The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-17
ABUSES OF PUBLIC PRINTING.


On the 9th instant, Mr.. johnson, from the
Committee on Printing, reported in the Senate
copies of the Kansas bill as passed, but ad-
versey to the motion to print the amendments
proposed and rejected. The report was adopted.
In the House, the same day, Mr.. Cragin,
from the Committee on Printing, reported a
resolution to print 100000 copies of the ma
jority and minority reports of the Select Com
mittee on the Sumner Assault. The motion,
at the instance of Mr.. Cobb, was amended SO
as to reduce the number to ten thousand, and
passed.
The report of the House Committee, it will
be observed, was much fairer than that of the
Senate, one, proposing to present both sides of
Question, the other, but one side But, both
reports were wrong in principle the object of
both being, we apprehend, to promote party
interests. Why were twenty thousand copies
of the bill of Mr.. Toombs needed? 1t had
been printed already for the use of the Senate.
Sent to the House, the usual number for that
body had been printed. 1t had appeared in
the columns of the newspapers in Washington
and other places, and the People had been ap-
prised of its nature. All the publicity neces-
sary to thorough understanding of its provis
ions and intent had been secured. Why then this
motion to print twenty thousand extra copies,
if not for electioneering purposes, so that par
tisans in all quarters might, at the expense of
the Government, be put in possession of an
electioneering document, calculated, as it was
supposed, to advance the interests of the Dem.
cratic Party?
On the other hand, what could be the object
in printing 100000 copies Of the reports in the
Sumner casey All the facts of the assault had
been before the country for month. The re-
ports, with the evidence, had been printed in
the newspapers. The Public and Congress are
in possession of them. Why then q motion to
print 100000 extra copies? Mr.. Summers
speech rs a part Of the evidence; and the docu.
ment therefore would constitute capital elec-
pioneering document
We do not say that all who voted in favor of
the reports were controlled by such consid.
GRAFTON. but, we presume, the majority were
nor do we imPute corrupt motives to this ma
jority, for, both in the Senate and in the House,
it is the easiest thing in the world to regard
the public welfare as dependent upon the ad-
vancement of ones Party.
For one, however, we must protest against
this practice Of using the moneys of the Gov
eminent for party purposes, however important
they may be. There ought to be thorough
revision of the usage of printing extra editions
of reports or papers submitted to Congress. As
general rule, nobody is the gamer by such
extravagant OUTLAWS but the Public Printer.
Enough extras should be printed, of documents
of general Importance, to secure publicity but
when we remember how eager the large Dailies
of the country are to obtain and print such
documents, from mere motives Of selfinterest,
thereby spreading them before all Newspaper
readers it will be apparent that but little is
left for Congress to do.
SECTIoEALIsM is as much complained of as
though it were first introduced into our nation
al politics BY the Republican party. This is
not true. In the year 1923, Andrew jackson,
of Tennessee, was run for President, on the
same ticket with John C. Calhoun, of South
elected. John Quincy Adams, of Aassaohu.
sstts, ran for President in opposition, on the
same ticket with Richard Rush, of Pennsylva-
mia. In 1924, very nearly the same thing was
presented. John c. Calhoun was elected Vice
President at the same time that the South had
three prominent candidates running With him
for President, viz: Andrew Jackson, Of Ten:
nessee, who received ninety nine electoral votes
William H. Crawford, Of Georgia, who received
forty-one votes and Henry Clay, of Kentucky,
who received thirty-seven votes. Every North |
ern State, at that election, which voted for Mr..
Adams, voted also for Calhoun; while, at the
South, the same States which voted for hipa,
voted for Southern candidates for the Presi-
North american.
The remarks of our contemporary are in point:
still it is well to look at facts as they are The
Republican ticket is not at all open to the
charge Of sectionslism, either - % it, princi.
Piles OF candidates. Col Fremont did reside
in California . short time, and for few day.
represented that State in the Senate State,
BY the way, as ProslaverY as Missouri is. Rut.