The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-08

of tue SENATE than was appropriated under the fVe and
harbor BILL about which SO much uss was made by some
gentlemen here. The honorable senator IRON Maryland
Mr. PEARcEl introduced proposition here, TO be ap
pended 10 one OF the REGULAR bls 10 subscribe $4,000
Tor the Annals OF Congress-" published by GALES
Seaion We paid $4,000 Tor duplicate copies extend
Ing from 1890 down TO 1924. upon the motion OF the hon
orabe senator from Maryland, acting IN behalf OF The
Library Committee. That passed without half The SEN
ate knowing what they voting for, just the late
and honorable senator from Missouri Mt Bentonl said
We passed this Congressional History, which 10 TO be pto
longed indefinitely, and thus $500 800 OF books
to be given to each member Of this Senate without
this Senate Knowing anything about II. Now, thnk
we ought 10 stop this book publishing. Every new
member who has entered this body has received many
copies OF this constitution as the old senators have e
ceived They are all Upon pat II there ls any new
member here who has not received these books am per-
fecly willing 10 vote TO give him as many books as The
will not take up the Time OF the Senate in discussing
this question further But want 10 oppose this resou.
ton now az shall OPPOSE Il Hereafter iot alI time 10
come. ask Tor the yeas and nays upon It's adoption
Mr. bADGER. am very sorry that my frend from
Iowa [Mr. DoDcEl has thought il necessary 10 oppose
can give Will show him that il ought 10 be passed In the
first place. this differs entirely IN every respect IRON
each OF the and abuses to which nay friend has re-
purchasing s hs @ e o and other
books, passed here without lhe Senate knowing what il
was they were agreeing to. Now. the various reson-
tons which have introduced upon this subject have al
ways been publicly read and plainly explained the
Senate have always understood what they were asked
TO vote upon And therefore think il is hard, In rela
ton to public open, well known lair, reasonable just
and proper thing to put upon the odium OF something
else that was secret, Unknown and perhaps improper.
My friend says that these books have been purchased
government, executive and legislative. and TO all other
persons Interested IN ransacng the public business
Admit all that, and what them Why, we do not want
these books Tor members Of Congress; we do not want
them for executive officers but we want them to dis
tribute among constituents; want to furnish
them TO The people OF the country, and spread them
ti.rp Ard hu HI
one, if could make the supply SO large that every man
in Americas and every boy able to read, should have in
his possession copy OF the constitution Of his country
with the statistical information in realoa 10 the origin of
that constitution and the main and principal features
connected with its working out, which the edition OF the
work to which my resolution refers contains, and which
Imagine can be found IN no one private library IN Amer
lea. 4
And In the next place. allow me 10 say. in accordance
with the suggeuon OF friend near me--for though
avail myself OF the suggestion. do wish TO take the
credit for how can we, consistently with our oahs
senators, against this resolulion This is resou
ton for the constitutions and we are mpeIaliyey bound
TO Support and maintain" it, Laughter Now, |
think tha, argunen, must be conclusive with my friend
from Iowa. MIR. DoDGE,l and he cannot against IT,
Mr. DODGE, OF Iowa propose 10 amend this reso-
luton by inserting before the word 'consttuuon, The
words shook called the" that il will read 40 900
copies OF Hckeys edition of the book called the cons
tuiion." ss FL
Now, the constitution is an ins,.rdeht Tor which
have as high venetation my worthy friend IRON
North Carolina; lsir. BADoERl Blu, would ask, is
there copy Of the statute laws Of the United States
from California 10 Maine. which does not contain the
constitution OF The United Staies Every single State
and Territory CT The United States have published these
laws, and find in the very commencement of every
copy the constitution Of the United States adni, that
il is not printed 80 beautifully apd has not 80 complete
der consideration But we are 10 continue this purchase
for the purpose Of scattering the constitution Of the Uni
led States all the country the work ought 10 be re-
duced in size, and the number purchased should be very
ufpa lnr a.pI nd he pyu
Now this is just like all the oiher abuses in regard TO
expense Prior to 1S4f mol copy OF this work had ever
been published and distributed In that year 900 copies
weo purchased for 5ooi thai number procured 10
Commence the work In the latter part oi the
10000 copies were purchased for $4,000 In ls4s,
May 20, 100 copies were purchased for Sl0o jane 10
OF the same year 900 copies purchased tor 81 800
And then coming down TO 1851, 499 copies were pur-
chased for $499 That just about the same time that
this expensive matter OF publishing the debates COM
menced. Then there is just about the like amount.
nearly $4,000, paid for the Congressional Globe which
contains the constitution and the laws OF the United
States Appendix. And at The last session oil Con-
gfess passed law allowing this workable Con-
gessona Globe and Appendx-io pass free through the
mails. We now pay for all the reports OF our debates
and proceedings. and in addition 10 that we put The
porte, who here TO report for the papers which
employ publish debates upon our list Tor receiving
extra compensation. ltseems 10 me that there is to be
end TO the expenditure in regard 10 this matter OF
books and publications by order OF the Senate hope
that in reference to this book matter, we will pat end
TO now BY voting down this proposition to purchase
next session by another propagation OF the same kind and
on al infntfun.
Mr.. HALE. / wish to occupy the attention OF the
Senate but moment. | wish 10 suggest amendment
TO this resolution, though | will not offer il myself
When speak OF the constitution, we convey an in
definite idea BY the use OF the word "consliiuon."
Now, the English constitution is made up TO great
tent OF ancient statutes required give force the
written constitution; and as we are getting little into
that way, do not think that old constitution
veys the whole that refer TO when speak
OF the constitution and TO render this matter little
explicit would sugees, TO the honorable senator
from North Carolina Mr. BApGER that perhaps would
words sand the fugitivesave law so that there will
be 10000 copies OF the constitution and the fugitive
slave law purchased for the OF the Senate TO be dis
trbu,ed TO the people, in order that they may be instruct
ed IN all the duties that they owe 10 this government
ihak there has been less number Of copies OF that law
mitied now, that while the constitution created this gov
crnment the fugitive slave law saved il. think they
ought to together 10 the people, and the people be fur
nisbed with both OF them. Ftei 81 as e4ass II
MIR. WELLER. | do not think there is any force in
the suggestion OF the honorable senator from New Hamp
shire Mr.. HALr think il would be better, perhaps,
for the conntry to employ that senator write hat
called the higher law and have tina, nse red as an
appendix TO this work That higher law" would then
be- much generally understood BY the country than
il is As to inserting the fugitive slave this work
that will only enable the people TO decide for themselves
what the most of them now know, whether il s IN ac-
cordance with the constitution. Bu, there are a vast
number Of people who profoundly ignorant of the ex
meanng OF this term higher law !" and in order to
give the people OF the country information upon that
subject. would suggest that that would be a more an
propae amendment than the proposed by the sena
tor from New Hampshire ItI,##6# FEIET
Mr.. SEWARD While have very great doubts about