The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-20
and on all occasions, he should vote the printing

had the public printer before them. They inquired
of him how far he was able to go on with the faith
iu execution of the contract, and he gave them to
understand that he could not and did not expect TO
comply with it, He was not able to supply the de-
scription OF paper required-hity pounds to the
reanl-but making use of that which weighed
from thirty eight to fifty pounds He assigned, as
reason for this, that he could not purchase the
paper, having no money TO pay cash, and could
not get credit. As to the present state OF the print
ing, he said that the Presidents annual message
would not be ready under two weeks, but that all
the bills and reports had been finished and sent to
the House.
Mr.. STUART inquired what in contem-
plation to remove Congress from the disability
Mr.. STANTON said that he had mentioned the
matter to the committee, who thought 1t necessary
| to have direct action by the House. The chairman
of the Committee of Ways and Means MIR. Hous-
TONY was applied to for the purpose OF introducing
resolution upon the subject. The committee would
have acted on that day, but objection was made by
| the House. Whenever the House shall authorize
the committee to make tire investigation, they Will
act promptly.
Mr.. CARTIER said that the statement Of the
gentleman confirmed the truth which he had sta ted,
namely that the public printer never had com
piled with the terms Of the contract, and the con-
tract history was continual and living violation
of contract. He did not care, individually, but SO
far as the violation embarrassed and arrested the
| proceedings of the House; and OF this they had
right to complain The printing should be done
by the direct action Of the House, and not through
the Printing Committee. The power ID here, and
it was the duty of the House to act at once. He
was not willing to await the crooked tortuous dc
lay Of that committee. The inability of the con
| tractor was held up solemn obligation
| Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia, (the gentleman
from Ohio yielding the floor said that If 1t should
| be established sat The contractor cannot comply
with his obligations, then the House should meet
the question but let them obey their own law, and
in proper manner ascertain the fact OF non-com
pliance.
| Mr. CARTIER observed that the gentleman
would stay the hand Of Congress, to deprive the
|
question. IL the contractor was guilty In the pre-
misses, he would not permit him to stand between
! the House and its action
| Mr.. STEPHENS. You would not do this without
! n hearing?
Mr.. CARTIER. No, would give him till the
day of Judgment; but would have the printing
| done.
Mr.. STEPHENS. Would it not be better to
first have the Committee on Printing to report the
condition of the printing?
Mr.. CARTIER 1t is against my views Of econ
| omy to assent to any such thing. When one party
binds another in default and the contract Id vio-
lated, he ID at liberty TO disregard the obligation.
This contract is not only violated but by comics
sion the contractor acknowledges himself incapa-
bic of executing it.
Mr.. STEPHENS. The Committee on Public
Printing, under the law, has made no such report
to the House.
Mr.. CARTIER. l hoped that would be under
stood by this time.
Mr.. STEPHENS. Let us call for an additional
report, and the Committee on Printing can an
MIR. CARTIER. The only difference between
US is, that the gentleman wishes to travel for a
port instead of taking the confessed fact.
Mr.. p. KING understood that by the terms of
the contract ITSELF OF the refusal neglect
OF the public printer to execute the printing, the
work can be done by some other person. He asked
whether this not.
Mr. CARTIER said that tho views which he en-
tertained presupposcd no such express alternative
The House however, in virtue OF the violation of the
contract, could and ought 10 order the printing to
be done elsewhere. The contractor had not conform
Oh to the contract IN type paper, or any OF the es
sential elements; and this was confessed truth.
lie moved TO lay the motion to reconsider upon the
table.
Mr.. STEPHENS demanded the yeas and nays,
which were ordered
And on the question being taken it was decided
IN the athrmative-yeas liz, nays 81.
THE DELEoATE FROM UTAH.
Mr.. BRIGGS asked the unanimous consent of the
House to offer the following resolution, viz:
Rssolued, That the COMMITTEES Elections be
instructed to inquire into the election of John NJ.
Bernhisel, the present delegate from the Territory
of Utah; whether said election was held according
10 law; and whether any bribery, corruption, or
other illegal means were made use Of by the said
Bernhisel, with Brigham Young, or any other per-
sons, to secure the said election and return; with
power TO send for persons and papers
MIR. STEPHENS, of eorgia, was not willing TO
vote for the resolution, unless some gentleman
would say that there were good grounds for the in.
The SPEAKER remarked that it was a question
Of privilege.
Mr.. BRIGGS said that the resolution had been
offered by him from the best Of motives, for the |
purpose Of investigating the legality Of the cleo |
lion Of the delegate from Utah. lie had reason to |
believe, and thought that the House would come TO
the same conclusion, by the evidence of the United
States returned officers from that Territory that
the gentleman occupies a seat in the House without
the shadow Of right. In order to establish the |
truth, he had offered the resolution. He did not |
wish TO PREJUDICE the case by any remarks, and |
would patiently await the action of the Committee
OF Elections; but he would only say that Mr.. BERS-
msEL had no more right TO occupy his sea, than
the tarthost person on earth
Mr.. y. KING said il would be recollccted that |
when the report Of the returned ofiicers COM
inundated by the President Of the United States |
the delegate from Utah moved that il be referred /
20 committee of investigation, which was refused |
by the House. lie was not aware of any such fact |
as had been stated by his colleague; but as the de-
legate was not now present. he would suggest that |
the resolution lie over for the present.
Mr. BRIGGS said that his object was 20 call the /
attention Of the House TO this subject As the del
cgnte was not present, he proposed that the rcsolu
ton 60 over until to morrow
AMERICAN COLONIZATION soCIETY.
Mr. DISNEY asked the unanimous consent Of /
toe House TO introduce a resolution, that the use Of
the nall be granted 20 the American Colonization |
Society for ~ annual meeting on the twentieth in
slant.
Objection being made, he moved a suspension Of |
the rules
Mr. JONES, Of Tennessee. said that the last time |
were torn, and good many Of the windows and /
fixtures were broken.
The House refused to suspend the ruics--ycss %, |
nays %, not two thirds
EXCLUSION or NEGROEe rROM THE STATES.
Mr.. CLlNGMAN asked the unanimous consent |
Of the House TO introduce the following resolution
which read for information, viz
Whereas, some Of the States Of the Union have, |
in their constitutions, provided for tho absolute
clusion Of free negroes from their several Terrific
rics, while others have sought TO obtain the same
otjectby legislation:
And whereas complaints have, az times been |
made Of these things By other States and natons
Therefore,
Re'oiped. That, in the opinion Of the House Of
Representatives,, il is tho unqucstonable right Of
each OF the States Of the Union 90 exclude, |
either wholly partially, from her territory,
grOcs, whether free savss; and that the exercise
Of this right affords just ground Of complaint TO
any other nation Or State.
Objection being made. Mr.. CLINGMAN moved
a suspension Of the rules, but the motion old not
preya--ycas CO, nays ~.
CLAIMS oS THE DyPARTmENTs.
Mr.. FULLER, Of Maine, asked the unanimous
consent Of the House to offer the following rcsolu-
IL ~. ~ & Il lF.-. q