The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 1851.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 1851.
Indemnity to the Public Printer.
The report and Joint resolution, were read, az
follows: t1N
The COMMITTEES on printing, to whom was re-
ferred the memorial of Thomss Richie, party
to the contract Of William NJ. Belt, to execute
certain classes of the printing Of Congress, ask
ing that some arrangement may be made by
which he may be auitably compensated, report
the follow ing joint resolution
Resolucd, That William NJ. Belt, the contrac-
for for executing the second, fourth, and fifth
classes of the printing for the thirty-6rst Con-
gress, bo and he II hereby relieved from the
terms OF his contract, and that in lieu of said
terms, he shall receive AZ compensation for the
work he has already executed under said con-
tract payment at the rate Of one-half the prices
paid for the public printing under the Joint res
Gluten of 1919; and that no shall faithfully ex-
ecute remainder of the work contemplated
by said contract, aud be paid for it at the same
rate: Provided, The aid William NJ. Belt shall
notify the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of
the House Of Representatives, within five days
from the passage of this resolution of his accep-
lance OF and agreement to its terms.
Resolsed, That the executive powers and du-
ties Of the Committee on Printing, as defined in
the section Of the joint resolution directing the
manner Of procuring the printing for the two
Houses Of Congress, approved August Sd, 1916,
be, and the same are hereby conferred upon the
secretary Of the Senate and the clerk of the
House of Representatives; and in case any in
convenient delay should be at any time expe-
rienced by either House in the delivery Of its
work, said secretary and clerk, respectively,
shall be authorized to employ another printer
to execute any portion of the work of the Sen
ate or House, and charge the excess in the &C.
count of said printer for executing such work,
above the ,pSice at which either Of the present
printers have agreed to execute it, to the printer
guilty Of such negligence or delay.
The joint resolution for the relief of Thomas
Richie, on the subject Of the public printing,
was read first and second time by it's title.
Mr.. McWILIIE said: At this period of the
session | will not detain the House by an arQu-
ment in favor of this resolution The commit
tee, OF which am a member, at the last session
OF Congress made report upon this subject,
which led to considerable discussion. There
was also report made by select committee of
this house, which brought very fully before
Congress- the facts connected with the public
printing. There was also, during the late ses-
sion OF Congress, proposition somewhat sia.i-
lar to that which is now upon the table, and /
presume, therefore, that this House is about as
well informed now upon the subject,as it would
be after two or three days debate will, how
ever, say that the resolution is reported from
the committee unanimously, and we recommend
it to the House for its adoption, because we feel
that it is founded upon principles of justice and
of equity. As shall have an opportunity here
after of replying to the arguments advanced
against the resolution, will not detain the
House further at present.
Mr.. ORR obtained the floor and said
Mr.. SPEAKER: Before entering upon the dis
cussion OF the bill submitted to the House for
consideration by the chairman of the Committee
on Printing, | desire to put myself right, in re-
ference to controversy which has arisen by the
publication, in the Globe, of speech which
made at the close of the last session, on the
proposition to release the public printers from
their contracts. -
II there was any wrong perpetrated by pcA-
fishing on "Wednesday, remarks made on We
preceding Friday, am responsible for it alone
The debate which gave rise to the remarks oc-
Cured on Friday night. Congress adjourned
on Monday, at twelve o'clock That evening |
consolidated the remarks of three FIVE minutes
speeches in ono, and carried it that night to the
Globe Office, and requested its publication in
the Daily Globe of the next morning. The
foreman stated that they were too much crow
ded to accommodate me. Insisted that its pub
lication should not be postponed longer than
"Wednesday morning, and gave him substantially
this reason, that expected Mr. Richie would
at once assail those who had been prominent to
defeat him, in carrying bill which would give
him from $4,000 to $4,000, as gratuity for
the non-performance of his contract; and that it
was due to us, as well az the country, that the
facts elected by the discussion should 90 forth
at once to repel his unjust assaults The se-
quel showed that had not misjudged Mr. Rit-
cle's purpose. On Tuesday morning, the Union
two columns Of the most reckless
Of facts, concluding with slanderous
imputaton upon the motives of the honorable
members from Kentucky Mr.. MARSHALL and
Maryland MIR. EVANS, ms well as lmy own
But his perverted facts and sanderous imputa-
tons were short-lived. They did not survive
the rising Of two suns If | had succeeded in
procuring the appearance Of my remarks on
Tuesday morning, a. | had desire |, the little
effect which Mr.. Riches prosy broadsi e pro-
duced, would have been neuxalized; nv anti
dote would have rendered entirely harmless his
poison. Whatever Of harm remained after
"Wednesday morning to truth and justice, in Mr.
Ritchie's philippe, was most signally dissipated
by the publication of the remarks Of my gallant
friend from Kentucky, [Mr. MARsHALL,l on
morning trust, then, no prejudice
will result to Mr. Rives, the House reporter,
from the publication of my remarks on Wednes-
day instead of Thursday morning. The whole
responsibility is upon my shoulders.
In subsequent article, Mr.. Richie, in very
general terms, charged that my remarks were
" filled with mstatements, indicative of mingled
Ignorance and hostility" / do not claim to bs
infal'ible. Mr.. Speaker, but can with truth de-
clare that hostility" to political adversary
has never yet caused me willfully to perpetrate
against him any injustice. In the discharge or
the high trusts confded to me by generous
my rule has thus far been the wise
admonition of the fallen Wooisey-
THAT once trod the ways of glory,
And sounded all the depths and shoals Of honor -
to his faithful friend Comwel, when he babe
him
.Be lust and fear not