Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-07

+ providing for the free dissemination 30 n. -
IN rough the mails Weal of us need watching Itirk
If we bring the eyes Of the people upon us sh. m
least do no harm think that very much good y;,Ip
from the free and extensive dissemination of the 49,
of both branches Of Congress Hope the resoluton i'm
receive the favorable action of the Senate -
/ MIR. M AS0N. Mr.. President the pronosi,;..
understand It, is to circulate free of charge
mails, the Congressional Globe and Appendix wbch
contain the roceedngs Of Congress- II strikes me Tat
there are two decided objections to the resolution me
first is that you should not only report and print nj M
public expense the debates of Congress- but !,
still further and circulate them free because to crou
them free OF charge is TO circulate them at the public
pense | think we went very far in calling upon he
treasury to pay for the reporting and printing Of the de-
bates OF the Senate ano to circulate them 1t the *
pense o. the treasury seems to to be anscenng our
proper DUTY to the people we represent
But there is another and even stronger oh;ecti,n II
49, that TINS resolution gives undue preference 10 the
owners OF that paper the Of other papers
must follow u this paper Is circulated without Charge
that will invite subscription with which other pauers
cannot compete. 1t will be lending the bounty of tbe
Government to benefit and enrich that paper If the OBJ
lection exists as the honorable Senator says that it can.
not now be crred through the mails like other panars
becaase it is not within the class of newspapers proyd
for in the postage law let the law be changed in that
sPect and make it newspaper. Further than that II
cannot go.
Mr. PRATT. Mr. President there is one v;ev NJ tL;
subject which induces to vote for the resolution The
debates OF the Senate are Published in one party
paper-the unon and they published also in the Con-
gressl0nal Globe As far of the great parties
OF the country is concerned its members are subscribers
TO this party paper and get the debates of Congress- but
the party to which am attached do generally SUBJ
scribe for 1T and they excluded entirely from pc
rusng the debates of this and the other branch Of Con
gress.
Mr. BUTLER 1t is their own fault The Intelligeneer
had the same privilege and rsrounced it,
Mr. PRATT The gentleman says it is the fault Of the
Wings am there is attached to the party
70 which belong who would not have desired the ntelk
gencer TO continue the publication of the debates But
It's propretors have refused to publish them and there
fore there is now Wing paper in the country publish
ing in full the debates of this and the other bran Of
Congress That great portion therefore, of the American
people who are Wings excluded by the presen. law
from participating in the advantages which the other
party have In seeing the debates
There is another answer think to the argument Of
my friend from Virginia. He says that it is giving an
advantage to this paper all others do not look
upon 1t In that light This paper is not like any other 1t
is not party paper it contains nothing on earth but the
debates of Congress; it excludes every thing else 1t
therefore does not stand upon footing with any other
paper 1t is said by the Senator from Maine who made
the motion to take up the resolution and who is mem
Der ofthe Committee on the Post Office and Post Ros
that by the existing postage law it be through
the country because the postage is high therefore
none few, subscribe to it consequently we are
paying the expense of having the debates pub
hshed and by the existing postage law exclude the
people OF the country from subscribing the paper Now
think it will not be very great ncumbrance the Post
Office Department to have this paper free Of CHARGE
and therefore shall vote for the joint resolution with
great deal of pleasure.
Mr.. GWIN think the Senator from MARYLAND is mis-
taken in regard to the Wing party getting the benefit
of report of the proceedings of Congress. think the
most efficient reports Of the proceedings Of Congress that
published in this city in the National ntelgencer
They contain the most information They so
tensye but they are drawn up with great and
racy They give an account of the proceedings, which
the people will read The reports in the official papers
are SO long and go into such details that the people win
not read them they will read those in the Intetgencer
think the reports of the Integencer are admirable
They embody the proceedings of Congress- leaving
great many details which necessary If the ho
norable Senator from Maryland will bring forward pro-
position to compensate the editors Of that paper for the
reports they publish will sustain it. Those reports are
much condensed and therefore are read more ex
tensvey in the country. think therefore that the OBJ
lection the Senator from Maryland brings forward not
sustained by the facts of the case
Mr. PRATT VIII the honorable gentleman bring me
National Intelgencer and show me a debate? Except
perhaps upon the question Of war; which alluded
10 the other day. have not single speech of mem
Der Of this body published in that paper 1t may be that
according to the view of the honorable Senator South
Carolina the editors of that paper have been making
selection and that in their Judgment there has not been
any speech made this session by any Senator or member
OF the other House worthy Of dissemination among the
people But is certainly that there has been no
speech Of member Of this body published in that paper
except upon the isolated question Of the fisheries and of
non-nterventon; and viii state as fact which can
not be overcome that We pay about 800 000 more
T.
body We pay very large amount which comes out of
the public treasury for the publication of those speeches
and the question is shall the people be permitted to sub
scribe for this paper and read those speeches That is
the whole question Under the existing law they cannot
subscribe, because the postage prevents its being sent
| except at enormous rates.
Mr.. GWIN. | think the Senator misunderstood me-
My statement that the reports of the of
Congress in the more generally read than
the reports in other newspaper because they are
more succinc and give the substance of the proceedings
without going into unnecessary details think they are
the most interesting and useful reports and said be-
fore, If the Senator will bring forward proposition TO
compensate the editors for their reports shall be will
ling to vote for it, do not think it is necessary to pub
sh all these speeches do not think the people read
them think the publication Of proceedings are en-
tirely toosxtensve.
The joint resolution reported to the Senate with
out amendment, and ordered to third reading by vote
on division of ayes 81 noes IL. 1t then read
third time and passed.
JUDICIAL DECISION IN TExAs-A case has been DEF
oded In the District Court for the county Of Bexar in
Texas which, if confirmed in the Supreme Court will
operate IT is said to declare several thousands Of blacks