Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-04
viii there be an Investigaiionf

When we published, some three weeks ago,
letter written and signed by responsible ciii-
ron prouosinc to the Senate that he would fur
nish proofs, that exorbitant charges had been
allowed and certified by the Superintendent
Of Public Printing in behalf Of the public
printer of the House Of Representatives, and
that the public interests had not been properly
attended 10 in this department. We suppose
that all the parties referred to, or implicated IN
the charge Of extravaganza Ito call it by no
harsher nsmc) would demand of the Senate, in
vindication Of their character and conduct,
public inrestigqtfon before an intelligent and
impartial committee Of the Senate
So Gar as We can learn, no such inyestigs-
ton has been demanded BY these whose fair
ness Of conduct was directly questioned in the
memorial presented, nor has any member CT
the Senate moved, in bis place. for any such
investigation to be had Is there no man IN
the Senate who will take upon himself to ask
fJr committee, with power to send for per-
sns and papers, and TO examine into the truth
Of the allegations? Is there no Senator OF any
party, who thinks IL due to public justice, and
tie character Of that body and its officers that
such proceeding should be had Is tho dom
nant party in the Senate afraid Of the conse-
quences Of the investigation? Is the minority
party in that body indifferent to this subject 7
What means this universal apathy on a
question which demands the action of Sena-
tors2 Are attempts TO plumber the Treasury,
HGuy hare beea made, to pass unheededa Is
the law to be violated by public officer, with
impunity, by the allowance Of charges serenity
times higher than tho law warrants? Has
corruption become so universal that honorable
Senators do not deem 1t expedient if practised
in this instance, to arrest its progresss II an
American" is found, feeding at the public
crib, in return for service rendered, the spies
of this administration ferret out the poor fell
low, and drive him from public servicel Is
this denied? 10 cannot be. .iaa m
But if an anti-American can got his hands
into the Treasury, he may fill his pockets with
the country's gold till he is stated yea, till he
can build fine houses and furnish them gorge
ously-keep carriages and give entertainments
and even honorable Senators will wink at i'll
Why is this ? and hoto is it2 We do not un-
derstand by what process the tongues Of Sena-
tors are kept silent Do they want proofs
How do they expect the proofs, without the
Investigation? Or do they propose to investi-
gate in pricate9 In secret committed Is
this the mode in which they expect to satisfy
public opinion If SO, Senators are mistaken.
Is the dominant party in the Senate resolved
that no investigations into abuses shall be
made, lest, perchance, some friend of Forney
and Pierce shall be found faithless MS public
servantg Is there no lurking fear that such
Investigations may reach the intimate bosom.
friends of Senators themseves' aye, and per-
chance 90 erea beyond this' Is there not
some distant fear Of paper mill explosions?
Does anybody know whether or not some hon
cradle dignitary is concerned in contracts for
furnishing papers Docs anybody know wheth-
or or not any honorable man, in or out Of
Congress, is interested in fixing high prices for
the binding or the engraving for the Depart
mentsp
If any honorable gentlemen are, in fact,
likely to be Implicated in these mntters, we
would recommend to them to keep off and pre-
vent Investigations! el &
Is any honorable gentleman particularly
anxious TO be one Of the committee on the
Public Printing? Is any, other honorable
gentleman particularly anxious for the imme-
date appointment Of Superintendent of the
Public Printing? Are Senator'S by any means
sure that more money is not lost than
saved by having such an oficers Does tho
public printing cost less noao than before this
Office Of Superintendent was created9
Is not the present very appropriate timeto
dispense with this Office altogether We ask
permission respectfully to invite the attention
of Senators to the foregoing suggestions and
interrogatories- if any of them seem to
have any squirting, we beg to assure Senators
that we mean no offence to any one who is
conscious that our interrogatories are not APP
plicable to himself But ice do mean to say,
that the Senate owes 1t to ITSELF and to the
country, to appoint a committee to investigate
pu6l;cJv. the matters brought to its notice in
the communication Of Mr.. @. Alexander.
We 90 further and say, that we do not In
tend to permit this subject to rest until an in
vestigation is had into all the matters connected
with the public printing, binding and engra
wing. to which Mr.. Alexander has made refer
ence, and ace charge, that if such investigation
be not had by the Senate, it viii be simply and
only because Senator'S do not wish the dis
closures indicated to go before the country.
will the Senate give us an investigstione or
win they not? n 4.
The Effect of the Douglas Prohibition and
the Position Of the Admtnistratfon Party
thereto. NGmrt& .ar $685.