The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-06
~resAS& ! AA>As

as follows:
That The commpee on Printing be directed 70 contract
with Donelson Armstrong for the con- position and press
work OF 49, copies OF the returns Of The seventh census
as the same classified and arranged by tue Secretary OF
able aud that said Secretary b. directed with
the lowest bidder, IA conformity WIN me ac snilued an
penses Of The government or year lsi2 approved
18th OF May Of said year. for 50 much paper and OF such
manner to contract binding said returns printed,
such style as he may deem expeden provided the parry
due performances Of the same &c."
DO not admit that this is proper 10 be done by any
means ! do not admit that this is a branch Of printing
that in any sense comes within the jurisdiction OF The two
houses OF Congress But If the Senate, by majority OF
It's members, shall reject my amendment, shall assume
that Is the sense OF this body that they have the power
Printing TO enter into this contracts and yielding, as
ever do with great cheeuness 10 the judgment Of this
honorable body shall then propose thai the Two houses
of Congress shall give 10 Doneson Il Armstrong the
composition and press-work That is a branch OF the
work that apperiains to their business They en-
gagged in prlnng-et them do the composition and press
work But propose that we shall furnish our own pa
per, and do our own binding And how shall we do il !!
Not by authorizing the Secretary OF the Interior 10 give II
out to some iavoe, 10 purchase the paper OF some Ia
vote al an extrayagant price, but 10 procure II as all
other paper is rocuredto purchase OF the lowest bid
der and also 10 let out the binding 10 the lowest bidder
desire TO inquire of the Senate whether this IS not all
that Donelson Armstrong and their friends ought TO
ask propose to give them large job-to wit, the ex
ecution OF the composition and ptess.work. But pro-
pose tndt we snall 1utnSn our own IdpeT-0 IN ontT
words, am unwilling that Donelson Armstrong should
make large profits by buying paper. Why should we
squander the public money BY paying them large prot
on paper Ii separate the composition and press work
from The supply Of paper as propose 10 do BY amend
nent, then the government will obtain the paper at the
wholesale price, and there will be no loss to The
ment under the head of paper. But if we make
tract in the manner proposed in This resolution, and in the
manner proposed by the honorable senator from North
Carolina, Mr., BADcERl and allow Donelson 4 Arm
strong TO do The composition and pesswofk, and also TO
supply the paper, then they will make enormous profits
upon that papst-o, rather large profits will not say
enormous profits do not say they will cheat the gov
ernment but they will do other men do who mean TO
be upright and honest They will purchase the paper
lower rates than will undoubtedly be contemplated by The
committee, and will.make very considerable per centage
upon the mere paper Have we even any assurance that
the paper will mol be inferior 10 the standard What has
been our experenee upon thai subject Wll noa profit
be made by the nferionly Of the paper Sir. il ineviia
Bile II ever has been so-it ever will be PROPOSE
then, that the government should furnish It's own paper
and that il shall execute the binding OF this work by let
ting out to the lowest bidder, and contract out TO DON
elson Armstrong the mere composition and press work
Now, have this 10 say that this is real compromise
II is not like the handle OF jug--all on side Ii is
not one sided but an intermediate proposi,ion--no
more extravaganza proposition than the original resolution
as insist Is The amendment OF the senator from North
Carolina, Mr. BADGER but II is an intermediate propo
sltion. must acknowledge that am anxious 10 intro
duce into The public service this rule of furnishing
own paper, | would furnish il for the deparments--l
would furnish II Tor Congress and II will relieve in
very great degree from the difficulties and embarrass
ments IN which we are now involved.
NOW, have no feeling whatever iii regard TO this mat
ter. intend 10 content myself with doing what con.
ceye 10 be my duty The Senate having been pleased to
assign to me a situation on the Committee on Printing
have been constrained 10 before this body rea-
ton to this subject regret To differ with other honor
ale members of this body But | have expressed my
honest convictions about this question / think that my
original amendment Is night, and humby conceive that
ought TO be adopted However, it the judgment of
majority be otherwise, aud that amendment is rejected
then will come before the Senate with this compromise
proposition. believe that there moderate members
enough in this body, who think do not desire any
rangementto be made with Donelson & Armstrong ex-
cept that which will be reasonabewho do desire to
hand over 10 them exorbtani amount OF profits upon
Mis- work trust, say, and in fact believe that there
members enough 10 be found here TO yield their
sent TO the intermediate proposition which shall propose
to insure It's adoption And have 10 say further that if
this measure shall assume the form of my amendment
although believe It obe wrong in principle, and will be
bad IN practice yet believe the result OF II will be such
that the people OF the country will have occasion TO
complan-iha there will be great amount OF the pub
lie treasure squandeed upon these gentlemen. who are,
doubt not very deseryedy and properly the avores OF
majority OF this honorable body
With these remarks | will leave the subject in the
hands OF the Senate, and be ready to acquesce any
suit 10 which they may come.
Mr.. BADGER had not the slightest expectation
that the amendment which had the honor 10 submit
would for command the assent and appreciation
OF the honorable senator from Connecticut MIR SMITH,
entertained no wild and visionary expectations that that
senator would depart from his usual custom OF being
ished with nothing but what he himself proposed. con-
Tess, however, that | had some faint hopes that he
would have departed from his usual practice OF ashing
himself into at any evidence OF difference OF
opinion this body from himself The hope was faint
still it existed In that have been unhapply dsap-
pointed.
The senator concludes with the declaration that he has
no feeling upon this subject Why sir, how we to
Judge whether the senator has feelings upon this sub.
lect Are the extravagan exhibitions OF heat, ANNA
ton, force denuncation and insInnaton with which he
has favored all put on Would the senator have us
understand thait all acting and while he be in
atowering passion IN the anticipation OF some truthful
violence, atrocious fraud deep and extensive
pungnp the public likely he
upon the country, he is all the time perfectly COOL and
feels nothing OF what he exhibits in manner in express
sion, and in language Why, sir, the honorable senator
speaks OF oppression and extoron and yet he per.
tectly cool What there in the character OF Doneson
Armstrong that justlfes him in talking about their
being guilty OF oppression and extoToni II the
means what he says ~ that respect, how is that consist
ent with his subsequent declaration that be means no
parchment upon their character, and that he considers
them worthy and good men II that latter expression
be sincere, how the honorable senator Justify himself
IN accusing men, whom he deems 10 be upright OF an in
tended oppression and extorton
But further, the honorable senator seems 10 me 10 be
stimulated into almost fury against myself; and having
the other day very strongly nmaed that the honorable
senator from Indiana Mr. BRGHr,l who introduced this
resolution, had secret purpose 10 engage in plum
derlng oil the treasury he now lnlinaes that am dis.
posed 10 90 further than that honorable and absent
senator am myself generally in the habit OF supposing
that am operated upon by honest motives and what
propose aeow and, feeling conscious oil such princi
PIE OF motive and action IN myself, am not ordinarily
IN the bablt OF supposng that those who differ with me
are necessarily led by bad motives and act by base
ness and nsdious purposes and ends
NOW, having made these remarks, let inc ask the at
tenuon oil the Senate for moment 10 see what il is tina,
hag in 49,