The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-01
Tn. Congregational Prlnss.s.


The resolution for the relief of Mr.. Richie
passed the House yesterday by considerable
majority. This is another tribute to the wis
dom and good sense of the policy which in
duced the adoption Of the contract system.
The truth is that the DEMOCRATS are entirely
too smart for the Wines in all these matters.
When the DEMOCRATS have majority in both
Houses, they will elect their own printers and
pay them fair prices. When they are in the
minority, they will introduce a contract sys-
tenn, and give the printing to the lowest bid
der, who will of course be Democrat.
lie will do the work according to his bid, and
VIII entertain no doubt whatever that towards
the close of his term the fidelity and perse-
verance of his Democratic friends, and the
generosity, or sense Of justice, Of his Wing
adyersaries, will compensate him for his losses
and remunerate him for his services.
We would not be understood as advocating
an adherence to the contract system in the exc
cution Of the public printing. 1t has failed
wherever it has been tried. We understand
that in the State Of New York it has very
much increased the annual expenses. Mr..
CRoswELL the State printer of the Albany
Regency, was once known as $4,000 CRos-
WELL; $4,000 being stated as the average
of his annual bills for the public printing. 1t
is said that the printing bills under the con-
tract system amour; to from 100000 to
$4,000 per annum. With regard to the
printing of Congress-it has been exc
cuted for four years under the contract sys-
tenn in style that would disgrace an assembly
Of Hottentots, but superior probably to what
was called for by the price paid. The contract
system has given it to one Democratic gentle
man at ruinously low price, and Congress
steps in to relieve him. For the next Congress
it has been given to another Democratic gen.
tleman at still more ruinous price, and Con-
gress will of course step in to relieve him.
And thus it win ever be, as long as parties and
human nature remain what they are.
We are not now censuring the Wines for
voting one way or the other on this resolution
Wines who think that the contract has not
been duly executed by Congress, and that the
delays to which he has been subject in the fur
nishing of the manuscript, and the payment Of
his bills, entitle Mr. RIrcHIE to an equitable
allowance.
Others rely upon the fact that good WHO
lawyers, such as Mr., FENDALL and Mr.. BAD
SER, agree with Mr.. WALKER in the opinion
that, in the fair Interpretation Of his contract,
Mr.. RIrcHIE is justly entitled to larger sum
than he will receive under the settlement by
the resolution.
Still, other WINGS can see no propriety in,
relieving Mr.. RIvEs by large gratuities on the
asking, and Withholding releffrom MI. Richie
Some WHIas also think that the old gentleman
had been prosecuted by the ultras-by JOHN
WENTWORTH, JOHN G.. RlvEs, the Globe,
and the Evening Post, on one side, and
by the Southern Press, ORR, Brown, WAL
LACE, and their associates, on the other.
We are inclined to think that this was the
operating cause with most of the WINGS who
voted relief. They thought that Mr.. RrrcHE,
though an old, was repentant sinner, and
that he had manifested disposition Of late
to compensate, as far as he might for his former
misdeeds, by devoting himself to the cause Of
the Union and the Constitution. There is
something in this argument. When men act
right we are not disposed to inquire too curl
ously into their motives.