The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-23
Reporting In the Senate.

three O'Clock this afternoon.
Reporting In the Senate.
In the Senate yesterday resolution was
adopted authorizing the payment of MIR. RIvEs
for the publication of the debates of that body
in the Daily Globe. This compensation is adj
ditional to the purchase of the copies of the
Congressional Globe ordered by the Senate,
and places the Daily Globe, published exclu-
sively for the members of the two Houses, on
the same footing as the journals employed by
the last Congress, which enjoy general
circulation. 1t was stated by the Senator from
New Hampshire, moving the resolution, MIR.
NoRRIs,) that Mr.. RwEs had employed an eff
ficent corps of reporters, and presented the de-
bates with very great promptness and accuracy
The resolution called forth some remarks
from Mr. HALE, Of New Hampshire, touching
a subject which we have already discussed in
our columns, and in regard to which we have
taken the same ground with the honorable
Senator He had no objection to the publlca-
ton of the debates, or to the arrangement pro
posed to be made with the Daily Globe but
he did object to the policy of revising speeches,
by which Senators were made TO say in print
what they had not said on the floor of the Sen
ate and were permitted to strike out from their
speeches matter which they had actually
uttered. There is no doubt that the value Of
reports depends on their verity-on the preser-
walton Of what is actually said or done, in man
ner and form Of possible) as it is said and done.
e., a. io from
the purpose Of reporting but there is probably
no Just objection to the correction OF verbal
inaccuracies. where il can be made without
altering the sense Of what is uttered.
Mr. GwIS and Mr.. CAss suggested that this
revision was important, inasmuch as Senators
were sometimes Inexperienced, from speak
ing in low tone, or in consequence of lndis-
tinct enunciation, and that they owed it to
themselves TO correct such mistakes or perver-
sions of meaning, that they might not stand in
false position before their constituents or the
country. To this kind of revision we did not
understand Mr.. Hale To object, nor can it be
objected to by those who desire and study most
earnestly the entire verify Of reports. Such
correction Of course makes them more accurate
and complete, and is not only justihnble and
proper, but in all respects desirable. The vice
VI reporting, which we understood Mr. HALE
TO censurse, is very different thing; it is not
correction, but addition and expurgation-in-
correct addition and incorrect expurgation.
Mr.. BADGER, Of North Carolina, suggested
that the honorable Senator from New Hamp-
shire ought to be the last person to object
to even this kind Of revision. as few
speeches were made more capable Of being
improved by the exPunging process. An
amusing passage took place between the hon
orable Senators, which will be found in the
report Of the Senate proceedings in another col
umn but though we agree with the honorable
Senator from North Carolina in his views Of
particular application, we think it had better
be employed in expunging from the debate
rather than from the report Of it.
We have no doubt that the reports Of the
Globe. when not injured by the process to
which we have referred, are entitled TO all the
commentator which they received on the floor
Of the Senate Mr.. RrvEs furnishes good re-
ports, for he is literally compensated, and is
not subject TO tho ruinOus competition which
would result from farming them out TO the low
est bidders He not only furnishes good reports,
but furnishes them promptly and in neat style Of
execution; and for all this Congress are indebt-
ed solely to the fact dat the printing Of the
debates, as the printing Of the laws, is with
drawn from the operation Of the system which
is applied to the publication Of Executive docu-
ments. 1t is only necessary to put up the print
ing Of the debates to the lowest bidder, and
Congress can have bad reports, badly printed
aud furnished under delays which would de
siroy all their interest or importance.