The true Democrat., 1856-06-03
nents if we refuse the printing of extra mum

ments if we refuse the printing of extra num- bers
 MT. WELLER. l have had no opportunity of looking into this report, but am informed by the war department that it is regarded as a very valuable contribution to the geography of that country. The letter of the secretary of war informs the Senate, that it would be very valuable to those who are travelling through that region of country in going to our posses sions on the Pacific. It is we'll known that we are not very we'll informed in regard to the character of that immense region lying between the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean. If this information be valuable, it seems to me that 1t ought to be published. If in any way it will contribute towards aiding the emigrants passing through that section of the Union, think by all means it should be published.
 This report comes here in answer to a calLof the Senate. We have asked the war deyart- ment to send their information here on the SUD- position that 1t would be valuable and the question now presented by the committee on printing Is, whether we shall avail ourselves of that information which has thus been obtained? :? An officer belonging to the corps of engineers has been sent into the country; he has aeuuir- ed, as he supposes, valuable information; he has sent 1t to the war department; the Senate have called for 1t, and 1t is now before us.- The simple question is, whether we shall put It In such shape as to be of service to the people?
 l am opposed myself to printing extra num- bers of these various reports I desire to sec that practice stopped. Economy and the pub llc interest require that 1t should be put an end to, but at the same time do not wish in cur ryIng out my economy, to shut out that valua- ble information which the country ought to have. l propose, thcrfore, that the usual num- Der of copies (fourteen hundred) of this docu- ment be printed.
 So far as the report of the committee is con- cerned, l have 10 doubt that they acted upon what they suppose to have been the precedent established by the Senate in the case of Cap tam Marcy; but that report had already been published, 1 believe; at all events, all the in- formation which it contained had been spread abroad throughout the land
 MT. JOHNSON. It never has been pub lished.
 MT. WELLER. One of his reports was pub- llshed l trust the Senate will agree to print the usual number of copies of this document.
 The PRESIDENT. The Senator from Cali. tornla moves to amend the report of the con- mlttee in such manner as to print fourteen hundred copies.
 MT. WELLER. l understand that to be the usual number
 Mir. JOHNSON. 1 wish to correct the Sen ator in ore remark. He says that the oxpora. ton of Marcy had been already published. If he means that the one under consideration a few days since has been published he is cer- talnly in error. The exploration of the head waters oi the Red river, made by Captain Mar cy, has been published, but this exploration has not been printed, The motion to print it was rejected the other day. l have no objec- tion to its printing. The Senate can take its own course in regard to the matter The con- mlttee have only followed the precedent es- tabllshed by the Senate