The daily union., 1856-04-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN LEroHER
' VIRGINIA.,

On Public Printing and Engravng delivered in the House
Oh Representatives, April 2, 1856.
Mr. EVANS ! move TO strike out the words ITO the
satisfaction OF the Secretary Of War; and in lieu thereof
the supenendence Of the Secretary of War;" hope that
the friends Of the Senate amendment will sustain the
amendment which lsubmit Itnises with the views Of the
Mr., LETCHER am opposed to the proposition Of the
gentleman Fom Texas because i is in direct conflict with
the law The law regulating the public printing and its
superintendence ID In these words:
"Rs.olsed By as Senate and House Of Representations
De- That hereafter when any charts diagrams, views,
ordered to Ss printed 81 either hoSe q
tsey ssa q sssss'ss % s s s p
ss s' The he"ss ordering tie printing of any such document
The proposition Of the gentleman from Texas is to sub
init this whole matter 70 the control and supervision of the
Secretary OF War and II s in direct violation of the law
which regulates the printing and thoeraphiug of maps
and other things of the kind II the House mean TO
the departments then take 1t that they will set the laws
aside in the regular and proper mode II the amendment
be adopted had well dsmiss the Superintendent Of
Public Printing and commit matters of this the
rious departments Of the government
When this office of Superintendent Of Public Printing
was created the object was 10 have officer who
any estimates which might be made aud who possessed
the requisite knowledge 10 make estimate so that some
reliance could be placed upon it. Here have created
Printing Bureau, appointed Superintendent organized
his bureau with several cerks and other officers and now
it is proposed to disregard the law and to place this
ter under the control Of the Secretary Of War
Now sir am opposed to this amendment Of the Senate
and concur entirely with my friend from Missouri in
gard to it. that body who believes that this govern
Of internal improvements with its money, with its
lands which is the representative Of its money should
for this proposition to publish the maps other
craving which they may regard necessary to furnish Con-
gress with reliable information upon the subject But as
hold to the doctrine that the exercise Of this power
the federal government Is in direct aud papabe violation
nf Tho tfntinp nd has
its money IN construction of works of internal improve
ments that has no right to its land which the
representative Of its money SO far as this matter
ed by arrangement between the United States and
Mexico by which these lands acquired and paid for
am opposed to this appropriation and opposed to the
But gentlemen M us thai the great object is to provide
for the military deences Of the country that this road is
military road and that Indispensable 70 the traaspor
coast and being indispensable for that purpose the gov
ernment has right to construct 1t military road
Now, sir if the government has right to construct
military road from the western border of Arkansas San
Francisco has not the government right construct
military road from the city of Washington the point In
Arkansa whence these ammunition. and arms take
their departure for the Pacific coast? Where Is the diff
| ference, ask The government must have mode
of conveyance by which 10 get that point in order TO
start out upon this military road and II It has the power
construct the road from that point the Pacific coast
has che power to make from the city Of Washington
to that point Here the great centre here Is the place
where the affairs Of this great government managed
and carried here Is where all tue plans are arranged
and where the foot for the military de-
needed In the different quarters Of the country and
has power make military road from the west
border of the States through its territory the Pacific
and yet has no power to make military road from its
tre TO Its western boundary.
But again. II this government has the power to con-
sruct this road under the power, is there single
road which cannot construct under that power? And
reasoning by analogy the government ID bound carry
the mails II II establish post-roads also accord
ing to the mode resorsd to in this matter build posroads
say then that gentlemen who like the gentleman from
Ohio and the gentleman from Missouri believe that the
ought make these roads and have the
to make them right in procuring all the inferma-
necessary before the government undertakes this
small job Of railroad to the Pacific
Mr.. CAMPBELL, of Ohio. My friend from Virginia
taught lesson upon the subject In regard the pow
Of Congress. recolect very well that when the ap-
preparation Icing made TO carry these surveys In
the deficiency bill Of the last Congress my colleague the
Committee of Ways and Means the committee
of conference and not incorrect In the matter Of
history he agreed TO the report Of the committee Of confer
did not agree 70 the report be voted for the
appropriation. Now, the point to which wish to direct
the gentemans attention is this IT. under the constitu
on-and believe the constitution s the that II
the stakes pay surveyor for running the line with
to make road to the Pacific why have not you the
power to print the information and then afterwards to
make the road
Mr. LETCHER This Is the second time that my friend
has undertaken to arragn me upon that point
Mr. CAMPBELL No commend the gentleman for
Mr. LETCHER Well, then, the second time he has un-
dertaken to commend me- Now, what the facts In
gard that matter When this proposition was made in
the House the gentleman recolect very well that voted
against IL every occasion.
\ Mr.. CAMPBELL. He did but he finally backed out.
II Mr.. LETCHER. did not back out | put upon
the committee Of conference on that BILL opposed the
item which be refers Ia the committee Of conference and
when the report made TO this House signed the
the that believed (neyer having been such
committee before) that when the two committees-oue
of the Senate and the other Of the Housc-came 10
cluson II the duty Of every member to sign the reports
Of their action.
Now sir the constitution was the then that II Ia
aud expressed my opposition to the construction
Of that road them and whenever had the chance voted
against every thing connected with the construction Of the
road, now against the printing OF the maps
But since my friend from Ohio has undertaken TO ap-
paud me- viii applaud him. He holds 10 the doctrine
that the has The power to construct roads In
side and to the limits of Its boundaries through the States
and through the Territories and that II Is not even neces
esry that theae roads should be designated military
roads Then understand that my friend is exactly where
supposed be wasin favor Of the power construct in
tena improvements by the money and means Of the gov
ernment
4 Mr. CAMPBELL I think that, II you have the power
TO make road upon which to transport munitions Of
war, you can make iron road and that II You bave
the power to transmit the malls on horseback you have
power to carry them with the iron horse and 70 pay the
! locomotive.
Mr. BETCHER Then he holds to the proposition
which laid down before that because this government Ia
invested with the power establish post Office and to
declare that roads shall be post roads il therefore
TO 20 into the States TO lay off those roads, condemn the
ground for them and construct them with the