Young One Caught.-A Par
is correspondent of the New York
Herald relates the following unpala-
table incident of young American:
"Fhe Masquerade balls are sha-
king their jolly bells, and every Sat
urday the Grand Opera is crowded
with host of dominoes and costumes
of the funniest kind.
81 will finish this long letter by the
narration of a short anecdote which
took place on Saturday last, at the
masquerade ball ofthe Grand Opera.
An American young man, Mr.. P.,
who is visiting Paris with the 'old
folks was there alone, to see the
elEphant, and to have some new
fun. His great desire was to meet
an angel of the fair sex. He first
looked all around, waiting to take a |
decision the moment he should find |
a fine waist and small foot. These |
beauties he discovered in a domino |
of small figure, who took his arm and
began to intrigue with him, The la
du told him hia mama fhn city nl tho