The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-30

b.
, ident persisted On rising to leave he suggested
to us to present him our views in writing. This
we afterwards did in a paper reviewing at some
length the whole case, and which we will pub
lish in the due course of this controversy.
Some time afterwards, probably in the latter
part Of August, the Secretary of the Treasury,
Mr. CoRwIN, returned to the capital from the
West. We presented the application to him.
He said he would refer the question of law to
Judge BIB, formerly Secretary Of the Treasury,
and then in the Attorney Generals office acting
in the absence of Mr.. CRiTTESpEN Mr.. BlBB
promptly overruled the Secretary of the Navy,
and decided that the paper having the largest
number of subscribers in the aggregate regard
less of particular editions, was entitled under
the law to the printing. And Mr. BIBB has long
been a distinguished jurist, and Mr. Secretary
GRAHAM never was. But the Secretary of the
Treasury hesitated, and we awaited the return
of MIR. CRITTENDEK, and when he came he ex-
amined carefully, deliberately and fully the whole
question, and he also overruled the decision of
ehS ''NSiSloiy VI ehO s'"SSi'SU VIC
of the paper having the largest aggregate number
of subscribers 20 this printing under the law.
Mr.. WEBSTER also said the same thing-said
that the only question was rs to which had the
several editions. We applied then to the Post
master General. He decided at once and
promptly against us, without giving reason,
except that it did not appear, from the terms of
our application, that we were entitled to the
printing. We called at his office, and on exam
ming our letter, he determined to examine the
case. He did so-and such an examination,
He invited the proprietors Of the Union and In
telhgencer to present ne'o aGidauus when several
months had elapsed, although it had been the
usage of the several Departments in such cases
to take The original affidavits made to the first
Department as the basis-and although we had
called at the other Departments, after applying
to the Navy Department, and rendered them
then either separate affidavis, or offered to abide
by thosea submitted to that Deparment-and
they including the Post Office, had agreed to
adopt the atlidavits rendered the Navy Depart
ment. Well, the Union and Intelligencer put in
new affidavits, of later date, but from them it
appeared that the InteAigencer only was few
hundred ahead of the Press; but the Union re
manned behind The Postmaster General then
raised other difficulties. He admitted the Ma
tional Era then to come in as party, although
our application had been made in June, and it was
now October. He admitted an affidavit, or
statement, from the Union office, that the writer
had heard that many Of our papers were sub
scribed for by single person, and all such
trash. But all would no: avail him. He was
determined to decide against us, and after much
delay, he did so decide-in our recent absence,
and without giving reason On our return, we
called on him to give us the reason, if not
Incompatible with the public service. He
said that the reason was, that according to
the decision of the Attorney General, the
National Era would be entitled to the print.
ing in preference to US, as it had larger
aggregate circulation. But the National Era is
only weekly paper, and cannot advertise
the government has many advertsements-suc
as Proclamation against Fillibusters-that must
be inserted Immediately, and cannot whit week
for the National Era to appear, as in that time
Cuba might be taken. And for this very cogent
reason the National Era was excluded long ago
on its application, and yet it was permitted TO
come in and contest ours
We have called several times on the Secretary
Of War Once he was otherwise engaged Yes.
terday we called on him again, and stated the
points on which we relied, in order that if over.
ruled, we might not have the trouble of further
proceeding Although declining to decide de-
hnitey, he said he was under the impression that
he would decide as the other Secretaries had done.
but perhaps not for the same reasons. He thought
that the law did not design to give the printing
to u sectional paper. This was enough for us.
The law may not have so designed The law
may be wrong--perhaps il ought to be altered.
But IL is yet The la,O! And here is Secretary
of aw.oving, law abiding Cabinet, faithful.
exccution-of-the law Cabinet, who thinks that
circumstances have altered, and virtually decides
to suspend the execution of law.
And now we have come TO this Here is
law in the planest words of the language. A
pettfogging attempt is made to cvade it by
Secretary of the Navy. He is ovenuled by the
highest law officer ofthe government But the
law continues to be disobeyed and evadeG, and
the fact is brought to the knowledge of the
President and he looks on without any attempt
to enforce its execution, and still Processes to
be great, a peculiar devotee to the faithful OK.
ecution of the law.
Mr.. WEBSTER and Mr.. CoRwIN have not vet
acted on this question. Mr.. CoRwIN hesitates
Mr.. WEBSTER did not, in the only interview we
have had with him on the subject, but decided
at once, like man, on the true construction of
the law. He has not had the papers before him.
The Secretary of the Interior stated once, when
called on that he adopted one of the positions
of the Secretary of the Navy-that the printing
- L. Al. IL. 1