The southern press., 1852-01-15
The Census Printing.

Tho Census Printing.
The proceedings in the Senate last Tuesday,
on the resolution authorizing the joint Committee
on Printing to contract with Mossrs. DoNELsos
g. ARMSTRONG, "on such terms in the judg
ment of the committee may be deemed just aud
reasonable" for the printing of the seventh
census, were rather abruptly terminated in a
postponement of the whole subject for three
weeks. The debate, however, wasnot destitute
Of information. 1t elected tho following facts :
|. That the work of the Executive depart
ments is required by law to be given out to the
lowest bidder, under the supervision of the head
of the department to which the work may be-
long.
2. That this work of the seventh census, prop
erly under this law, would fall under the super
vision of the Secretary of the Interior.
8. That the resolution of Mr. BRIGHT proposes
to supersede this existing law, by special act
for the benefit of the firm Of the Union Office.
Mr.. BRIGHr's reasons for making this special
exception 70 the rule ofawarding the printing to
the lowest bidders, are plausible, though not cal
culated 10 be satisfactory to those who would
prefer to compete for the work of printing the
returns Of the seventh census. They would
probably prefer the existing system of con-
tracing with the lowest bidder, or even the
amendment of Mr.. SMfTH-a separate contract
each for the printing, the binding, and the paper
and responsible securities in each case. To be
sure, here is the precaution of an unusual num-
Der of checks and balances, but they are better
than positive exclusion, and an invidious speci
fcation of favored agency.
The" reasonable terms" upon which this work
is to be given out to the Union office, may be
according to precedent, and the result may prove
to be satisfactory to all parties, and advantageous
as well to the government as to the printers !;
but it is an invidious discrimination, and may
well justify the opinion Of Mr.. HALE, that it is
an expedient for raising the wind" for the
benefit of partizan press.
For the sake of the argument, let us suppose
that such is an object, if not the object, of the
particular personal specification of this resolu
ton, and what is the conclusion! 1t is an as
sumption that the Union is entitled to this mark
of favor as the organ of the National Democratic
party. Is it SO? Are the fragments of the late
Union party of Georgia, Alabama and Missis-
sippi, Democratic Are the old States Rights
men of those States to be ruled out as heretcs,
with all of that ancient party throughout the
South Will not this act of special favoritism
in behalf of the Washington Union, be tanta-
mount to the accommodation by act of Con-
gress of the Southern States Rights party from
the Democratic church, as far as it may claim an
identity with the national Democracy?
But, again.-By another act of Congress it
appears that the printing of the census was re-
served for its special disposition apart from the
general mass of the public printing. Why SO
Does the resolution of Mr.. BRIGHT disclose the
object according 10 the Interpretation of Mr..
HALE, or was the purpose more faithful exc.
cution of the work by a special arrangement
We believe that under competent securities, the
work can be done as satisfactorily by contract
ing with the lowest bidder, as by special contract,
on terms to be left with the discretion of the
committee.
1t appears, according to the system ventured
upon by the superintendent of this work, that
the extra constitutional margin of the law pro-
viding for the late census, was not broad enough
TO meet his enlarged conceptions, and that in ad-
tlition to the mass of statistics collected, Mr..
KENNEDY proposes historical sketch of each
s,sase, and of every county in the Union The
immensity of this job of printing, if this plan
should be adopted, may be imagined, but cannot
be described. But the bare mention of it ap-
pears to have brought the Senate to halt. And
accordingly the resolution is postponed for three
weeks In the meantime the superintendent Of
the census, with his clerical force Of one hun.
dred and sixty-one men, more or less, is to pre-
pare a sample of the work, under his plan, for
one entire State-including the history of the
State, the history of each particular county, and
all the volunnous statistics ordered by Con-
gress. And We incline to the opinion that the
public may wait with some degree of confidence
upon " the sober second thought" of the Senate.
A three weeks postponement is an augury of
calm delibcration.