The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-08
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DE BATE.
TUESDAY, JANUARY o, 1852.
ohtAN N y LIS
SEVENTH CENSUS,

N consider the following resolution, introduced by Mr.
BRIGHr and reported back by the Committee on Printing
bs directed with Donelson Armstrong for print
ing the returns upon such terms the committee
may deem easohaDie
Mr. BORLAND When this resolution was before the
Senate on previous day. stated that should offer an
amendment TO IT, now propose TO strike the words
Joint Committee on Printing, and insert " Secretary of
the Senate and Clerk OF the House of Representatives
shall also further TO amend by striking the
word committee" in the latter part of the resolution
and inserting Secretary OF the Senate and Clerk Of the
House OF Representatives,, so as 10 make il read
sisleny with the first amendment
The PRESIDENT. If the former amendment is adopt
ed the latter follows matter OF course.
Mr. BORLAND. do not offer this amendment with
the view, as some might suppose, OF defeating the resou
hon offer 1t in good faith, for the purpose of putting
the resolution ~ on IN what consider The proper form am
due 10 The Commiee on Printing, 10 myself particularly
as chairman OF that committee and still more due to the
Senate, that this alteration should be made in the resou
reported from the committee In its present form
the resolution proposes to impose duties upon the Com
mlitee on Printing which do not think ought 10 be i'm
posed upon II, and which think calculated do injury
rather than good TO the public service II requires ex-
ecuye rather administrative duties OF the committee
class OF duties which not required OF the other
mittees OF the Senate. Ii constitutes them executive
board and imposes upon them duties analogous those
which are performed in every other department of the
government by bureau at the other end of the avenue
am not opposed to performing any duty which the SEN
ate may impose upon me as The member OF any commit
tee. think have abored faithfully know have la
OF duties which have been imposed upon the Committee
on Printing and those duties well known to be ar
duous. But, sir, opposed to being burdened by du
ties which have neither the time competency to
perform in manner or with results satisfactory to my
self or useful to the public and which, if had the
lime and competency to perform ever SO WE'LL were never
intended 10 be performed by any senator. and not
contemplated or provided for in The organization of the
committees OF this body.
This resolution requires the Committee on Printing TO
20 out into the streets, were, and engage in chatter
ing and bargaining with those who wish to do this por
lion of the public work. The mere statement OF this
fact seems to me, shows that the resolution is wrong
his respect, and imposes duties upon senators which
would carry them beyond their legitimate and proper
sphere, and utterly incompatible with their other and ap
propHate duties.
have said that do feel competent to perform the
duties required by this resolution. repeat II with
phass, and in all sincerity and candor. There de-
tails in the proposed arrangement Of this business which
do not understand and which have neither time nor
inclination to learn But the persons whom propose to
substitute in the place OF the committee have the quail
hcations which do not possess Ii is in the line OF their
duty-a duty which they have habtuay performed for
years past
edge of the printing and publishing business from hav
ing heretofore been engaged in il but do not know
enough about it TO do this work ought TO be done
and as II must be done, II The public interest is TO be
taken care OIL TO require II OF me is 10 require imposs
blues al my hands; and now notify the Senate and all
concerned that II, notw outstanding what have said the
resolution shall pass IN It's present iorm other MEM
Der OF the committee will have TO perform the duties it
imposes, il they shall he performed at all. But who is
the member who will or who can perform them Sir,
turn my associate the committee, the senator from
Maine, Mr. HAMIIN1 who alone may be supposed 10 be
competent perform these duties, and he says that like
myself, he is not am sure, then, other member OF
the committee IS competent
In justice the other members OF the committee and TO
myself must say do mol oppose the imposition OF these
duties upon us because VIE are unwilling 10 perform any
amount OF labor, assume any responsibility which may
legitmatey fall 10 our share, but, sir, because ] am
convinced that these cannot properly be required OF
and even II they could be- they exceed our powers oil
performance The passage OF tho resolution, then, in its
present iorm WILL IN my opinion, result in confusion IN
the public business, and in all probability defeat the OBJ
Ject sought TO be accomplished by lis introduction. On
the other hand, If the gentlemen propose TO substitute
for the committee be charged with these duties there is
the best for believing they will be faithfully and
Mr.. CASS. Mr. President. wish to say but
word upon this subject Ii seems TO that, under any
view which can take of il, this committee is quite as
competent 10 make this contract the Secretary oil the
Senate and the Clerk OF the House oil Representatives,
think is as proper for the committee 10 attend to II ;
there is clerk 10 that committee who will collect all the
acts necessary 10 enable HIM 10 Judge OF the matter
10 safer TO vest the responsibility in that com
mee than in the Secretary OF the Senate and the Clerk
OF the House OF Representatives II is a duty which
more naturally belongs TO them and wsh for one, that
The honorable gentlemen would undertake that duty and
proceed 10 its performance Ii they will not | should
much rather see select committee appointed for the
work than TO throw the responsibility upon the Secretary
OF The Senate and the Clerk Of the House Of Representa-
ives Is great deal better that 1t should be done by
committee OF our own as II seems 10 me.
Mr BRIGHT. The practical effect of the amendment
offered by the honorable from Arkansas [Mr
BoRLAspl would be to let out this printing 10 the lowest
bidder That, for one, wish to avoid; for our recent
experience proves that cannot under this system get
our work done in a suitable and proper manner and in
time 1t is clearly manies, that this work, in order 10 be
valuable, should be performed soon. We willing TO
pay fair prices for doing il, provided ii is done rightly
Hence the resolution framed with reference 10 pay
ing fair price, and with reference TO giving the work TO
gentlemen who will go right on with II. am sorry TO
hear the senator say that he is unwilling TO undertake
the labor of dsposng OF this work. which legitimately
belongs 10 the committee. There precedents upon
the journals showing that have heretofore authorized
the public printing 10 be done through the medium OF the
Committee Printing. hope the senator will recon.
sder that determination The Committee on Printing OF
the two houses can afford do that which the officers of
this body dare not do The committee OF the two houses
can aSord TO say that they will give to gentlemen quail
he'd and ready do this work fair price for IT, and they
would not be censured for doing But il officers OF
this body should undertake TO do that they would sub
ect themselves TO cenaure and il is for the purpose OF
relieving them OF that wish the contract TO be
made by the committee OF the two houses, who would be
sustained in giving fair price, provided they could be
sure that the work would be done Immediately, and done
well For these reasons, hope the amendment VIII not
he adopted
Mr.. B0RLAND repeat that il is not 10 avoid either
labor or responsibility that ! proposed This amendment
am ready to perform labor or 10 responsibility,
here or elsewhere as any other senator have never
shmnk from either | would remind the Senate, how
ever in support of what have already said, that the
Committee Printing acting under the JOINT resolu.
ton OF 1sd6, which prescrbes their duties when that
committee appointed they looked TO that resolution
for the fnle and prescription OF their duties and hold
that is mol proper competent for the Senate to change
and