The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-22


merce
The first business before the House was the
motion to lay the report of the Committee on
Printing on the table A motion TO 90 into
Committee on the Private Calendar having
been negatlyed, the question on the report again
came up, when MIR. German moved a call of
the House; upon which Mr. Jones called for
the yeas and nays. The motion was negativ-
ed-yeas 80, nays LOG.
The yeas and nays were then taken on the
motion to lay the motion on the table, which
was negatiyed-yeas 81, nays SO.
MIR Orr, of South Carolina, moved to strike
out Judiciary Committee in MIR Browns
resolution, and to substitute Committee on
Public Printing" with instructions upon which
u the previous question was carried-yeas SO,
nays AZ
Previous to the main question being put, Mr.
German, who reported from the Committee,
claimed the right of reply, and went on to state
THAI 1t was admitted that under the law the
Committee on Printing was authorized to RENE
dy any neglect of the public printer to comply
with his contract, and which they had endeav-
ored to effect in the best manner they were
able. The Committee had never consulted any
one except Donelson & Armstrong and if any
member had done 50, it was not in the knowl-
edge of the Committee
He cOntended that they had only employed
others to execute what Hamilton could not per-
form thus carrying out the letter of the law
lie repeated that he would employ political
friend in preference to a political opponent,
provided he could execute the printing as cheap
ly and contended that Mr.. Rives's tender, upon
which the agreement with Donelson s. Arm
strong is predicated is the lowest. With ref
erence to a coalition, to which the gentleman
from North Carolina yesterday advertod. he
said one might have been effected with the
Southern Press An offer had been made by
an editor of one of the Georgia papers, to con-
duet that paper on Compromise principles, pro-
vided that establishment could have a share of
the public printing
He attributed the opposition which had been
made to desire to break down Donelson g.
Armstrong because they are in favor of the
Compromise then went on to define what he
considered State Rights and concluded by sta
ting that II the report was referred back to the
Committee ON Printing they would see that
the most reasonable tender was accepted. and.
for his part, he should decide in favor of Tow
ers's bid
Mr.. Polk, of Tennessee, moved to Law tn,
whole subject on the table upon which he
called for the yeas and nays which having
been ordered, the motion was negatived-yea
80, nays 8S.
Mr. Brown, of Mississippi asked if it wa
competent for him to modify the original reso
luton offered by himself by substituting thu
Printing Committee " for {" the Judiciary Com
mittee;" to which the Speaker replied in tn,
Affirmative but he subsequently withdrew hi
proposition.
The question was then taken on the amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Florence, of Pennsylva
mia, embracing bill constituting a Printing
Bureau, upon which the yeas and nays were
ordered and which was negatived-yeas 81
nays l05.
1t was then resolved that when the House
adjourn, it stands adjourned till Monday next
Mr.. Jones, Of Tennessee moved to lay the
whole subject on the table
motion to adjourn was negatived
The yeas and nays were then taken on Mr.
Joncs's motion to lay the subject ON the table
which was negatived-yeas rs, nays SO
Mr.. Browns proposition to refer the report
to the Judiciary Committee was also negativ-
ed-yeas Al, nays IS.
A motion made by Mr.. Orr, to refer the re-
port back to the Printing Committee, with in
structions similar to those proposed by Mr.
Brown, was then carried-yeas so, nays 10
Adjourned.
MONDAY, APRIL 10.
The House took up the unfinished business
of Saturday, which was the motion of Mr.. Ven
| able to lay the motion to reconsider the vote
referring the report of the Printing Committee
on the table; and the yeas and nays having
been ordered it was negatived-yeas II, nay
ga
The yeas and nays were then taken ON tn
motion to reconsider which was carried-yea
81, nays ~.
II was again moved to lay the motion to re
consider on the table; and the yeas and nay
were taken, when it was Degatiyed-yeas "a
nays 90
| After considerable discussion as to points o
| order, the vote was again taken on the motion
| to refer the report to the Committee on Print
ing: which was negatived-yeas rs, nays 80.
Mr. Venable, of North Carolina, moved that
the committee be requested to contract with
the lowest responsible bidder, after ten days
notice. for the performance OF such work as
the contractor fails to perform.
Mr.. Venable cOntended that the press which
relies on the Treasury for support, must neces,
sarily become corrupt. The resolution he pro-
posed, he said, would limit the committee, and
compel them to have such printing executed as
Hamilton could not perform, and that it should
be executed at the lowest rates.
Mr.. German, of Indiana, moved to strike out
all the resolution after the word resolved, and
to insert that the report be recommitted to the
Committee ON Printing. And upon this he
called for the previous question; which having
been seconded the main question was put
upon which the yeas and nays were ordered
upon the amendment, which was carried--yeas
So, nays 10.
And the resolution, as amended, was adopted.
resolution introduced by Mr.. Marshall, OF
Kentucky, for the appointment of special
committee to take the entire subject Of print
ing under consideration, and report some meas
ure in relation to it, was also adopted.
A motion was made to adjourn, which was
finally adopted.