Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-17
SON. Tharston. Ward Watkins Wells Alex white wilcox,


NAYs-Messrs Aiken. Allison John Appleton, Ashe, Ave-
Cable Lewis D. Campbell, Cartier caskie Chandler Chap
man. Clingman, Curtis Dimmck, Doty Eastman Edgerton
Edmundson Fckn Fitch Florence Floyd Fowler iddngs,
Goodenow, Goodrich Green Grey Grow, Hail. Harper Isham g.
Harris, s. w Harris Henn Hibbard Horord Houston John
Howe, Thomas M Howe Hunter jackson, James johnson,
John Johnson Daniel T. Jones' Clancy Jones' Preston King
kuhns Kurz Mann, Humphrey Marshall, Mason, Mcdonald,
McNair, Mcqueen, Meade, Mson Miner, Melony Morrison
Murray Newton olds, Orr A. Parker Peaseee, Penniman
Perkins, Phelps Powell, Ranou Robbins Scudder, Smart
Smith Snow, Benz Stanton T. Stevens Sweetser venab
Walbridge, Wallace washburn Addison White, and Wood
The SPEAKER then stated the question to be as fol-
lows The gentleman from Mississippi mr. Brown had
moved to refer the report Of the Committee on Printing
70 'ne Committee on the Judiciary with instructions to
roPor on the whole subject and to recommend for the
OF Congress such system for the execution Of
the public printing they may deem most expedient
ana Ina! .ney especially take into consideration the plan
for printing bureau the execution Of the work under
the supervision Of Government officer The oentlema
from Pennsylvania dr FLoRrxcH) had moved to amend
the instructions Of the gentleman from Mississippi by
SreSng sne Committee on the Judiciary to report the
sin Mr. Dorr) for the establishment of d Government
printing Office The gentleman from South Carolina Cr
ORR had moved further to amend the motion Of the gem
tieman from Mississippi by inserting the COMMITTEES ON
Printing in lieu Of the Committee on the judiciary The
question would first be upon the motion Of the gentleman
from Pennsylvania. -
The question having been stated to be on agreeing TO the
amendment proposed by Mr. FLORENCE to the instructions
of Mr.. BRowN, Of Mississippi
Mr. GORMAN claimed the privilege of closing the de-
pate upon this subject xnder the rule which allowed this
privilege to the member reporting any measure under
consideration. He remarked that the Committee on
Printing under the law which had been read to the House
again and again had power to adopt such measures as
lay which might occur in consequence Of the failure Of
the public printer to execute his contract The Commit
as had been stated to the House in the report which
ne had made unanimously came to the conclusion that
p0 in avovu <;a1r
TO comply with his contract and there was no remedy
left the committee but adopt such measures as Their;
Judgment in the premises might dictate Under power
granted they did exercise their Judgment in the best man
ner they could and made the arrangements which were
contained in the report before the House.
It had been asserted that the Committee on Printing
had acted with view of accomplishing party purpose
and that Doneson & Armstrong and Gideon & Co had
combined to plumber the public Treasury Now what
ever conversation may have taken place
among the propretors it the knowledge Of
the committee. He would say to the House that the
Committee on Printing consulted with or heard one
word from Gideon Co. this subject and no person
from the beginning to the end had been consulted WITH
except Doneson Armstrong, far as his knowledge
extended unless gentleman of the Wing party be-
longing to the committee had consulted with the propre
tors Of the Republic in private II this had occurred it
had to the information of the committees al
such, or to him individually.
1t had been further said the committee had undertaken
to impose upon the House public printers without con-
sulting the House. This he denied for the committee
that they should do that portion of the work which the
public printer had failed neglected to execute.
He denied that the committee influenced by poll
teal motives in giving portion of the work to Doneson
4 Armstrong and Gideon Co. The first motive which
actuated him to discharge his duty to the country
md place the public printing before the country The
next duty ascertain who could perform that work
which the public printer had failed to do in obedience to
the contract.
In reference to the assertion that coalition had been
entered into the committee could readily have made
4 Ulfh nth ID
When gentlemen charged q coalition their own action
should be Clean 1t was saying in law, that when
person came into court of justice and asked equity he
must first in with clean hands Now to whom were
they to give this printing? The National Inellgencer
was press of the Wing party The Southern Press was
kind of quasi organ of the States Rights men, (and he
oeheved this paper had one Wing and one Democratic
sdtor)
voIcE. Which one is Wing?
Mr. GORMAN replied that Mr. De Leon had always
been Wing, and he had heard Of his having chang
ID If there had existed any disposition the part of
he committee to enter into coalition they could have
accepted the rendered them the Southern Press
ie would state that distinguished Southern gentleman
he editor OF the Columbus Geo Times suggested that
here was arrangement foot for the purpose of max
him the editor Of the Southern Press This editor was
come out and declare his acquiescence in the conpro
mise and in favor Of the nominee Of the Baltimore Con-
ention. And with these words on his lips this gentle
in conjunction with Southern men, came and asked
there could not be alliance? could not part of the
public printing be given to them That gallant man. (r
md who bore upon his person marks received from its
oes, rejected such arrangement He (Mr. g. pro-
'osed no alliance with North, South East or West
e would have none The committee could have had an
liance with the editor of the Columbus Times, and IL
hey had done this he should not have had to reply the
hages of bargain and coalition preferred against the
ommttee This the origin of all this talk Of coa-
ion. He did not hear De Leon and Fisher make any
uggestion but he understood that these gentlemen
uiety making propositions in the Roundo the National
iote and the streets that the fact might creep the
Of gentlemen that they would like to have slice
lie heard Of this but he did hear of the editor Of
he Columbus Times, in Georgia. coming here and pro-
osing the coalition of which he had spoken. Mr.. G..
hen referred to what he considered coalition between
outhern Rights members and Freeso members defeat
he action Of the Committee Printing, and wished
If any would deny that the aboonsts the House,
nd gentlemen who occupied the position of the gentle
from North Carolina, (Messrs CLISoxAS and vRx-
BILE such gentlemen those who occupied extreme
united together the purpose of defeat
ng the action Of the committee.
Mr.. VENABLE begged leave TO explain and all he had
say was, that If the Freesoers and Southern Rights
would combine to keep persons from pundering the
reasury, they would be much honest party than
hat party which would help to plumber the Treasury
ither by the gable the door If the gentleman from
indiana had undertaken TO make condition between
he Freesoiers and what he pleased call extreme
southern Rights gentlemen whose object was prevent
he wasting Of the public money for the public printing
would tell the gentleman that he proud TO co-ope
ate with any party who would the hard earnings Of
is working constituents from any such pervcrsion.
Mr. GORMAN said that il was the determination of the
ecession Disunon State Rights party whatever they
ratio party because it advocated the compromise
ures If these should fall he would fall with
hem. strfs
Messrs Donelson Armstrong had been the uncompro-