Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-02-07

to the charge that this House was sustaining
press with the view of giving it weight in the COM
inc presidential election; that this Congress was
making themselves party to such an arrangement,
| and indentfying themselves with party struggle
by pensioning press, which would be active in
the formation of public opinion. 1t seems to me
that this was revelant, as an argument why the
printing should not be given to Donelson & Arm
strong I assure the House, however, that 1 had
no purpose to say anything that was not directly
revelant to the subject before us. But suppose
that this proposition is not the case-limited
the committee to bargain with VIGOROUSLY cor
rupt man-and l am only putting an extreme case
it would then be certainly in order to say that
| the resolution was wrong, because it limited the
committee to bargain with very unsuitable per-
son. And that was the whole drift of my remarks.
Such press, fed by the Government out of the
public Treasury, mig succeed ip forcing upon the
country one who not suitable for the objectin
view. The committee, in no event, should be limi-
ted by vote of this House to any particular indi-
vidua inasmuch it narrowed down the field. Of
selection, and must result in the progress of events,
in system of favoritism, which neither the princ-
piles of justice nor the good sense of the people
would tolerate.
| When called to order by the gentleman from
Tennessee, Mr.. Polk, I had yielded the floor to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Howe
who asked me whether would vote for General
|
der to be respectful to the gentleman, and [ reply
that drew character for whom [ would not
vote; if it fits no person, it damages one if it
does it is his fault not mine; but decline to make
a personal application of my remarks upon the call
| he has made I have said what l intend to
say relative to the Presidency, and what 1 have
said was legitimately connected with the sub ect-
matter before the House. l have said it because [
think it due to the country that its representatives
should not adopt an indirect system of pensioning
the press. No editors of the journals of the
try should be enabled by jobs thrown in their way
to make fortune out of the Treasury for mere
party purposes. appeal to this House to say
whether it is proper that this job should be appro-
priated in the manner which this resolution pro-
poses, merely because majority of this House have
the power to do it. If the House desires to elect
public printer, let it be done, and the rates and
compensation fixed. But it is certainly wrong to
do so by indirection. Every man should have his
just dues. But if it is a bad plan to let out the
public printing to the lowest bidder, do not adopt
the other extreme of letting it out to the highest
bidder If we pass this resolution and give the
! contract to Donelson q Armstrong, we exclude
competition and if they will not do it at what the
committee consider reasonable price, you will
have no printing done, or you will have this sub
ject back again IN this House for discussion. The
whole matter will have another hearing and anoth-
er decision. [ trust the time is for us to have
! as part OF our dLl
the printing executed by own employees-whe
the whole work shall be done by us, and the entire
matter be under own control-that the time is
near when we shall get rid of this job work-this
bleeding the Treasury in order to obtain the means
of propagatng particular political doctrines, and
for the purpose of controlling public sentiment.
We have already had a good deal Of experience in
this matter. have lately seen at least article
published in organ and edtorialy introduced,
possessing the entire proportions of the original
publication, when, in fact half of the riginal
article which it protested to quote, excluded,
and the portion republished was turned to entire
! ly different purpose from that designed by its au-
thor. The first part published apparently a
whole was quite unexceptionable, and this latter
portion which did not appear giving an offensive
character to it all. 1t reminded me of Millions
archangel, ruined still beautiful and imposing in
the upper portion of his person, but very much
deformed about the lower extremities, laughter. !
For myself decline to give such papers the public
patronage. While am for paying to the last cent
every man in our employ, and while [ am for max
ing liberal allowance for that tme-whe | am
unwilling that any should work for me, or the
people l represent, or the government to which
belong, without full, fair, liberal and generous
compensation, yet demand that our accounts shall
be settled in busness-like manner. | wish TO
know for what we contracting. When the bar
gain is made all the printers in the country, all the
| PRESSES vi TIE Ue l1flIeu W
into fair and honorable competition. Letthe COM
mttee receive propositions from any who may
propose to do the work, and then let them decide
as they may think proper, according to the merits
of the several competitors. l am in favor of the
amendment of my friend from Maryland, MIR.
! Evans that the paper shall be furnished by the
| Government, and the names of the individuals in
| the resolution be stricken out.
! Mr.. GoRMAN. VIII the gentleman from North
! Carolina allow me for a moment? That gentle
man is aware that Blair & Rives did the printing
for the last census. Now, the price paid in that
case may be guide for the price in this. Now I
ask the gentleman from North Carolina if he sup
poses any committee composed of honorable men,
who have the letting of that contract, WILL for the
purpose of allowing any party to make money for
any political purpose or any other purpose, make
an arrangement fcr this census printing at rates
above those generally paid for the same kind of
work
Mr.. VENABLE. The gentleman knows that do
not doubt the honesty and integrity of any member
of that committee.
| Mr.. GoRMAN. Then l hope the gentleman will
continue to insist that the course of proceed
ing proposed in this resolution will result in cor
ruption. i'll supposed myself capable of an action
Of this kind, [ should consider myself unworthy of
a seat in this body.
! Mr.. VENABLE. 1t part of my purpose
in making these remarks, to implicate my honora-
! BILE gallant friend the chairman of tba Gomuittaa