The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-17

heretofore well understood WISH They will
indirectly. by their own direction, have sp-
pointed the printers to Congress, aud set auide
the law aud the contract system They will
not pretend TO say they have the power to do
this directly-they will not DENY but the at.
tempt would be illegal Then why seek 10 do
| il indirectly The latter is equally in violation
of the spirit if not the letter of the law Dur.
ring that debate, the chairman of the COMMITTEES.
! Mr.. GoRMAN, said
"When the proposition was first made to
give the FUTURE printing to some one beside
the contractor, the question immediately sprung
up, whether or not We had the power to do that
The gentleman from New York, Mr.. HAvgu.l
one Of The members Of the committee who has
the reputation of being AS good lawyer as any
other in The country, suggested that it was doubt
fnl whether that power could be exercised by
the committee What did we do Persist in do
ing thing about which there was doubt Of
our power to do! No We conceived, there
fore, that we had no power to make this transfer
for the future printing Whatever the contractor
falls or neglects to do of the printing that is Or
dered now, according to his contract we may
make arrangements TO have done. That was
our argument there; it is our argument here,
and an satisfied ii convinces everybody here"
| Then the question of the committee was.
that they had no right to contract for future
printing! correct opinion and one in which
the House will readily concur; but subsequent
to that time, the committee appear to have had q
new reading of the law, or the gentleman from
| New York Mr.. HAVEN has discovered a new
version of it, or the committee have received
| light from without, relative to its proper con-
slruction, for it appears from the report before
| u.s. that they have arranged with party other
lhan The contractor for future printing, printing
| not yet ordered.
Mr. GORMAN. If the gentleman will per.
NIT me to interrupt him. We have certainly
not given one particle Of future printing TO
Donelson & Armstrong. We have simply done
this: We have provided for supplying any
deiicieny where the public printer fails to exc.
cute his contract, but not one job has been
voted IN their possession upon the part of the
committee. We conceive that we have no
power to give any future printing into the hands
OF any party other than the public printer, until
we find he fails to execute it,
Mr.. FITCH. ! may have more to say upon
this point in another connection. will not
only say, that if this committee have not given
the future printing to Donelson & Armstrong,
the language of this report is extremely loose,
because 1t informs us that the committee have
provided for the execution of printing which
may hereafter be ordered and made that provi-
ties of their own selection
Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky. 1.-THE gentle.
man will refer TO the report, he will lind that
it says no such thing
Mr.. FITCH. The gentleman does not nm
derstand the force and meaning of the language
OF MS own report, or is very Oblvious of facts.
Inc language OF the report is that the commit
lee entered into contracts with Donelson d
Armstrong to execute much of the public
printing as had been or might be ordered by the
House, and which the public contractor could
not or wonld not do; and with Gideon g. Co.
10 do that ordered by the Senate If it was
Illegal and wrong when the chairman made the
remarks ! have previously quoted to bestow
future printing upon any other than the contrac-
tor II is equally so now for, however circan,.
stances may have controlled the action of the
committee, no circumstances car change the
law. have more hereafter to say of the report
now before u.s.
The committee have assumed and MS has the
editor of the Union, that the reference of the
hrst report back to that committee without in
structons, was Endorsement of their action, and
that, therefore. they were justified in pursuing
that action. The committee and the editor of
the Union must haze knopn that no such in
dorsement was intended or understood upon
the part of the House. Out of Difference to
the feelings of the committee the House deli
cately forbore giving vote, which would have
been construed into one of censure, and hence
referred the matter back to the committee with
out Instructions, but with the full understanding
that other and different action should be had 1t
appears that cur consideration for their feelings
was thrown away for they have not appreciated
it. The understanding that other and different
action should be had was based upon the opin
ions elected during the previous debate, upon
the votes had during That debate, and upon the
promises, positive and implied, of the committee.
And how have those premises been redeemed?
Have we been deceived-sadly deceived? Or
have we deceived ourselves? Whichever it
may be, sir, if we are deceived again, the fault
will be our own. 1t will be because of our
want of determination to enforce that cconnta-
bity from the committee which it is our right
to expect, and their duty in common with all
other committees to yield. 1t will be because
OF our want of sufficient selfrespect to insist
that our instructions shall be respected and
obeyed. do not wish to be understood as
charging intentional deception to the COM
mittee. 1t was the result, probably, of misun.
derstanding between the House and committee
relative to their respective action and intentions.
But however it may have occurred-whoso-
ever was the fault. its repetition should be
avoided, and it is the duty Of the House TO
place that avoidance beyond the possibility of
doubt.
Complaints are made by gentlemen upon This
side of the House, of the non-fulfllment of GER
tain promises, which they alege was made
ttem-promscs, that if The first report was re-
ferred back TO the committee without instruc-
tons, all OF whatever printing was given to any
other than the contractor, should be given to
Doneson q Armstrong. How has this promise
been redeemed! But, sir, whatever others may
do, am not disposed to make any complaint of
this character because no promise controlled
my vote, and 10 promise should have controlled
the vote OF any other gentleman; first, because
1t Is wrong to vote with view TO the bestowal
OF The printing upon any individual by the mere
action of the committee, on terms higher than
those at which it would be executed by others,
and in violation Ct the spirit of the existing law
the contract system is the correct one, and
should be enforced to the full extent of the m
tention of the law
Mr. GORMAN, (nterruptnr) | made the