The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, APRIL 10.

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 thosght 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 oOurts-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 analysing the bill which he was instructed
to report as a 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 intentiotof 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 MIR. Hamilton, who had been
heard before the committee, although he had
made different statement in a 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
tived-yeas Sc, nays IS.
Mr. Brown, of Mississippi, moved that the
report be printed
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 commended 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 resul,
of the course which had been pursued by tlrt
committee, he commended, would be to SEND
VIM Hamilton back at future period for re
enumeration for the damages he 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.
Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, resumed his re-
marks from Yesterday in opposition to the ar
rangement and in favor of disconnecton be-
tween the public printing and the party press.
in view the establishment of National
n and Ia x,p1cata1 Mr. Hami1-
ton. the contractor from the remarks made af
fecting 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 70 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, hut no blows) Mr.. Polk
speaking in 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
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 cutivating 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.
g oaA AZ
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. Clngman mir. Polk having withdrawn
his motion at that genteman's rcquest) gave
his views against the acton OF the committee,
and insisting that the arrangement was made
with view TO benefit Doneson 4 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 it would lead. He declared
himself in favor Of repeating the present con-
tract law, and electing a Public Printer by
each House
Mr. Fitch opposed the action OF the Printing
Committee, and one OF his reasons Tor dong 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 Elwood 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.
MIR. Parker, of Indiana, argued that the
House was precluded from taking acton in the
premises without first repeating the law OF
1886, for the act made it perfectly clear that
the Committee on Printing should procure the
Public Printing in the event OF the contractor