The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-29

come back now to the question Of this print
ing. and | appeal TO the gentlemen upon the
other side OF the House 10 know whether, if
they held the power, and had this contract to
give, and the choice was left Ia them, at the same
fair and reasonable rates, they would not give il
% their political friends!
III BELL No, not without competition.
Mr.. GORMAN. All then there is gentle
man sui generis lie belongs to different race
of men from any that ! have ever yet seen. He
must belong to some party that have never yet
heard Of Laughter. He would not prefer a
political fliend-one pos esslng all the elements
of qualiication--to political opponent. God
save me from such political partisan as that
He is an Ishmaeile. Laughter. lie must
have his hand against every body and every
body's hand apprehend, must be turned against
him.
In conclusion, allow me to say to this House
that ask my friends to reconsider this question.
Mr. BELL Will the gentleman allow me to
make an explanation
Mr. GORMAN. Why, yes, with pleasure, if
it is not too long.
Mr.. BELL. | will not make it long
Mr. GORMAN. | want to know, first, if the
gentleman is the one who answered me just
now!
r..
Mr.. GORMAN. am glad TO see you, sir.
Renewed laughter.
Mr. BELL. | understood the gentleman to
make an appeal to the members on this side of
the House, knowing mt the tame time that if
he kept the floor under the permission of the
other gentleman Mr.. SHELTON who let's it
out, they would have no opportunity to reply.
may have been out of order in saying +" No,
not without competition" but wish it to be un-
deGstood, that in saying that, meant that ]
would not place in jeopardy the interests of my
country to favor an individual of my own party,
by giving an exorbitant price for the work
would do as any prudent individual would.
Mr.. GORMAN. ! presume the gentleman
would.
Mr.. BELL. Now, | understand that by this
resolution you tie your own hands.
Mr.. GORMAN. Not at all. The gentleman
wants to persuade us, that we tie our own
hands by putting in those potent words, Don
eson g. Armstrong )" that is the bugbear.
Mr. BELL. You ask the House to tie your
hands for you.
Mr. GORMAN. turned to the gentlemen
on the other side of the House, and asked them
if, in giving this job they had to choose between
political friend and political foe occupying
equal positions in society, of equal ability and
integrity, and willing to take it at the same
reasonable prices-they would not prefer to give
it to their political friend! The gentleman an
swered no,
Mr. BELL. That was not the question.
Mr. GORMAN. answered that HE gentle
man must certainly be sui generis. did not
mean anything personal.
Mr.. BELL. Oh, / did not understand you So
Mr.. GORMAN. Well, then, allow me to
proceed. This resolution--to come back to it
again-has been ordered to be referred to the
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union When it gets there, all these matters
about the question of State rights and Freesoi,
and the Massachusetts coalition, will be brought
up; the House will be kept in Juror for ten or
fifteen days, and when this resolution gets out,
| expect the millennium will come.
Mr.. CARTIER. move to lay the motion
to reconsider upon the table,
Mr.. STEPHENS, Of Georgia. Upon that
motion ask the yeas and nays.
The yeas and rays were ordered, and the
question being taken, there were--yeas l34,
nays 81.