The southern press., 1852-05-18

itor Of the Union, or TO allude to that matter
further than was absolutely necessary for oul
own vindication But justice to Mr.. Forsyth
as we'll as to ourselves compels the publication
of the letter which we now lay before our read
ers, which letter is in response to demand
from the Union that he should "explain" GER
tain circumstances alluded to by The then ed
tor of that paper. Mr.. FoRsYTHs high position
and great influence with the Southern Rights
Democracy. give the expression of his opinions
great weight and force. He is true represen
tative of the views and feelings of the mass Of
that party at home, and it is with equal pride
and pleasure that we have seen his emphatic re
cognition of our lubors in the cause, and of thu
course we have pursued.
Private letters received from all quarters O
the South, for the last few weeks, bring us thu
same hearty swell done" from our constituents
and inspirited and encouraged by such approval
we shall continue to "lay on and spare not"
We commend this letter to the special atten
ton of friends as well as foes, particularly tn,
closing portion Of it. Faith without work.
avails nothing. As the Grecian sage said te
PERIcLEs, ethose who need the lamp should moi
forget to feed it with OIL"
Mr.. FoRsYTH's letter is written from Mobile
to his paper, the Columbus Times.
MOBILE, May 4th, 1862.
The Washington Union Of the 23d ult., con,
tanning the following, has been brought to my
attention :,....
aTHE COLUMBUS TIMEs.--The editor of the
above press, after spending some weeks here in
an effort to make coalition with the Washing
ton Union, to divide the public printing between
it and the Southern Press, goes back to his
trade of SANDER and caumny, and cries out
"bargain and corruption because the committee
of the two Houses of Congress have performed
their duty, and contracted for the work upon
such terms ae tney have thought best for the
public interest. We have rejected all coalitions,
whether proposed by Mr.. Forsyth, of the Co.
lum5us Times, or Mr.. Fisher, of the Southern
Press, or aEy one else. Will Mr. Forsyth ex-
plain how long it was after we rejected his
terms of coalition that he thought Congress
ought TO give the printing to the lowest bidder?
Will he tell his readers in what respect it is
that the committee have violated the law of
1916, prescribing the duties of the contractor
under the lop bid system 2"
To which have to reply, first: that ISLANDER
and calumny" are not my "trade," and he is a
whe says so /; and second, if il were,
have not agone back" to it from Washington,
because have not written a line Of editorial for
the Times, except in letters, for the last three
months demand of the Washington Union
10 make this explanation, to relieve me from the
false attitude in which it has placed me before
its readers of being changeling of opinion at
the suggestion of interest. The gentleman to
whom In my absence, entrusted the editorial
of the Times has expressed his
own opinions (which he had perfect right to
do) on the mode of executing the public print
ing. On this particular point, do not agree
with him. believe the system TO be dead
failure, and experience has proved that il has
only resulted in embarrassment Of the public
business and ruin TO the contractor, except
where Congress steps in 10 relieve him from the
effects Of his improvident bargains or greediness
10 get hold Of government contract upon any
terms. = believe it is just as proper in a po-
litca party to elect public printer of its faith,
as TO elect speaker, a doorkecper or a sergeant.
alarms. And believe the true principle to be,
to ascertain the actual cost of the paper, COM
position and press.work of the public printing,
and allow the public printer a fair profit in a
fixed per centage-and by stair profit" |
mean, such profit as a similar amount Of skill,
industry and capital, would earn in the same
business If done for individuals, instead Of the
government. ] am opposed to the system Of
robbing the treasury TO enrich party favorites in
printing jobs or any other jobs. If the census
printing, for example, can be executed TO the
satisfaction Of Congress for $4,000. a. be.
lieye team, am opposed TO giving the editors
Of the Washington Union half million Of dol.
lars for doing il, because one Of them was a
pet Of General Jackson, and the other carries
scars, which Mr.. Gormar , eloquently dwells
on, and both were adv tof the compromise
Of 1850. It appears III NIhat ! have not
changed my opinions h subject, as the
Union has advertised me 10 all Of its readers.
The Union talks about coalitions" that |
proposed. ! understand by political coalition,
a union between parties Of different principles
to effect a particular object went to Msjor
Donelson as Democrat, proposing 10 Demo
erdt, a measure believed necessary TO harmon.
ize the party. Major Donelson never did r1eci
my propositions. On the contrary, he a, first
entertained them-he even selected a distin
gushed Democratic Senator 70 confer with
friend Of mine on the subject That conferenc,
came to nsught. But from the beginning Il
the end Of our intercourse, Major Donelsor
neither accepted nor rejected my proposals
could get nothing out Of him in the shape Of
direct answer. The burthen Of his song was
q. "a fal-