The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-31


= no description Of thai paper. 10 The existing Post or
nee laws, which allows 90, exceptas printed matter
pad 10 advance II. then, there is importance enough
attached TO the subject TO induce Congress provide for
The reporting OF these proceedings, aFpehend these
ports should be circulated through the community. al
1ach somewhat more Importance TO this subject than the
senator from South Carolina. MIR BUTLERl ! think.
however, l,ile Importance may be attached to the de-
bates and especially the Of debates We should
be very much worse of If We circumscrbe them
and 10 restrict what would be in fact the freedom OF
speech. hope the bill will cossnend itself 10 the ia
soabie Consideration OF the Senate, II has TO the
House They having taken such steps they have TO
procure these reports. think we would be doing no
more ian Justice TO the community BY providing for then
free dissemination through the mail We need all OF u.s.
watching, and think 4 bring the eye OF the people
upon US At will at least do no harm and | mink that
very much good will from the free and extensive
dissemination OF the do,ngs OF both branches Of Congress
hope the resolution will resolve the favorable consid
Grafton Of the Senate
Mr. MASON This is proposition, AS understand
TO Circulate without charges through the mails, The Con
gfessional Globe with the discussions and the proceed
ings OF Congress which il coniains II strikes inc that
mere are Two decided objections 10 this measure, The
rs u.s. that you not only report and print al the public
expense the debates OF Congress, but extend still fur
,her and circulate them a. the public expense be-
cause TO circulate them free OF charge is TO circulate
them al The public expense think we went very far 10
calling upon the treasury 10 report and print the debates
OF the Senate but now to circulate them expense
seems TO be tanscendDg our proper dulles TO the peo
pie whom we represent.
But there is another and stronger objection II
Is 10 give an undue preference to the owners of that pa
per Is circulated without charge that will invite sub
scIlpuon which other papers cannot compete with. ii
will be lending the bounty OF The government 10 benefit
and TO enrich the proprieors OF that paper the obec
ton exists which the senator from Maine Mr. HAMLE]
Gays exists that that paper cannot be circulated now
footing with all ohet newspapers then let Tie law be
changed, and put on footing with others But really
further than that, l, Tor one, cannot 60.
Dir PRATT There is one view OF This subject which
induces me to vote IN favor OF the proposition The de-
bates OF Congress are now published in party paper,
(lhe Union.) and they are published also 10 this Con-
gressionai Globe Now far one OF the great par
ties OF the country is concerned they subscribers 10
that paper. and they get the debates OF Congress But
the pa " 10 which attached do not to any extent
subscribe tor tina, paper and they excluded entirely
as recipients OF the debates OF this and the other branch
OF CoDgress,
Mr. BUTLER The Iniegenc.r had the same priv
SENATOR ii is the fault OF the wings
Mr., PRATT The gentleman says it is the fault of
the wings Now, the iauit is on the part oil the whig
paper, II anywhere; Tor am sure there is al
tached 10 the party TO which belong who would not
have desired the ntegepcer have continued the pub
caion Of the debates Of Cohgfsss But i has refused
country now that publishes the debates OF this the
other branch OF Congress in full great poItion there
fore, of the American people who wings excluded
by the present law from participating in the advantages
which The oihet party do 10 psrusing these debates
But there another answer, think TO the argument
OF my learned friend from Virginia, [Mr. MASON He
paper all others. do NOT look upon il in that light
This pepe. is unlike all others II is not party paper
II contains nothing on earth but the debates OF Con-
gress.
Several SENATORS were here understood TO Question
the fact
MIR. PRATT. No. sir it excludes everything except
The debates in Congress. therefore does not stand
upon the footing OF any other newspaper ii is said BY
The chairman Of the Conrsi,lee on Printing Mr. HAMLkl
tha. by the existing postage laws il cannot be senthe
postage IS so high that no one will subscribe TO it,
Therefore We are paying enormous sum TO have
these debates published and, by the existing laws we
exclude the people OF the country from subscribing TO
the paper Now, think i will not be any great eneum
bance TO the Post Office Department TO have this paper
sent free Of charge. and shall vote for it with gea,
deal OF pleasure.
Mr.. OWN. think the senator from siarylasd MT.
PRATT is mistaken an regard TO the wing party not
getting the benefit of the fepors OF the proceedings OF
Congress- think the efficient reports OF the pro-
ceedngs OF Congress that are published in this city
be found in the National Jnlelisencer-l mean those
that have The os influence They are not so extensive.
bat they drawn up with great and accuracy and
they give an account OF the proceedings here which
The people will read The proceedings in the official
papers are so long, and 60 into such details, that the
people Will not read them. think the reports in the
lnellgeneer are admirable they imbody the proceed
uss aud they leave out great many Of the deals which
are not OF any great consequence III the senator from
Maryland Will bung forward proposition 10 compensate
toe lnelhgencer for the kind OF reports publishes will
sustain IT. Its reports much condensed and they
consequently read great deal extensively In the
country think, therefore that the objection that the
aior brings forward that the wings excluded from pc
rusing the debates OF Congress, not sustained by The
facts
Mr. PRATT Will the senator from California Mr..
GwIHl bring me National Iniehgencer, and show
me debate, except perhaps upon this question OF
! have not seen single speech OF member OF this
body published in the Inteligencer for long time II
may be accounted ior TO be by the OF the
alor from Soah Carolina, Mr. BUTLER tina, in max ing
the selection there have been speeches made here
worthy OF shcaon dare say thai may be very true
but nevertheless assert IL TO be the fact that there has
been no speech OF member OF this body published ex.
cepl upon the isolated question OF the hshees for
considerable length OF time Now, state as reasoning
which cannot be overcome, that pay some hundred
thousand dollars, more, for the publication OF the
speeches OF members OF this body. | do not recolIect
what they cost exactly.
MI BRODHEAD. Seven dollars and half per
column.
Mr.. PRATT A very large amount Of money comes
out OF the treasury for the publication OF these speeches
and the question whether the people shall be permitted
which under the existing Jaw they subscribe for
the Iosage being TOO high.
Mr.. GWIN. The senator, ! think, misunderstood my
statement IL was that the reports of the proceedings in
The National lniegenoer are generally read than
IN any other newspaper published in this city, because
they more snoelnet They give The substance with
out gong into the details, and think they very
teresling and useful and ! said il the senator will
bring forward proposition 10 compensate the editors OF
that paper will sustain IT, do not think IL is neces-
sary 10 publish all the speeches do not think the pub.
lIc will read them. The debates entirely ex-
ten.iye ~ me oiicial papers, IN my opinion.
Mr.. HUNTER. | move TO postpone all prior orIers
for the purpose OF taking up the Indian appropriation
bill.
The PRESIDENT The gentleman cannot make that
motion until this subject is disposed Of
Several SENATOR'S. We can dispose OF il now.
~ "a al c. a