Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-24
For the Patriot.

Printing the Revised Code.
The Union & American abuses the Methodist Book
agents; The Pubic Printers and their % Pot;'
Grand Prospect Of Distribtaion Of Azss, Ross
and Iron Wedges
MEssRs. EDIToRs:-Since the commence
ment of the present political campaign, the
writer has been repeatedly applied to, in per-
son and by letter, by a number of highly re-
spectacle gentlemen, in various parts of the
State to furnish to them and to the public
such reliable information as it might be pos
sible to obtain concerning the printing OF the
Revised Code. The inquirers desired espe-
cially 10 be informed of the actual cost to
the State Of printing the Code, and whether
or not the work might have been executed
at a smaller cost to the State. The writer in
clines to the opinion, that there are other is
sues now before the people, which should
rise in Importance in the public mind far
above any question which can possibly spring
out of the investigation called for. 1t may
be readily admitted. however, that the course
ofthe democratic party. led on by it's candi-
date for Governor, and by its leading organs,
during this canvass, has been of that I'M
speakably condescending character. which might
be expected to provoke a return of its fire
upon the same field of small arms. The iss.Ie,
or the point, or the principle involved in The
case before us, rises to a respectable dignity
when compared with ':the last hoe, are and
iron aoedge'' issue which the "GREAT NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY" seeks to make prom
inent question before the people-a little
question. which was definitely and finally
settled quarter Oft century ago-always
lille and long since dead. But to our aston
ishment, the Union and american itself re-
opens the subject of the printing of the Re
vised Code, in its issue of the 18th inst, after
the following fashion:
"a correspondent who writes US from Tren-
ton, says that almost every Opposition speak
er in that section of the State is charging
that "Torbett & Co., received So per copy
for printing the Code, although Stevenson
& Owen offered TO do the same work for Sl,5
per copy" We assure our correspondent
that, from beginning to end, THIS statement IS
false The Code is the best executed and
cheapest law book ever published in Ameii-
ca 1t is a book of near l 200 pages. and is
printed on the finest article of paper ever
used for a similar work. Stevenson d Owen
offered TO print the work. if it did not exceed
500 pages. but on an article of paper greatly
inferior to what was used, for So 10 per copy.
This at pro rata increase for greater num-
Der of pages would have made the book, at
1,200. cost 4,65 per copy. The public print
ers showed the Legislature that the offer OF
Stevenson & Owen was higher than they
would be entitled to receive, by law, under
I'm work
from them was not seriously pressed"
On the 10th that paper adds: /.
"a friend informs us that the last offer of
Stevenson & Owen for printing the Code
was less than we supposed Our paragraph
yesterday was written from recollection OF
the first bid"
"Recolections" are uncertain things to
write by. A carefully collected history of
the case may be given about thus:
1t seems that on the 18th of March. 1858,
Messrs. STEVENSON and OWEN submitted to
the Legislature memorial, embracing the
following propositions:
ave will stereotype the work. with side
notes, and furnish the State with six thousand
copies at one dollar and seventy cents per
copy, bound in sheep, with an elegant VI G
nette Of the Coat of Arms of Tennessee upon
the side of every copy, making for the six
thousand copies a total of ten thousand two
hundred dollars. And after having printed
the said six thousand copies your memorial
lists will make the State present of the
Stereotype Plates; and if it be desired % fur
nish the citizens OF the State with copies of
said book, will print any number of copies
for the use Of the citizens, after said six
thousand shall have been printed for the
State, executed in the same workmanlike
manner, at the rate OF one dollar and fifty
cents Per copy"
This proposition was accompanied by a
verbal proposition, that if the work should
reach TO 1900 pages, it would be done for
$500 per copy. This, it is asserted by the
gentleman who gave his attention to this
business, was the first, last, and only propO-
stion ever submitted by Messrs. STEVENSON
and OWEN.
Upon the submission of this proposition,
the wrath of the Public Printers seems to
have been kindled against STEVENSON and
OWEN; and withina day or two a communica-
ton was published in the columns of the
Union and American. anmadverting in very
coarse style upon the conduct Of the mana
gers of the Publishing House in this particr-
lar case, and casting very disparaging refec-
tions upon their general policy.
To this abusive communication the agents
replied in very becoming language, stating
that their proposition, though in the regular
form of a memorial, was only submitted at
the request of some of their friends and men,
bers Of the legislature; that they had told
their friends they would not make any propo-
sition at all, If the job belonged to the Public
Printer under the law. The agents were as
sured that this was saS5pen question. The
fact is, the impression prevailed that the job
could not be done in Tennessee, and the COM
mittee of Revision favored the idea of send
ing it north for execution.
To this the Union and American retorted
bitterly, endorsing their correspondents abu-
sive article, aSd proceeding as follows: (the
italics in part are our OWN
"The agents say they will do the work
sereraL thousand doliIrs less than our contract.
We say in the first place. that this as NOT true.
They undcrbid our contract less than SIR hun
dred dollars, as they ,ceH knOSO. In the second
place, if it were true, it is conduct too gross
to be properly characterized here, for one
business man to step IN between a contractor
and his employer, aud try to obtain job by
undertaking, and in the third place, it is an
insult TO the Legislature to ask IT to break
faith with US, and subject us to loss, upon
the argument that any number Of thousands
might Be h,ls sared.