The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, April Is, 1852.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING

THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
The SPEAKER announced that the first BUSH
ness in order was the consideration of the report
Of the Committee on Printing, the question being
on the motion Of Mr.. Polk to lay 1t on the table.
Mr.. BROWN, Of Mississippi, moved call of
the House which was agreed to.
And the roll was accordingly called to ascertain
the names of the absentees.
All further proceedings under the callwere dis
Mr. POLK then withdrew his motion to lay
the whole subject on the table at the request of
Mr.. CLINuMAN, who reviewed the conduct
of the committee declaring that the action of the
Committee on Printing showed that they intended
to make BOYD Hamilton the instrument of giving
the printing to their friends, Messrs. Donelson d
Armstrong, and Gideon & Co.
He thought it must be obvious that there jour
nails were attempted to be given the printing so
that thew could get their hands into the treasury,
under the idea that they had rendered important
service in saving the Union. He expressed HIM
self in favor Of establishing government printing
Office. and he hoped elso that newspapers could
be selected for the publication of government adj
vertisements, solely because they had the largest
circulation in the sections in which they were
published.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, followed, aud adj
vocated system that would fix the prices to be
paid for printing, and provide for the election by
the establis hment Of a government printing Office,
and showed the evils which would flow from such
= system. In conclusion he passed high eulog-
un, upon the editors Of the Union.
Mr.. FITCH also opposed the plan proposed
bv the Committee on Printing, though he had no
affection to Messrs. Donelspn g. Armstrong. In
deed il the contract law were annulled, he would
sooner vote for them than for any other pers ons.
Rut that system was still in existence and the
committee had no right to annul the law.
Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky, after denying
that there was any coalition in the Committee on
Printing as to giving this printing to certein pa
pers said that Ewood Fisher, of the Southern
Press, proposed combination between his paper
and the Union. He requested the committee to
divide some of the printing between his paper and
the Union, for the reason that such course would
produce a union between the Southern and COM
promise Democrats Mr. 8. told him that it
utterly impossible that such proposition, under
any circumstances, could only obtain two votes,
the other gentlemen the committee being
Northern men. Mr. Fisher, finding that he could
not accomplish his object, resorted to threats, and
.aid that if they effected an arrangement with
Donelson e. Armstrong, the twhole Southern
n.rtv would make war to the knifs upon the Dem
ppcr,tic party,i.ht the Presidential canvass.
MI WOODWARD wished TO say that he did
not know one solitary Southern Rights man who
had t.ken any part in behalf OF the Southern
pr,., in relation to this business, or who had voted
for il. Their objection was not to the employ
ment of Wing or Democrat, but to the employ
msnt of any partisan editor.
Mr.. STANTON said that the statement of the
Sovth<rn Press had been reiterated by the gentle
man from Mississippi Mr. BaowN 49,,
Mr. BROWN, of Miss, explained that he DID