The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-15


minutes to make a personal explanation.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WEDNESDAY, April Ia
The journal of yesterday was read.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
The SPEAKER announced that he first business
in order was the consideration Of the report of the
Committee on Printing submitted yesterday.
Mr.. FLORENCE (Mr. BRowN, of Mississippi,
who was entitled to the floor, yielding) withdrew
the resolution he moved yesterday as an amend
ment to the Committee on Printing, and stated
that he intended to move to recommit the bill to
the Committee on Printing, with instructions to
report bill to establish government printing
office, and, with the joint resolution made by him
self Yesterday, as an additional section.
Mr. BROWN, Of Mississippi, then resumed the
remarks he commenced yesterday. Declaring
that in the course he had taken, he was not actu-
ated by spirit of personal hostility to the par
ties named by the Committee on Printing What
he objected to, was that the whole action of the
Committee on Printing showed determination to
connect Donelson & Armstrong with the contract
i'm some way. 1t was not any objection he had
to these individuals but he objected to the action
of the committee, which made the public inter-
ests secondary to the interests of the Union
establishment
The gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. German,
when abiding to the Southern Press, yesterday,
evidently thought that he Mr.. B. was laboring
in the service of that paper, but he was greatly
mistaken. That paper, as it was well known, re-
fected the sentiments Of large number Of South
ern Democrats; and he to understand that
that portion of the Democracy, who sympatbIzed
with the views of that journal, were always to be
prescribed? If the action Of this body should in
dictate that because gentlemen had defended what
they believed to be their rights, they were to be
prescribed, they would probably feel it due to
their dignity that they should prescribe in turn.
In Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, there
100000 Southern Rights men, and he was not au-
thorzed to foreshadow their future action, but he
felt authorized to warn gentlemen, in friendly
spirit, to be cautious how they acted, for they
might injure the success of their Presidential cam
didate He wished it to be understood that when
prescription should commence for opinion sake,
there could be prescription their side as well
on the other side.
In conclusion, Mr. B. moved resolution to
fer the report of the Committee on Printing to the
Judiciary Committee, with instructions to report
upon the whole subject, and recommend for the
adoption Of Congress such system for the exc
cution Of the public printing they might deem
most expedient, and that they especially take into
consideration the plan for Printing Bureau for the
execution of the work, under the supervision Of
government officer.
Mr.. FLORENCE moved to amend the instruc-
tons by recommit!ing the report to the Commit
tee on Printing, with instructions to report the
bill offered by Mr.. DoTY some time since, for the
establishment of government printing office. lie
argued in support Of bill of this kind, and re-
ferred to the expression of opinion made upon this
subject by the Printers Union of Philadelphia,
composed of some Ave six hundred intelligent
gentlemen. He then answered the arguments
against the manner in which the work had been
executed by the present contractor, and said 1t
would compare with any other work heretofore
done by contract, or in any other manner, IN
Washington.
Mr.. ORR, of South Carolina, after speaking Of
the expense the prices adopted by the committee
invole the House in, said that he endorsed the
sentiments submitted by Mr.. BRowN, of Missis-
sippi, in relation to the Southern, Press, which was
said to be, and he supposed was, the organ OF a
portion of the Democratic party OF the House.
He was opposed to giving any portion OF the
printing to this paper. Whenever a newspaper
was unable to support itself at the seat of govern
ment, or elsewhere, without treasury pap, boun-
ty, or contracts, it ought to go by the board. He
was therefore, opposed to giving this printing to
any partisan paper for the purpose of sustaining
it, He was Of the opinion, though that the cabl-
net last summer treated the Southern Press badly
in refusing to give it that printing to which it was
entitled, and if he was the editor of that paper he
would sue out a writ of mandamus to make them
comply with the law.
Mr.. POLK did not desire, nor would he so far
forget his allegiance to the Democratic party and
to principle, as to pursue and answer the argu-
ment ilIegtimately raised by the gentleman from
Mississippi [Mr. BRowN] W hen that gentleman
warned them that men had power in the South,
and exercise that power; when he told them that
they would exercise controlling influence, he
would saw to him, he had better form a union
with the Freesoilers If the gentleman intended
10 exercise an influence which would destroy the
party if he intended to form such combination,
and commit an act which would be an outrage
upon the Democratic party, he Mr.. ?. desired
them to proclaim it like men. He had endeavored
to harmonic the party, so far as any express
sion of sentiment on his part could do 1t; but he
hoped he would not be asked to raternze, coalesce
and sympathize with men who stood ready to stab
the party and send it to the grave. When the
gentleman from Mississippi made threat, he
would understand that there was ponderous arm
for the safety Of the Union, and that arm would be
found to battle against him.
The gentleman had sad, on yesterday, that
himself and the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. RANrouLl stood upon the same issues which
united the Democratic party. He wished to know
Of the gentleman from Mississippi IL he stood
shoulder to shoulder with man from Massachu-
setts who would steal negro if he had chance
He said this with all the responsibility which fol-
lowed IT, He felt authorized, from the record; to
ask if the gentleman from Mississippi (who ate a
coal of fire and drank quart of water to put il
out) if he would stand in sweet embrace with the
gentleman from Massachusetts,?
Mr.. BROWN repeated what he said yesterday
that upon the old Democratic Questions ne d,t
recognize the gentleman from Massachusetts,. II
the gentleman asked if he coalesced with the gen.
tleman from Massachusetts, upon the subject OF
slavery, he knew very well he did not.
M POLK remarked that the gentleman said
that he did not coaesce with that gentleman from
Massachusetts, while he voted with HIM upoI
questions which agitated the power Of the party.
Mr. RANTOUL wished to put the gentlema