The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-28

1t appears to us that the Union violates pro
priety when it avails itself of it's position as
public printer to hunt UP charges to serve par
tisan purposes. Decency, not to say honor,
requires that the printing Of public documents
should hot Be converted into mode of obtaining
or manufacturing charges against public men.
The printing ordered by Congress is ordered by
and for men Of all parties; and ordinary mer-
camille confidence is in our humble judgment
outraged when an order Of this nature is made
a means of disappearing and prejudicing
some at least of those who gave it. 1t is Of
course known that the presses W hich print
Congressional documents also print the Union;
but it could never have been intended that the
Union should avail itself of the favor bestowed
upon It BY Congress to give its own version Of
the documents in advance of their publication.
During the last session the Union assailed
the Wing administration and the public off.
GERS connected with the Capitol Extension on
the ground that they had been guilty Of ne
elect Of duty, and in some instances of fraud.
The discussion was premature and unjust; il
proceeded, so far as the Union was concerned,
on er purte statements, but we were able I'd
show that opposite, and satisfactory statements
had been made in the quarters from which the
Union protested to derive its facts. The letter
Of Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky, good Demo-
crat, aided materially in silencing our contem.
porary for the time.
But the Committee on Frauds; to whom this
and other subjects had been referred for exami
nation, have made their report; and that re-
port, with the accompanying evidence, went
into the hands Of the public printer. The cir
eumstance was god-send to the Union.
which is now edfying its readers, and insult
ing Congress, by connecting editorials obtained
from perusal of the "proof Sheets" If our
contemporary profited by the opportunity so
tar as to present fair. impartial epitome
OF the report and evidence, an acceptable
service would be rendered to the commit
nifty, irrespective Of party. But partisanshp,
and that of petty kind, is odnipotent with
the Union, which, under the pretence Of Civ
Ing information, now publishes one-sided
view of controverted facts, and on this view
appeals for judgment against those whom 1t ar
raigns. The architect, for example, is assaulted
on the basis of certain Testimony" but no men
ton whatever is made of the architects state
ment, which, according to one ofour Democratic
ihformants, satisfactorily explains all that has
been charged against him.
Our present purpose, however, is not to en-
ter into the controversy for or against any man.
We desire only to protest against the fragrant
proceeding of the Union in giving partial
for aught known to the contrary, garfield
version of matters that involve the characters
of public servants. There is no fairness in
such proceeding. There is no manlinesss
except that of the bravo
When the report shall be forthcoming, en-
tire, it will be our duty to see what both sides
say, and to form an independent judgment
according to the evidence. Our experience in
waiting for other public documents ordered
this session does not permit us to be sanguine
of an early performance of this task. We bide
our time, however, patiently, and without any
apprehension of the result.