The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-04

, as hostile to the Union and Republic newspapers
, and determined ut all hazards to prescribe am
, put them down. In the first place, this conclu
sion rests upon an egregious error. In the mex
place, the enterprise was 80 small that coul'
not NEEDLE in it, if that was the only result 4
be accomplished but above all the rest, wa
anxious to record my solemn protest against tn
connection of the public press with the treasury
desire to bring about new state OF thlngs
that the newspapers shall be sustained by thel
own merits, and shall not look to the treasury
for their support. trust we shall hear no NOR
Of the coalition of Southern State Rights mel
with those having strong feelings OF abolition
with the purpose of disturbing the harmony o.
the country, and destroying the Union. This
clamor has performed its mission and has had
its day. 1t has passed over the country like q
whihwind, and has produced its mi chief, and il
cannot be revived People know better, and il
cannot come again. No one cares about having
the Popish plot revived here, and do not care
upon what question the cry of disunion, aboli-
ton, secession combination or coalition is raised
whether the printing of Congress or other
wise-it il done for the purpose of black -balling
certain gentlemen, because they happened to
vote together for the purpose Of public economy,
and the protection of the public treasury.
| Mr.. GIDDlNGS. BY the permission and kind
ness of the gentleman from North Carolina, !
will say a word do not think that it is ncces-
sary for the Freesoilers to deny the charge to
; which the gentleman has referred | would
think the Freesoil party had sunk low before
the country, and the people of this Union, if il
were necessary for one member of that party to
deny the accusation which has been alluded 20.
Mr.. VENABLE. That liz matter of taste,
which do not want to decide. Laughter
Mr.. GlDDINGS. ! say further, TINT, 40 far
rs the Freesollers are concerned, we should
have looked upon this transaction with much
more favor, had the party in power selected the
Union MS the sole organ to execute this printing
We reject with scorn, and contemn everything
in favor of the Republic. Laughter And if
the Freesoers are to coalesce, it will be with
the Democrats in favor Of the Union, and not
in favor of the Republic.
Mr.. VENABLE. As to the position the
Freesoi party may choose to occupy-whether
they prefer the Union newspaper to the Repub
Lc--is no concern of mine. | do not wish TO
control their preference. 1t is matter of taste,
which will not decide.
Mr.. McMULLIN Will the gentleman al
low me to ask the gentleman from Ohio ques-
ton?
Mr.. VENABLE. cannot farm the floor out
to the gentleman from Virginia. Mr. McMuL
LIN, and the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. GID.
DIEGs.
Mr. FREEMAN. trust my friend will
permit me to call his attention to practical
point, to which | desire him to speak 1t is
this: there must be an end to all things; and,
of course, to this discussion, and we will come
by and by to what this committee is to do.
Now, as understand it, that committee have
rendered portions of the printing to the Repub
TIC and the Union, upon certain terms, which
have been refused by both papers, except upon
certain other conditions stated, to which the
committee have not acceded. The matter, there.
fore, stands where it stood originally, where it
would have stood had the committee not acted
at all. Neither the Republic nor the Union
have accepted the contract for the printing !
want the gentleman to state what his objection
is to the course of the Committee on Printing
and inasmuch as he is in favor of carrying out
the contract system, desire that he shall say
whether he wishes to instruct the committee
to declare that the. contract with A. Boyd Ham
ilton is already null and void, or whether or not
the committee shall 60 on, as they have hereto.
fore done, and execute the law of the land as il
now exists?
Mr. VENABLE. will reply to my friend,
that my resolution explains itself 1t refers to
that printing which has not been executed by the
public printer and requests that it shall be let out
to the lowest bidder on ten days. advertisement.
1t is not to declare A. Boyd Hamilton's con-
tract void. | am not prepared to do that, look
ing at the printing we have had placed upon
our table, which is the best we have yet had.
Mr. MARSHALL, of Kentucky desire to
know from the gentleman from North Carolina
whether he supposes that it is within the power
of this House TO instruct the Joint Committee on
Printing? If his resolution passes, would it be
productive of any effect except upon the mem
bers ofthe House!
Mr. YENABLE. That is precisely what ]
deeire-to instruct, by distinct request, the
members of the House upon that committee
wish to have an expression of the opinion of
the House upon the matter.
Mr. STANTON, of Kentucky | ask the
gentleman whether the printing to which he
has referred was done at the office of the con
tractor, or whether it was done Ia PHILADELPHIA
Mr. VENABLE. 1t is very good | do not
care if it was executed in the MOON and came
down on n rainbow, if it is done in compliance
with his contract. | do not care if it were
drifed from the waves of the sea, if it is in
accordance with the terms of the contract.
am satisfied with it. Frequent Interruptions
have broken the connection of my remarks,
which | shall endeavor to restore when prepare
them for publication. shall take that occasion
to expand and enforce them. Whilst have no
sympathy with the doctrines Of Freesoi and
Abolition, shall never be weak enough to re-
pudate and reject the assistance of any N mber
of this House who concurs with me in what I
regard an honest purpose. To regulate NY
votes by those Of others, either acceding or op.
posing, as prejudice may lead, would be to sur
render the privilege of free thought, and the
manlness of free and Independent action. II
trust that shall ever hail with pleasure the
rally of the members Of this House to every
honest purpose. ! rejoice when members, Of
whatever shade Of opinion, come to the rescue :;
neither will censure them for saving the pub
lie money.
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee. Does the
gentleman mean, then, to say, that those who
have voted contrary to himself are dishonest!
Mr. VENABLE. | question no mans mo
tives. said that had no objection to CO.
operation of honest men to save the public
money; but can say to that gentleman, and
those who are disposed to throw frebrands and
create discord give hard names and make I'M
called for insinuations, that the time NAV come