Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-04-12
Remarka OF Mr.. Hatcher

the satisfaction Of the Secretary Of War; and
/ in lieu thereof, insert 1.-THE maps and drawihy.
shall be engraved under the super ialendence OF
the Secretary Of War" hope thu, the friend.
OF the Senate amendment will sustain iheamend
msnt which submit. Il, meets wi th the view.
Of the friends Of the measure
Mr. Le.cher | am opposed to the ptopo-
sillos Of the gentleman from Texas because j,
Is in direct Conflict with the law. The law reg.
uialing the public printing and It's superinien-
dsnce, is in these words
Resolced by the Senate and lie House ofRep.
sesentdtuss, &C., That hereafter when an y
charts. maps, diagrams, views or other engra-
wings, shall be required 10 illustrate any docu.
nent ordered to be printed by either House
Of Congress, they shall be contracted for by the
Superintendent OF Public Printing under the
supervision and direction ofsuch committee 5
the House ordering the printing Of any such
document shall direc,.n
The proposition Of the gentleman from Tex.
as is 10 submit this whole matter to the control
and supervision Of the Secretary OF War; and
II is in direct violation of the law which regu.
la,es the printing and li,hoeraphing OF maps
and other things Of the same kind. II the
HOUSE msan TO change the law, and place the
matter under Of the Department then ,ake
| it tina; they will SET the laws aside in the regu.
lar and proper mode. If the amendment BE-
adopted, We had as well dismiss the Superln.
tendent oil Public Printing aud commit matters
OF this soit 10 the various Departments OF the
Government.
| When This office Of Superintendent, of Pub
lie Printing was created, the object was 10
have some oae officer who was femila! with
the business some one responsible Tor any es-
Inmates which nigh, be made, and who Pos
sessed the requisite ledge TO make an
estimate SO that some reliance could be place
upon ii. Here we have created Printing
Bureau, appointed a superintendent, org anzed
his bureau with several clerks and other off
GERS aud now i, is proposed 10 disregard the
law, aud 10 place this matter under the control
of the Secretary OF War.
Now, sir, am opposed 10 this amendment,
ofthe Senate, and concur entirely with my
friend from Missouri, in regard 10 it. that any
| body who believes that this Government has
the constitutional power 10 embark in system
of internal Improvements with lis money,
or with its lands, which is the re preventative of
its money, should vote for this proposition to
publish the maps or any other engraving which
they may regard necessary 20 furnish Congress
with reliable information upon the subject
But, as hold to the doctrine that the exercise Of
| this power by the Federal Government is in d.
rect and pa pable violation Of the Federal Con-
stltntion and that it has no right 10 use its
money ih constructing works Of internal i'm
provenenls, that il has no right TO use its land,
~hich is the representative of its money, SO
Tar as this matter is concerned, by an arrange
meni between the United Safes and Mexico, by
which these lands were acquired, and paid
for, | am opposed TO the Government having
any thing TO DO with it.
But gentlemen tell US tina, the great object is
IN for he MILITARY ds(ansos If tho oou,,
try, that this road 10 military road, and that
it is Indispensable &c the transportation Of
munitions and arms from this side to the Paci
fic coast; and being indispensable for that pui'
Jose, the Government has right 70 construct
it as military road.
Now, sir, ii the Government has right 10
construct military road from the werlcrn ber-
der OF Arkansas to San Francisco, has no. the
Government a RICH, to construct militia ~ road
from the city Of Washington TO the point III Ar
kansas, whence these ammun,ions and arms
take their departure for the Pacific coast 2
Where is the difference, ask The Govern,
ment must have some mode OF conveyance by
which to get 10 that point, in order to start out
upon this military road and if it has the
power TO make one from the city OF Washing
ton to that point. Here is the great centre,
here is the place where the affairs Of this great
Government are managed and carried on, here
is where all the plans are arranged, and whe,s
the means are sci Oh foot for the military de-
lenses needed in the different quarters OF the
country; and il would be a very remarkable
proposition that the Government hns power
to ma Ike a military road from the western Dor
der Of the States through It's territory to the
Pacific; and yet has no po~er to make mil
itsry road from its western boundary.
But again, if this Government, has the pow
er TO construct this road under the war power,
is :here one single road which ii cannot con-
stIuct under thai power And, reasoning by
analogy, If the Government is bound to carry
the mails; il il eau eatabliA post roads, it car
also. according to the mode resorted - in this
matter, bald post roads for the purpose OF carry
ing the mials over them.
say. then, That gentleman from Ohio and
the gentleman from Missouri, believe that the
Governmet ought to make these roads, and
have The power 10 make them, and'the right in
procuring all the information necessary, be-
fore the Government undertakes this small job
o. railroad 10 the Pacific.
Mi. Campbell, OF Ohio. My friend iron
Virginia tauSbl me a lesson upon the subject in
regard to the so~ers OF Congress. recolect
very we'll thai, ben The appropriation was
being made to carry Tn these surveys IN the de-
ficiency bill Of the last Ccng'ess: my colleague
on The Committee OF Ways Ind Means now,
was on the committee OF conference, and II l
am not correct in the matter OF History, ne
agreed 10 the report OF the committee T.! con-
fereuce, or, il he did not agree to the repor., he
voted iol the app opria,ion. Now, the poin, 10
which wish to direct the gentleman's alien
ton is this If under the Coasttution-and
believe the Constitution is the same now that it
was then-you have the power 10 pay tor dr-
wing Stakes TO pay surveyor Tor runnlng the
line with view TO make road 10 the Pacific,
why have not you the power 10 print the inior,
nation and then afterwards 10 make the road
MIR. Letcher. This is the second lime that
my friend has undertaken to arralgn me upon
that point.
Mr.. Campbell. No; / commend the gentle
man for that act.
MIR. Letcher. WELL then, the second time
he has undertaken 10 commend mo. Now,
what are the facts in regard to that matter p
When this proposition was made in the House,
the gentleman recolects very well thai voted
against it, on every occasion.
Mr. Campbell. He did, bu, he finally back
ed out.
Mr. Letcher. did not back out. was put
upon the committee Of conference on that bill.
opposed the item TO which he refers in the
committee of conference, and when the report
was made TO this House, signed the report mol
being as wise then as am now. signed it
for the reason that | believed (neyer having
been upon such committee beiore) that when
lbe two comm ittees-one ofihe Senate, and the
other Of the House-came TO n conclusion, II
was the duty otevery member to sign the re-