The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-29
Deferred Debate.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Jan. 90, 1859.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, Jan. &c, 1884,
PRINTING OF THE CENSUS.
Mr.. GQRMAN, from the Committee on Pub.
lie Printing reported the following joint resolu-
ton:
Bel resolved by The Senate and House Of Rep
reseniatipes Of the United States Of America in
Congress assembled, That the joint committee
on printing be directed 10 contract with Messrs.
Donelson g. Armstrong for printing and binding
the Census on such terms as they may think
reasonable and proper, the work to be executed
under the direction Of the Secretary Of the In
terror and to be paid for as it progresses by the
head of the Census Bureau, with power 10 abate
from the amount stipulated If the work when
executed shall prove deficient or below the
standard which may be agreed upon.
The joint resolution was read first and sec.
ond time by its title.
A discussion having arisen on this resolution
Mr.. VENERABLE said: Mr.. Speaker, I am
very much gratifed-being called out of the
House by business-that | returned during the
discussion of this question. should have been
exceedingly unwilling to have had il passed with.
out expressing my opinion and giving my vote
upon IT, When say this, do not suppose that
any expression of opinion ] can present will cen.
troll that Of individuals Of this House But, sir,
have been at all times unwilling that this subject
Of public printing should pass from before the
House until the country should understand, and
fully understand, all that was meant by this cor.
rupiion fund. We have heard gentlemen make
great objections TO letting the printing out TO
the lowest bidder. which has been denounced,
oil around this ,use as n miserable failure ::
and, by way Of amending il, il is proposed to
let it out to the highest bidder-by way Of 70.
lieving the House from difficulty they let il out
to the highest bidder; that is they limit the
committee; they designate the individual with
whom that committee Is to mako the contract.
and they cannot make contract with anybody
else. Now, should suppose
Mr.. GORMAN. The contract is TO be made
upon such terms as the committee shall deem
reasonable. ] ask my honorable friend from
North Carolina If he supposes the gentlemen
composing the Committee on Printing Will
make the contract upon terms unreasonable and
unjust 10 the country aud the government
Mr. VENABLE. My gallant friend Is a fair
minded man. know he has no purpose, but
fair purpose. Why not say, the committee shall
contract with some person 10 do the public
printing? Why give il 10 Donelson g. Arm.
strong! What claims have thoy upon us, or
upon the country Mr.. Doneison has been
called the administrator of General Jackson's
opinions. say, he is administrator, not only
in his wrong, but in General ia ,kson's wrong.
Aye, sir, he has no claims upon me, or upon those
whom represent felt the influence Of his
power during the last summer. ! will never
paya man 10 whip me. can get il done cheaper
Laughter. The Union paper contains The
highest federal Neutrality-suspicious. with which
never had any sympathy, and never can have.
and therefore il has no claims upon me. If Il
held the best Of principles, would oppose IL,
whether II bad claims upon me or upon those
whom ] repRsent Ioppose the principle by
which the offer for this printing is TO be narrowed
down, and the contract given TO a single indiyid.
ual. II there were one hundred men in the
country who sell bread, can you say that the
hungry shall trade only with one man? There
can be no question upon that subject Why are
Donelson a. Armstrong suggested! Do we
mean to give away the public printing as pen.
sion propose TO make the public printing
TAX upon the treasury--and say that the present
system of giving IL TO the lowest bidder Is bad
one? ] can differ with gentlemen upon prn
ciple, and respect them, because they have right
to their opinions They assert them independ.
emily and act upon them but ! can feel no such
sympathy or respect when the question becomes
one Of plumber. know where IL begins, but
not where trends. Then ask, IL the committee
restricted 10 contract with Donelson a. Arm.
strong, and Donelson a. Armstrong alonei ri
that is so, they have some claims upon us. Let
those claims be pointed out Let them tell the
country, and let us all know how great pension
hey are entitled to. Let us fix the amount, so
4 we make the settlement, we will know when J
we are done paying
ia pension is 10 be given, let MS know how
much we are giving. II the contract for printing
e TO open II to the world, open IL TO all compe.
'ition, and give the committee the discretion to
make the contract with individuals who shall