The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, April 10.
Several petitions and resolutions of one or
two State Legislatures, of no general import
ance, were presented and referred to appropri-
ate committees.
Mr.. Stanton, of Tennessee, chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs, replied to the
charge made against the Senate on former
day. in which it was stated that the Senate had
passed the Naval bill without understanding
the nature of the amendments that had been
introduced by the Naval Committee of that
body, from which he exonerated it. He then
alluded to the arguments that had been ad.
duced against the present mode of promotion
in the navy which he thoeght should be found
ed on merit as well as seniority. and stated
that he was instructed by the committee to re-
port bill requiring an alteration in the naval
code. He expressed himself as being opposed
to courts-martial on board ships. He stated
the reasons on which he grounded his opinions.
and was in favorof leaving the responsibility
of punishment with the captain; and concluded
by analyzing the bill which he was instructed
TO report as substitute for that sent from the
Senate and by stating his conviction that the
expedition to Japan was legitimate one, and
is intended to promote the interests of human
ity and SCIENCE
Mr. German, of Indiana, from the Printing
Committee made report or rather explana-
ton, of what had taken place with reference to
the public printing, from which it appeared
that owing to the neglect or inability of Mr..
Hamilton, the contractor, to perform the work,
the committee had given that which had been
already ordered by the House, to Messrs Don
elson & Armstrong, and Gideon & Co, but dis
avowing any intentionsof appointing another
Public Printer, but only to act in accordance
with the law under which the committee is APP
pointed He stated that every opportunity had
been afforded Mr. Hamilton, who had been
heard before the committee, although he had
made different statement in paper which
had been circulated in the House this morning
Mr.. Haven, of New York, another member
of the committee, confirmed the statements of
Mr.. German, and stated that the light print
ing had been satisfactorily performed by the
Public Printer, and that with reference to the
appointment of others to complete his contract
there were as many opinions prevailing in the
committee as there are members
Mr. Dean, of New York. moved that the
House resolve itself into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union upon which,
the yeas and nays being ordered, it was mega
tiyed-yeas So, nays 95.
MIR. Brown, of Mississippi, moved that the
report be printed.
Mr.. Florence meved to substitute u resolu-
ton, to the effect that the report be referred
back to the committee and that when the
contractor fails to perform the work required
of him, they be required to advertise for ten
ders ten days and award the contract to the
lowest responsible bidder.
Mr.. Houston, of Alabama, inquired if the
resolutions were in order, and the Speaker de-
cded in the affirmative
Mr.. Brown, Of Mississippi, reviewed the
course which had been pursued by the com
| mittee. He contended that the work was as
forward as usual, and that the tendency Of the
course pursued by the committee must be to
destroy the credit of the contractor, and to pre-
vent his completing his contract The result
of the course which had been pursued by tire
committee, he contended would be to send
l VIM. Hamilton back ut future period for re-
Enumeration for the damages ne had sustained
in breaking up the contract in the manner pro-
posed
After some further remarks by Mr.. b., the
House adjourned
WEDNESDAY, APRIL ID.
The House resumed the consideration Of the
report made yesterday by Mr.. German, from
the Committee on Public Printing, in vindica-
ton of the act of the committee, employing
Donelson & Armstrong to execute the work for
the House. and Gideon Co. printing for the
Senate.
marks from yesterday in opposition to the ar
rangement, and in favor of disconnection be-
tween the public printing and the party press.
| AZ inf ha
in view the establishment of National
Printing Office; and he indicated Mr.. Hamil-
ton, the contractor, from the remarks made at
feeting his manner of performing the work !;
| and charged that the object in breaking him
down was to build up the political press.
Mr. Polk alluded to a remark made by Mr..
Brown, of Mississippi, yesterday, as to the lat
ter acting with Mr.. Rantoul, Of Massachusetts,,
on old party issues, which occasioned consider
able excitement, (but no blows,) Mr.. Polk
speaking in a style that was not calculated to
please the gentleman To whom he replied he,
to end the confusion which prevailed, moved
that the whole subject of the public printing
he laid upon the table.
Pending this motion, the House went into a
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, and resumed the consideration of the
bill to give every man homestead Of one hun
dred and sixty acres of land on condition Of
occupying and cultyating the same for pc
riod Of five years.
Mr.. Jenkins addressed the Committee in OPP
position TO the bill, when the Committee rose,
and the House adjourned.
THURSDAY, APRIL IS.
The Speaker announced, as the first business
in order, the report OF the Committee on Print
ing, (giving the reasons for employing Messrs
Donelson & Armstrong and Messrs. Gideon 4
Co. to execute printing for the House and Sen
ate, respectively and that the pending motion
was to lay the whole subject upon the table
The House having been called, 100 members
answered to their names.
Mr.. Clingman lMr Polk having withdrawn
his motion at that gentlemans request) gave
his views against the action Of the committee,
and insisting that the arrangement was made
with view TO benefit Donelson & Armstrong.
Mr.. Jones. of Tennessee, sustained the report,
and stated that he was opposed to the cstab
lishment of Printing Bureau, on account of
the abuses to which il would lead He declared
himself in favor of repeating the present con-
tract law, and electDg Public Printer by
each House.
Mr.. Fitch opposed the action OF the Printing
Committee and one OF his reasons for doing 10
was, that they had bestowed the printing on
partisan editors while contract was IN force
Mr.. Stanton, Of Kentucky, justified the re-
port of the committee, and in the course OF his
remarks, in noticing the charge Of coalition,
said that the only overture which had been
made was from Ellwood Fisher, OF the Southern
Press, who proposed that the committee should
divide the printing between his establishment
and that OF the Union and when he was told
that this could not be done, he threatened war
10 the knife.
Mr. Parker Of Indiana, argued that the