Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-13


Senate, togetherwith statement of the rumors
to which we alluded on Saturday, in relation
to the public printing, binding, engraving &c.,
&C., and has informed tho Senate, that if they
will create q committee, with power to send
for persons and papers, he win establish the
truth Of the statements contained in his letter,
and in our editorial Of Saturday, which enume-
rated some of the rumors prevailing in this
community What course will the Senate
adopt? #'F 1S s2 R# @Rs.ss
Win that honorable body institute an inves-
tigaiion, through fair and impartial commit
tee, who will probe these matters to the bot
tom or will III refer the matter to committee
exclusively composed Of political sohite-sOash-
ers, who viii screen the parties implicated from
full exposure D. We believe the Senate will
do its duty manfully and honorably, without
favor and without Partially. We may be mis-
taken in this respect, I'VE hope moi, 1--WE be-
lieve not, but zoe shall see. Let select com
mittee be appointed with full powers and let
each political party in the Senate be represent
cd on that committee. The questions involved
are important to the country, Ito the Senate,
and tothe parties concerned.
Let us have light on the transactions con-
nected with the public printing, binding, &C.,
&c, and let the world know whether any tricks
have been played by those, whose duty it was
to represent the government and defend its pc
cuniary interests in relation to contracts for
work, in the departments mentioned. Let it
also be ascertained from achom the paper for
the government use has been purchased Athc
quality and price thereof whether the paper
furnished has been equal to the samples on
which the contracts for supply were made
and whether any member Of Congress has been
directly or indirectly interested in furnishing
paper for the government, and in fleeing the,
government to the tune Of thirty to fifty per
cent, by furnishing inferior and almost worth
less paper at the price Of paper Of superior
quality IN e
Let all the imputed violations Of law, justice,
and right, in these and other similar matters,
receive thorough and searching investigation
at the hands Of such committee as we have
suggested We beg leave to assure the Senate
that nothing less than this will satisfy public
sentiment in regard to the matters to which
this administration shall seek to evade the in
vestigation proposed it will do it from corrupt
motives, and from consciousness of the rot
tenness that will be exposed by such investi-
CATION. But we want no packed committee
for tho investigation, and any attempt so to
constitute the committee as to stfe proper in
quiry, viii increase popular indignation TO.
wards those who may be implicated, and to-
wards the Democratic members of the Senate.
We but discharge duty which we owe the
public in these remarks We desire no pub
lie officer to be condemned without fair hear
ing, and we equally protest against partisan
examination into charges against such public
officers. There is something rotten somewhere
in the transactions to which reference has been
made. Let them be probed to the bottom, BY
skiliul political surgeons-let the examinations
be made in the light Of day, and let the country
know the result. .H
We have word or two more to say to the
honorable Senate, and we say it with all man
ner of respect to that body.
Indeed we should violate our conscientious
convictions Of the general purity Of that body,
were we 10 speak Of it, or to it in other than
tine most respectful language Should we ever
find ourselves obliged to form an opinion Of
the United States Senate, differing from that
we now entertain-should il ever become
matter of credencc, that the high and dignifed
repository Of the representative sovereignty Of
these thirty-one United States, is capable Of
being influenced, by other considerations than
those Of honor and duty, we shall lose all hope
in the permanency of Republican government
We say TO the members Of the Senate, that
there are men outside its walls who would
purchase their patronage with gold
We say more there are men who win at
tempt it, or their actions belle their purposesl
To this we add---that it is important to the
Senate, to its honor and fame, that such Of its
committees as may have patronage to dispense,
should be composed Of men beyond the reach,
not only Of contamination, but of suspicion.
We would fain believe there are none Others
upon the floor Of the Senate. BE this as it
may, outsiders ,oiH at least be n1roply
soatched, and we warn thsm that we will ex.
pose them without moments hesitation, and
at any hazard, if they give us an opportunity.
We believe this administration to be cor
rupt--we believe there are those who impor-
tune members Of Congress for station or pa
tronage and who bring to bear appliances Of
corrupting tendencies and so believing, we are
free 80 say TO the administration, its aiders and
abettors, that they will be carefully watched
during the progress Of their attempts to obtain
IL . Ii.