The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-13
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
MONDAY, April IL, 1862.
SENATE.
Executive COMMUNICATIONS.

from the Secretary OF State, enclosing copies Oh
certain papers on the hles OF the department reat-
ing to Japan
Also, a communication from the Secretary of the
Navy in reply n resolution OF the Senate, trans
hitting a copy Of Engineer Ellis's report OF test
OF GOALS made by him at the Washington navy
yard
Interior, made in reply to a resolution OF the Sen
ate, calling for the names and number OF the claim
ants for certain balances due the friendly Creek
Indians.
Also, a communication from the Secretary of the
Interior, in reply to resolution Of the Senate,
transmitting copy OF certain charges filed in that
Department by q officer Of the army against Mr.
Bartlett the commissioner appointed to run the
boundary line between the United States and
Mexico.
All of which were ordered to be printed, and APP
propriately referred
DEBT TEXAS.
MIR. UNDERWOOD presented the memorial Of
General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky, complaining
of the action taken by the State of Texas with re-
gard TO her debts, and urging upon Congress the
justice of providing for The payment Of those debts
After some remarks from Messrs. RUSK and
UNDERW GOD, the memorial was referred TO the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Arsenal AT AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
MIR. DAWSON presented the resolutions OF the
Legislature Of Georgia praying Congress to en-
large and extend the operations of the United
States arsenal, now established near Augusta,
Georgia.
THE WHEELING BRIDGK.
Mr. BRODHEAD presented two petitions from
Western Pennsylvania, demonstrating against any
action by Congress with respect to the Wheeling
bridge.
very large number of petitions present,
ed demonstrating against the further extension Of
Woodworth's patent
COLUMBIA TURNPIKE ROAD.
Mr. SHIELDS, from the Committee the Dis
tict of Columbia, reported bill to provide for the
Improvement Of Maryland avenue. from the CAPT
til TO the turnpike road leading to Baltimore, and
for making tree and improving that road as far as
the District line.
CANAL BASIN okoRoErowS.
Mr.. SHIELDS, from the same committee, also
reported bill Greeting survey and estimate OF
the cost of constructing canal basin at the terml-
nus Of the Qhesa peake and Ohio canal, at Rock
creek, in Georgetown, in the District OF Columbia.
VIRGINIA BOUNTY LAND wAaRAsTs.
Mr. HUNTER introduced bill appropriating
land scrip full payment and final satisfaction OF
Virginia military bounty land warrants
RIGHT OF WAY roR PLANK ROAD.
Mr. DODGE, of Iowa. from the Committee on |
Public Lands, reported bill granting the right OF
way over the public lands to the St Genevieve Iron
Mountain and Pilot Knob Plank Road Company |
for the construction of plank road IN Missouri; |
and the bill was considered and ordered TO third
reading.
cosGRKssioSAL PRINTING.
Mr. BORLAND. l rise, Mr.. President TO make
n
malous, one-irom the COMMITTEES on Printing.
IL lie perhaps known to the Senate, or at least TO
many members of il, that a new arrangement has
been is about to be made for the execution of
the public printing. In view Of this deem 1t pro-
per Tor myself and my duty to the Senate, TO state
~ my place here what has been done by the Com
inttee in regard to it For this purpose will read
..sr'ain resolutions adopted by the Committee on
Pfh'ng.
rhe Srst resolution, adopted on the sth Of this
month, 10 IA ts~se words
Resotred, That the committee enter into a con
tract with Donelson & Armstrong TO Do future
printing Of the present Congress for The Housc. and
with Gideon Co. for the Senate, upon such terms
as shall be agreed upon hereafter.
Adopted. Ayes Mr.. SMITH. of The Ss,ais; Mcssrs.
Messrs. GoRMAK, STAsTos, HAVEN, Of the House
4 Noes: Messrs BoRLAsD, HAAus, Of The Sen
ais-2.
The second resolution. adopted on the l2th, (tbis
day.) 10 in these words:
Resoloed, That 80 much Of the public printing
as.may be deemed necessary by the committee 10
remedy any neglect delay the part Of the
contractor Mr. Hamilton) 70 execute The work
ordered by ConEress, the porsons doing The work
under the direction IL this committee be allowed
the same price con tained in Mr.. Rivess bid for
printing for the 32i Congress- Provtded, That IN
no case shall pay be allowed for double compost
ton.
Adopted-Aycs. Messrs. SMITH, Of the Senai<,
Messrs. GoRMAr, SrASroS, HAVEN, Of the House-
4. No: Mr. HAsLIs, Of the Senate.
The third resolution 10 in tbese words
hssolrsd, That Mr.. CONAN confer with Mcssrs
Donelson X Armstrong and Messrs. Gideon
Co and get from them, in writing their accept
ance or non-scoeptance Of the foregoing PROPOSE
ton
Adopted-no dissent
Mr.. President, IL ia due TO myself to remark the
fact that these resolutions of the Printing Com
mittec were adopted without my concurrence. ]
was prescnt when the frat was adopted, and was
absent when the two lsst adopted
In my opinion the committee have the power
here exercised, under the joint resolution of August
g. 1886, under which the Committee on Printing
raised, and under which IL has acted up to this
tune, and Va no~ acting.
There are many members OF both Houses Of Con
gress, and particularly Of the Senate, who dissent
from this opinion--vbo do not believe the com
gnittce have any such power; but, the contrary,
believe that when there 10 failure on the part VI
the contr cior as in the present instance, 70 com
ply With bIs obligations, az 10 time Ind the quality
Of bis work. Il becomes the duty, az 1t only 10
their authority, 10 bring the whole subject before
COngro.s, one that can be lsgitimstey disposed
OF by Congress alone. by additional legislation, In.
stead Of dsposing OF IT dehnitsely by the action Of
the committee; and this difference Of opinion an
bound to hold in high rospeot. repeat, however,
that do entertain, aud onbesitstBgly express, 40
nave yell considered, the opinion that the com
nice do. technically, or In the terms Of the lav
have this power, even 70 the extent they have
cised IL in ths Bot while hold this opinion
to the power itself. ! am equally clear in the
opinion, aud unhositstingly express ~. that IL
has been improperly exercised in this case. And
that this IL 40, remind tho Senate that has been
done in part against my vote, when was present,
and altogether without my concurrence or APP
proval.
In justice 70 myself, and 10 the Senate committee
too, must state further thstI think the process BY
which this improper action Of the JOINT COMMITTED
has been contaminated. has been 10 itself equal
improper. think the rule which obtains N
Joint c0mmittees-vhich arc, in their constiiu
lion. like committees Of conference, and should
in their powers and action, represent equally esct
ks respective House-bss been violated. That rule
az understand and believe. requires a majority o
each committee 10 make concurrent vote Of the
two. or final decision Of the joint committee upor
any question before them. In this opinion, how
ever ss in the others have presented. majority
Il the Senate committee have been overruled By
the vote Of the House conjoiped With that Of on
member Of the Senate committee This statement
Ar President, az plain and as brief az could maxi
IT, places the matter Of the public printing, az At
fecied by the present action Of the committee
fairly before the Senate IL 10 for the Senate itscl
60 consider and Determine what shall be done,
any thing. In regard to u.
For myself believing that this action Of the join
committee ha. not been proper-believing that th'
policy adopted by the committee is wrong IN itself
hss been adopted by improper me, ne, and require