The southern press., 1852-01-15
The Census Printing.

The Census Printing.
The proceedings in the Senate last Tuesday,
on the resolution authorizing the joint Committee
on Printing to contract with Messrs DoEELsoN
& ARMSTRONG, on such terms as in the Judg
ment of the committee may be deemed just and
reasonable" for the printing Of the seventh
census, were rather abruptly terminated IN a
postponement of the whole subject for three
weeks. The debate, however, was not destitute
of information II elected the following facts
1. That the work of the Executive depart
ments is required by law to be given out to the
lowest bidder, under the supervision of the head
of the department TO which the work may be.
long.
g. That this work Of the seventh census, prop
erly under this law, would fall under the super
vision of the Secretary of the Interior.
g. That the resolution of Mr.. BRIGHT proposes
to supersede this existing law, by special act
for the benefit of the firm of the Union office.
Dir. BRIGnT's reasons for making this special
exception to the rule of awarding the printing to
the lowest bidders are plausible, though not cal
culated to be satisfactory to those who would
prefer to compete for the work Of printing the
returns of the seventh census. They would
probably prefer the existing system OF con-
tracing with the lowest bidder, or even the
amendment of Mr.. SmITH-a separate contract
each for the printing, the binding, and the paper
and responsible securities in each case. To be
sure, here is the precaution Of an unusual num-
Der Of checks and balances but they are better
than positive exclusion, and an invidous speci-
fication Of favored agency.
The" reasonable terms" upon which this work
is to be given out TO the Union Office. may be
according to precedent, and the result may prove
to be satisfactory to all parties, and advantageous
as well to the government as to the printers
but it is an invidous discrimination, and may
well justify the opinion Of Mr.. HALE, that it is
an expedient for raising the wind for the
benefit of partizsn press.
For the sake of the argument, let us suppose
that such is an object, if not the object, of the
particular personal specification of this resolu
ton, and what is the conclusion! 1t is an as
sumption that the Union is entitled TO this mark
of favor as the organ of the National Democratic
party. Is it so! Are the fragments of the late
Union party of Georgia, Alabama and Missis-
sippi, Democratic ! Are the old States Rights
men of those States to be ruled out as heretics,
with all Of that ancient party throughout the
South +? Will not this act of special favoritism
in behalf of the Washington Union, be tanta-
mount to the accommodation by act Of Con-
gress of the Southern States Rights party from
the Democratic church, as far as il may claim an
identity with the national Democracy?
But, sgain.-By another act of Congress it
appears that the printing of the census was re-
served for its special disposition, apart from the
general mass of the public printing. Why SO .
Does the resolution Of Mr. BRIGHT disclose the
object according to the Interpretation of Mr..
HALE, or was the purpose a more faithful exc.
cution of the work by a special arrangement
We believe that under competent securities, the
work can be done as satisfactorily by contract
ing with the lowest bidder, as by special contract
on terms to be left with the discretion of the
committee.
II appears, according to the system yentured
upon by the superintendent Of this work, that
the extra-constitutional margin of the law pro-
yiding for the late census, was not broad enough
10 meet his enlarged conceptions, and that in ad.
dition TO the mass Of statistics collected, Mr..
KENNEDY proposes historical sketch Of each
State, and of every county in the Union. The
immensity Of this job Of printing, if this plan
should be adopted, may be imagined, but cannot
be described. But the bare mention Of il APP
pears 10 have brought the Senate 10 a halt. And
accordingly the resolution is postponed for three
weeks In the meantime, the superintendent o.
the census, with his clerical force Of one hun
dred and sixty-one men, more or less, is 10 pre-
pare sample Of the work, under bis plan. foI
one entire State-including the history Of the
State, the history Of each particular county, and
all the voluminous statistics ordered by Con.
gress. And we incline TO the opinion that the
public may wait with some degree ofconGdence
upon the sober second thought" Of the Senate
A three yeeks' postponement is an augury o.
calm declaration.
Ohio Demeerary,