Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-07

issue from the press the ponderous contents of the
Congressional Globe,
In the course of the Debate on this Joint Reso-
luton, as readers may have observed, an argu-
ment was drawn to its support, which, without ex-
PLANTATION, might make an impression upon the pub
lie mind that the proprietors of this paper had
capriciously refused to publish the Debates of
the Selate The facts of the case are, that, enter
ing into contract with the Senate to report and
publish daily, on each succeeding day, the de-
bates Of that body, Gncluding every thing that
said, on every subject, important or unim-
portant,) we diligently performed the condi-
tons of it for three Sessions of Congress- trusting
to reap some profit under the contract but, though
the face of it promising small profit, we found
after giving it fair trial, that it in practice a.
losing bargain. To the newspaper, as business
concern we found the voluminous reports of debates
to be detriment instead of an advantage. We are
not aware of single instance OF addition to the
subscription list Of the paper in consequence OF the
accession Of these reports whilst the dissatisfaction
to subscribers produced by their papers missing the
mails for four or FIVE days in every week (by reason
of getting the paper press earlier than four live,
six and even seven o'clock in the morning, by which
time all the great mails had departed) was displeas
ing and dsheartening to the friends of the paper
and actually undermining its circulation These,
with some other considerations of little interest to
the Public induced to surrender it to the Senate
Not to take the Senate by surprise, however, we
thought it due to that honorable body to advise it in
advance of our intention, by addressing to its Off
i fnll
Letter
i WASHINGTON MARCH 10, 1851
To AsBURY DrcKISs, Esq, Secretary cf the Senate
Il SIR: The engagement which we entered into with the
Senate 1S48 under resolution of that body for the
daily report and publication of its Debates have full
filled up to the present time, and in n manner,
happy believe entirely satisfactory to most if not ALL
of its honorable members and now, having given full
trial to the experiment beg respectfully to apprze
you of purpose to terminate the engagement
part the close of the present special session of the
Senate. In communicating to you this intention we beg
to you that not nsensbe to the beralit
which prompted the Senate he first time in history
that such thing was done by either House of Con-
gress to offer compensation for reporting and publish
ing its debates in public journal; and we equally
sensible that the of compensation offered was
dictated in like spirit of liberaity. But, liberal as
this deemed at the time have found it to fall
short of the actual outlay of money which the faithful
performance of the duty has rendered to
nothing of incidental burdens which did take into
account and which is not necessary to trouble you with
Although doubtless an arrangement might be made
which would induce to continue the engagement with
all its inconvenience and drawbacks yet beg
you that it is part of the Of this letter to draw
from the Senate advantageous terms. Its purpose
simply and solely to advise Of the necessity we feel
ourselves under to close the existing engagement.
We shall continue send the Intelgencer to each Sen
ator usual until complete the publication of the
arrears of debate of the last days of the session.
Very respectfully your obedient servants,
GALES & SEATON.
So far from intending, in this surrender of the
contract, any dsrespect to the Senate, the reader
must see in it evidence of desire to avoid even the
semblance of it. We could not dictate to the Sen
ate any particular modification of the contract bu
it by fault of ours that the Senate Debates
not now fully reported in this paper under the
late contract at greater expense to the Senate and
with less loss to the publishers. Could we have taken
the liberty to propose plan to the Senate, it would
have been that there should be but corps of re-
porters employed to report and publish the fol
lowing day Gas far as praetcablc) the Debates Of
the Senate, at just compensation and that such
daily papers of this city the Senate should select
should be engaged to copy those reports entire into
their columns on the day succeeding the official pub
LEGATION, at compensation to each far short of the
compensation to be allowed to the original reporter
So far as this paper is concerned, wide circula-
ton would be secured for the Debates as could be
in any other way, and at a less cost than under the
terms Of our late contract
! But il was further stated, in the debate in the
Senate upon the foregoing Resolution, that as far
as one OF the two great parties of the country is
concerned, they 1.-THE Whigsl are excluded entirely
from perusng the Debates of that and the other
branch of Congress. The honorable Senator fur
Their charged that except perhaps upon question
he had not seen "a single speech of a member of
the Senate published in this paper at the present
session; and he called upon another honorable men,
Der "to bring him a National Integencer and
show him Debate" This was said we are conf
dent, out of no will to the National Intelligencer,
nor with any intention to msrepresent it. but under
the influence of an entire Misrepresentation of the
facts Of the case. But these remarks having gone
forth to the country, and having found place in
our own columns we shall be excused for going
into details to relieve this journal from the re-
proach thus cast upon it in the presence Of the