The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-09

iaW'OmC6f, the attorney NeheraI, auu % uuuct-
stood by It's own Secretary OF State. Nay, the
Secretary of the Treasury, ~ we are now bound
to presume, is ashamed 10 decide against US
since he does not decide at ALL Even the Pres
ident shelters hmself against the accusation Of
a fragrant violation Of the law, by protesting
that he has no right to direct his cabinet officers
to execute this law faithfully. Under all these
circumstances we submit to our Southern Dem
ocratic friends, whether we are not right in
standing aoof from Democratic party, which
contains an element SO hostile, proscriptive and
bitter towards us, as to secure the ostracism Of all
the Southern clements of that party from all
honors and emouments, even by Wing cOali-
ton, except on the most abject and ignominious
submission.
For ourselves we do not hesitate to say, that
we accept the notice this proceeding has 81 en-
us, and if it is consummated we shall do all in
our power to shatter such hypocritical, bgoted
and imbecile concern to pieces. We know pre-
cisely how this thing has been done, we know
who did it, and we rather think we can crush
the hopes of the schemers. AS for the Union,
it may get this job-it may lve-but such a
life, for an organ of Democracy Why, it had
be thrown into the sea.
We supposed when this thing was announced,
or was pending, that the committee had legal
authority, at least, for such responsible proce-
dure. We have, however, been astonished, on
consulting the law, to find that as much violence
has been done to the law as to usage, and to
the trust reposed in the party-mnjority of the
committee.
The authority on which this transaction is
based is the joint resolution approved August
1886:
committee consisting of three members Of the
Senate and three members of the House of
Representatives shall be chosen by their respect
i've houses, which shall constitute Committee
on Printing, which shall have power to adopt
such measures as may be deemed neces Sdry TO
remedy any neglect or delay on the part of the
contractor to execute the work ordered by Con
gress, and 10 make a pro-rata reduction in the
compensation alLosocd, or to refuse the work al
together should it be inferior to the standard
and in all cases the contractor and his securities
shall be held responsible for any increased ex-
pcnditure consequent upon the performance
Of the contract
no right to elect printers for the two Houses OF
Congress, even in case of total default by the
contractor. In such an event, report TO the
two Houses was the proper course.
But we observe that Governor BRowN, of
Mississippi, has called the attention of the
House of Representatives to this extraordinary |
by resolution offered yesterday,
(Which lies over as follows:
RESOLVED by The Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatires Of The United Sales Of America, in
Congress assembled, That 30 much of the sec
Ond section of the act of 1916, as authorizes
the joint committee Of the two Houses of Con-
gress to remedy delays and ncglects of duty on
the part of tho contractors for the public print |
ing, or the printing of the two Houses of Con- !
gress, by taking the work out of the hands of
such contractors, and giving it to other contrac.
tors, be, and the same is hereby suspended, and
hereafter in all cases when there is neglect of
duty or unreasonable delay in the execution and
delivery of printing ordered by either House of
Congress- it shall be the duty of the joint CON-
mittee aforesaid, to report such neglect or delay
to til two Houses, and be governed by such
as may be given by Congress.
We are glad this movement has been made |
in the House, and we hope similar one will
be made in the Senate We shall then see |
who's who, and what's what