The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
aEmAaKs os HON. mR. aoRmAr

Delivered IN The House Of Representatives. April 49, 1852
on The subject Of the Public Printing and Me Pubiit
Printer. #8 4
Mr.. GORMAN said:
Mr. SPEA6ER: did not intend again TO address the
House upon this subject after the brief explanation |
gave when made what has been determined by the
House to be report. disposition upon the part OF the
House was manifested 10 hear what the Committee on
Printing had done IN relation 10 this matter Whisper
ngs went round this hall that there was something behind
which the committee did not desire to have made known
My own honor, as then stated, and the honor OF the
committee, demanded that should report the facts OF
the case 10 the House for lis information was not IN.
sructed by The JOINT committee TO make that report and
did not intend that il should be considered as regular
report from that committee do not propose TO 20
into the general merits. have a few things, however,
that desire to say and shall endeavor TO confne my
sell as much as possible TO the points which desire the
House 10 hear me upon
What is the state or things in relation to this matter
now The Committee on Printing, under the law which
has been read and again, during This sbate,
have the power 10 remedy any neglect that may occur
on account of the inability OF the public printer 10
ecute his contract That committee. by a unanimous
vote, as has been stated 10 the House, declared that MIR
Hamilton, The public printer had failed to execute his
contract in almost every particular and there was no
remedy left them but 10 adopt such measures as their
Judgment IN the premises might dictate, Under the
power given them, they did execute that judgment IN the
best manner they could under the circumstances Bu SO
happened as the committee was constituted, that no
one could command the votes oil majority OF the com.
mttee; and consequently the printing which the public
printer had neglected TO execute not taken from him
We found that some seventy yslx OF your reports, which
had been placed in the hands of the public printer, had
never been touched we found that OF all the work
which had been presented to the committee for their
animation. not single copy came up 10 the requirements
OF the contract In view, then, OF The total failure OF the
public printer 10 execute his contract, the committee
deemed their duty TO adopt 10 get some one
else in his place 10 do what he could not would not
do This, suppose, will sufficiently explain the reasons
for our action.
Now, Mr. Speaker, of the motives which have been
attributed 10 that committee, have something 10 say
and, | deal in words which bear as strongly upon
others as the Implications OF others have upon this com
miitee, trust gentlemen will bear with And the
language towards them shall hurt they know where
II come from. That is understood.
II has been said that this committee acted with view
OF accomplishing party purpose 10 plumber the public
treasury not that the committee proposed TO punder the
public treasury themselves but that Donelson Arm
strong and the editor of the Republic proposed coali-
ton 10 this end. That is what understand the gentle
man from North Carolina Mr. CLIN0MANl TO say. Now
SIR, do not know what understanding may have taken
place between The editor OF the Republic and the editors
Of the Union; but wish to FAY to the gentleman from
North Carolina, that the Committee on Printing never
consulted with Gideon Co-not one word was ever
heard from them. No one consulted with except
Doneson Armstrong, from the beginning 10 the end
50 far as my knowledge extends unless whig mem
Der OF that committee may have consulted with Others IN
private. Ii they did never 10 the knowledge o
the committee as committee, nor to me individually
This subject OF public printing, therefore. has always
been bone OF contention before The couRry Now,
say again, that that committee have been acting upon thu
some measure TO remedy this neglect for t6anAwC
months. Fer myself say to the gentleman from
North Carolina tMr CLisGMAs.l that have. from ths
beginning, and until the last final vote taken, voted
against The Republic That last aud dnal vote given
the day before | reported what did to this House
have continued rather faithful against them, Than faith
u for Them Tor had been voting for others to have hi,
patronage from first 10 last.
Whatever Boyd Hamilton could not do under his con.
raci-whateyer he would fail 10 dothat part and thai
part sone did ever think we had right to give to any
Mr. CLIsGMAs says that we undertake TO impose upon
hs House public printer without consulting them. i:
printers in the city Of Washington to do-wbat To dc
some work which the public printer has failed or neg.
lected to do How do you know, says my honorable
friend from North Carolina, tMr. CLssMAs,l that he
has failed Have we not examined the specimens
Have we not examined the copies which he furnished "a
us' Have we no, examined the character and style oil
the printing the impression, the ink, the paPe That i
oar business, and we had failed 10 that, we should
have been derelict in duty, and should have failed
10 recognise IN myself principle which would apply 10
others, and should have failed TO do that myself which
denounced others for not doing II had not looked "a
the type the press work, the ink, the paper and every
thing, To see whether not complied with the con
tract Then, have we undertaken 10 elect public
printer | understand that when you propose Il
elect public printer you propose TO give into his hands
the whole printing oil Congress We have made such
proposition. A decided majority Of the Printing Commit
tee go lar as have understood them are in favor OF CIV
ing the contract system full and fair test; and from the
indications 10 this House, should Judge that there is
majority in this House in favor OF giving that contract
system fair test The gentleman from North Carolina
Mr. CLIscMAHl insists that II will not be giving IL fail
test lie tells the House that the action OF the committee
will destroy the contract system, when that commie,
comes up and says that this public printer shall have
every job that he do in accordance with his contract
When show in that report that he has failed TO do it.
when show that we do not propose to give any one
else single job except what he fails negecs 10 DO ii
the language OF The law, also say that we intend
hold him 10 strict accountability upon his bond We
say that the next remedy 10 put that bond in suit 10
cover whatever have to pay. We carrying
out the letter OF the law precisely you have directed
US The law OF the land has prescribed those duties
says that your public printer shall be held responsible fol
any excess paid for printing which he has failed neg
ected 10 perform bis contract price We propose "a
hold him responsible Tor this excess, II we have TO pay
any
But the gentleman from North Carolina, [Nr. Clrse.
man in The face Of these facts, says TO the House ha
undertaking TO destroy the contract system, ant
that " not undertaking destroy the contract sy
tenn he says the practical effect OF action will be
destroy H. How that be the effect OF action il
hold this man responsible the law requires But
gentlemen upon this floor from that side OF The House
come to me and say. II we bold this poor TO his
contract under the law, he will be ruined and other in.
nocen persons will be ruined We have up 10 the
letter OF the law and have cast aside all questions
OF clemency and mercy supposng that mercy TO be in
your hands, but not in We have met the question
boldly in the face, and have said that the contract
shall be carried out in accordance with the instructions
which that law lays down. Yet this House has beer
told that we have attempted TO do away with the con
tract system We deemed that had no power 10 do so
In the next place, the gentleman from North Carolina
tMr. CLINeMAN1 says that have offered resolution
which the former chairman Of The Committee on Print
and different course Certainly did and had The
gentleman exercised his usual sagaoty he would have