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

/ "uu IL So, lne system would be abrO-
gated and Mr.. Richie would get the
baneft." All these reasons have been
assigned by MIR. Richie or his friends
| Tor taking the contracts so low; and
doubtless they had their weight with
the contractors in framing their bids:
but still a prudent mind could hardly
credit that such heavy pecuniary
responsibility would be incurred on
such contingencies. The true expla-
tnatfan, as | conceive, for the low
bids, is deducible from the testimony
OF two of the witnesses examined be-
fore the select committee. After the
advertisement inviting proposals for
the printing of this Con4ress had been
published, Messrs. WASHINGTON &
Fllnn, of this city, determined to sub
INIT bid; if successful it was their
intention 10 establish anothes Demo
cratic paper, and a gentleman of
character and talents was written TO
for the purpose of obtaining him as
editor, Fllnn was practical printer,
but Washington was wholly neXpe-
rIenced pressman, neither of them
having any knowledge of that branch
of the business. They consulted one
Gordon, the foreman in the press
room of the Union office, and offered
him an interest in the contract if it
was obtained, communicating to him
fully their purpose of establishing
new paper. He assented to the ar
rangement, as Finn understood, and
actually furnished them with data
upon which they might predicate
safe and profitable bid. The bid was
framed according to Gordon's sug-
gestion, and handed to the Secretary
of Printing Board. Gordon, in his
evidence, denies that he consented to
become Of the partners in the firm,
but acknowledged that Finn said ''if
he got the printing he would force
Ritchie to sell the Union, or he would
set up new Office over his head
that he had good hackers in the Sen
ate, Gordon communicated all
these facts to Messrs. Ritchie q
Trenholm. | had not seen either
Belts or Trenholm's bid before, but
hnOD these bids ,Oere changed in con-
sequence Of this information, and thae
to secure the contracts they ecere placed
toCcr than the bidders originally de-
signed. When the bids were opened
1T was found that Finn 81 Washing
ton were the next lowest bidders TO
Belt on the second, third and fourth
classes, and 10 Trenholm on The fifth
class, and that they would have OBJ
tained the three first classes but for
Gordon's betrayal. This furnishes a
key which explains the whole tran
saction. 1t appeared strange that
two brothers-in-law, (Belt and Tren-
holm,) working in the same office,
should each submit bids; but if my
conjecture is right, this is the expla-
nation: When Gordon made the
communication, Trenholm's bid had
already been deposited, and it was
determined, rather than subject Cor
don TO any suspicion by withdrawing
Arenholm's bid, that another bid
should be prepared in the name OF
Belt, and that his prices should be
fixed lower than Finn &, Washing
TOMS; consequently Belt underbid
them on the second, third, and fourth
classes, and obtained the contracts
Trenholm's bid being doubtless lower
on the fifth class originally than the
other firm; Belt bid above both of
them. But the important fact which
this evidence of Gordon g. Flinu de-
velopes is this, that Mr.. Ritchie, to
defeat the establishment of another
Democratic paper here, determined
to have the contracts at all hazards,
be the loss what it might; and he
perhaps acted wisely, looking to his
pecuniary interests. The Union tOas
the recognised organ of the party; he
paid originally a large sum for its
purchase, and doubtless had increas-
ed its materials, furniture, &c. The
buildings, presses, good will, &c,
were worth then $4,000, at least
Another paper here, which would re-
duce his subscription list, and lead
perhaps to intestine pickering in the
party, would have materially depre-
ciated the value Of the Union Office,
and shorn him of some of the power
which he welded through the col.
umns of his press; superadded to
this, the contingent hope that the par
ty would be iplpowerin both Houses,
and would relieve him from loss, may
have well authorised him in taking
! the eeontracts low. He obtained them,
| defeated the project of Finn 81
Washington, and prevented thereby
| the SleDreciation In the value of his