The New York herald., 1851-08-15


public advertising from the different departments,
as belonging to it under the law The twelfth se:-
tion of the act Gan appropriation act) of March 3,
1915, declares
That in all cases where proposals for any contract or
contracts TO be made by any of the executive depart
ments or bureaus in all where notices any de-
seipon issuing from the required by law
TO be advertised the same shall be advertised by pubca
tion in the two newspapers in the city OF Washington
having the largest permanent subscription and at the
discretion Of the Executive in any third paper that may
be published in said city provided that the charges for
such publications shall not be higher than such
provided. se, that the said publications shall be made
in each Of said papers equally as 10 freqency.
The terms Of this law very plain and una nb-
guous. The giving the President the right to select
even one paper, without reference to the public
good and act Of favoritism and partialty, and
the implied approval Of the exercise of his power in
that way, we did not suppose was to be found in
any act of Congress. True, he is limited to
newspaper, to be chosen in this way-that is, at
his discretion; but this provision is disreputable
to those who adopted it, was insulting to the Pres
dent and the press so selected will have the indel
BILE brand Of stipendiarism stamped upon it AS to
the other two presses the President and the secre
taries and heads of bureaus have discretion
whatever. The only questions are, which two
papers have "the largest permanent subscription"
and are their charges to government /" not higher
than such as paid by Individuals an are the
advertisements in each paper made equally as to
frequency" The SOuih0a Press, several weeks
ago, proved, understand, that it has the
largest permanent subscription larger than
either the Uni0n, Republic, Telegraph, National
Era, or Inte2igeno9. We have no doubt of the
fact, and that the Nxio~a! Era is next to it. The
other papers, Except the little Tasgraph,) have
become enervated, dull, spiritless, uninteresting,
and the public generally, for some time past,
take little interest in them; whereas, the two prints
specified have at least one idea apiece that they
sustain with spirit and ability. If the fact is
claimed by the Southern Press, it has a strict legal
right to this printing and which, it appears to
u.s. the courts in the District Of Columbia, following
the decision in Mr. kendalrs case, would sustain
upon n,andampS. The law is imperative. A re-
fusal to obey its directions would be good ground
for the Impeachment of any functonary. The
President il sworn to take care that the laws are
faithfully executed He is bound to see that bis
subordinates do not disregard and violate it. 1t is
Of little moment whether the violation is from par.
tisaa yartiality or ignorance. In such cases, the
crime is in the act When the terms Of the law are
unmistakeable, the eulpability of the motive is
infersble An honest motive will lot excuse suca
Illegal act upon an impeachment The law must
be obeyed.
The delay that has ensued as to the definite de-
cison Of this business is, perhaps, attributable to
the continued absence Of some two more Of the
administration, for several weeks past. 1t should
be settled forthwith. The President should attend
to it. 1t is his especial duty. He certainly does
not divide up his official conscience and his convc
tions OF duty into eight parts, giving to each
Of his cabinet share, and retaining share for
bimsef Ifso, he ought to constrain the Fugitive
members, we mean those absent from their Offices
to surrender their respective eighths when they 20
of. We learn that the cabinet do not all agree on
this subject and that those who do agree take dis
similar grounds One, we learn, has taken TO cy.
Iherng to get GU. Of the snar and proves by figures
that Il takes SIX weekly subscribers to equal one
daily as the latter gets his papers six times a week
and by this process the Southern press is left in The
vocative We should be glad to hear the Presi-
dents views. quondam acting secretary, we
learn, rests the on the sbsurdty Of giving the
printing Of ths government to any press that Is
striving to break it up; and it is rumored that as
set-of 70 this, the Southern Press declares its pa
triotic disposition to give at least ten thousand dol
lars year Of the PROFITS TO sustain the federal
Union, on constitutional principles, Sc. Why are
not the particulars Of this business made pu5li,,
Are there more state secretsl Delicacy should not
restrain the s. Wthan Press from making full ex-
position Of the whole matter. Give US the whole
truth. We want the documents-they are worth
dozen cart-loRds Of arguments and rigmarole
rcatoniags. Let the public have the facts. Pub
lish Mr.. Giaham's decision. Make known Mr..
Corwin's opinions Did be forget your gene -ous
endorsement Of his conduct in respect to the Flo
rda and Mexican clsimsl What did Messrs Stult
ard Conrad say and hew did the great expoundsr
Of tbe state Department expound the statute IN
such case made and provided Why does not some
ratro propose a compromise to preserve the URiOn1
Why is not an adjustment suggested to save the
RTubie' This Is an important matter, and should
be stten led to-
We have not inquired as TO tae decision Of
y. X. Hall, the Postmaster General. or the
Postmaster Corporal, for We are satisfied, if there
is wrong side, they are oo that side. The way
they construed the laws procured BY them to be
passed by Congress, to suit their own fanny,
ami to affect injuriousy, if possible sabscri-
bers in California and else where, and to keep
the people from learning through its columns. their
urftness for these places; and their fumbling AMI
bungling and twisting the law az 10 advertising
dead letters to crafty their wishes satisfied u,
to them in all parti usrs. We learn sundry edi-
tors intend to prosecute Mr.. Hall for bis conduct
i e. immaterisl to US We would not exchange
the Advertising patronage Of the chambermaids
g this city for all that the heads Of depart
ntnts cou.d beitow on any paper, fairly or unfairly
-AoLtiuy, or by rsscality, Or distortion Of the
law
LrftnrrFEof .. r. Bmuu MINISTER The B.