The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-26

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| And 80 on FOR page after page in minute detail.
We publish ten thousand copies OF these documents.
ana send them abroad over the country Tor the Use OF
The general reader, taning details thus minute and
unlmportant and OF no conceivable utility 10 any but a
small number of persons
Every one is aware that the matter ordinarily wanted
Tor general use might be comprised in single volume
OF moderate size, and such volume would be worth
more to almost every person than the whole five now
are. Another Inconvenience would be obvia,ed BY the
compendium The number OF volumes now accumulates
% fast that it is nconvenent TO preserve them for in
the course of few years they make OF themselves
large library would like inquire of honorable
ators If they have not already experienced great incon
venence arising from this source, we'll as from the
documents spread over wide surface. and is only
to be found after wading through 30 many pages OF
unimportant detail
On the of value and convenience. the abstract
would be worth more members of Congress than
the documents IN erenso though is proposed that they
sal have both Another purpose would be effected by
The preparation OF this compendium. II would secure
great Saving OF expense, and IS therefore recommended
by every principle OF economy well convenience.
We publish large issue OF extra numbersthe present
year Ten thousand copies-aer providing those neces-
sary ior our own use Now ten thousand copies ol the
i've volumes are equivalent 10 fifty thousand volumes OF
the single compendium. Ten thousand volumes of the
compendium would nearly four fhs of the expense
and II we doubled that number, should double the
amount OF valuable information now furnished by the dis
expense. Again, and is matter of very frequent
plant amongst constituents, that few obtain,
able TO OBTAIN, perfect set OF the public documents
lhe compendium would furnish 10 individuals gen.
orally document OF service 10 them, answering all the
purposes OF the full set II would ordinarily furnish them
every TACT important for them to know. is believed
that II will not be foand difficult for the President
cause the Secretaries when they prepare their annual
ports to prepare also abstract compendium OF the
valuable portions OF them, so that it may be submitted
with the documents large II may be said that we have
no guarantee that the compendium will contain such
publish apprehend practical difficulty will be found
on that score for when the documents are sent on il
anything should be omitted which we should desire TO
have inserted il will be easy TO cause the deficiency 10
be supplied When the compendium is submitted it will
be 10 the power OF either house OF Congress regulate
the whole matter by publishing such number OF they
shall see NJ, and such number also OF the documents
erenso. My conviction is, that IL we will try the expert
menl, great saving will be made and great convent
ence effected think that there be objection 10
H. and hope that the resolution will receive favorable
consideration
Mr. HALE. Mr. President think the Senate. with
great WISDOM this morning refused to make innova
on upon our rules; and though my vote uniformly has
been gwen IN favor OF cutting OF great expenditures in
printing books, must say feel compelled TO go against
ls particular proposition and think that the reasons
suggested by the honorable senator from Maine MIR
bRADBURYl will convince every gentleman who will lis
ten to the natter that he is entirely wrong He pro-
poses 10 make compendium of the public documents
how large the compendium is 10 be he has not told u.s.
MI. BRADBURY. A single volume.
Mr. HALE The senator says single volume but
There is very small volume called Jack the Giant
Killer" which you might hold up with one finger, and
then there ~ another volume called "Fox's Book Of
Martyrs" which il will take quite stout boy to carry
so that single volume does not convey very definite
idea TO the mind
But suppose you appoint committee or trust Secre-
tay TO make selection OF the important and useful
ters proposed IN this compendium There is large class
OF the community that think the important and
fu information that can be given to them is that very
part which the senator from Maine has told us is
lessthat Is, the list OF contracts and OF contract
os, together with the sums for which they propose
furnish supplies, which the senator says occupies
l3O pages vast number OF the most astue and eagle
eyed men IN the country do not read anything else but
that Besides, II there single subject which should
be exposed to the country, i is that II there is sub
Jec where there has been abuse fraud, favortsm plum
der oil the treasury and illegally putting the proceeds OF
the treasury into the hands of fayores IL Is this very
thing of contracts and furnishing supplies; and there
one single wrong that ought 10 be exposed and watch
Cd with scrutiny and care, ii is these very and
offers 10 furnish supplies. The list of contracts and
names OF contractors tell than Volumes and il they
would only print the politics OF the contractors. would
be willing TO have the documents made little larger
That IS one part that should not be abridged and
iure TO say whenever you get committee, and they
undertake 10 make abridgment, they will abrdge Il
IN mat very particular in which the great mass of the
country VIII want Information. And what guage
you gong 10 take 10 do IL by
The honorable senator objects then to some OF these
observations that have been made about something
not know whatposs bly, the tides possibly the heavens
Wel srr, there is large class OF men TO whom these
observations are most inerestng and just exactly you
get the temper and disposition OF the committee that is to
make The compendium, 4 will be made TO suit their
peculiar views and peculiar tastes, and nobody's else
and the probability is, that your public documents in this
compendous form will not be worth straw. think, il
there Is any amendment made il should be deeper than
that and that is, not TO print great number OF docu
ments that are not interesting.
Bot SIR. of all the forms in which reform is suggested
may be permitted to say, with all Difference the hon
oabe senator from Maine, who has gwen good deal OF
attention 10 this subject, and who know is desoos OF
reirenchment and reform in this matter, do think (t
may be weaknessceralnly not obsiinacy) that he has
h upon the worst form in this caseihat this idea Of
compendium, unless you tell what it shall contain
| and how large II must be, is that is liable to the
greatest abuse and will DO the least remedy the evil
that complained Of because il is impossible TO suit the
public taste The public taste IL various and the old
song-'.there are many men Of many minds" and what
may be highly interesting to one will be looked at with
calm indifference by anotberw apply in this case, and
| It will be impossible to make compendium that shall
meet the public expectation. For these reasons. shall
i be Obliged TO vote against the resolution.
| Mr.. BRADBURY. MIR. President, the honorable sen-
a,or from New Hampshire finds objection 10 this reso
luton which think arises from not understanding pre-