Nebraska advertiser., 1859-05-19
"WhOm the Gods Destroy, they
First make Mad" Y

I, is well know to the people of Ne
braska, that since the organization of the
Territory, It has been the invariable Gus
tom Of our Legislatures to elect a public
printer. This custom has not been con-
6ned to Nebraska, but has been the prac-
tice in all Territories. The right, as Sc
cured BY The Organic Act, Of Territorial
Legislatures TO control the public printing,
hes been questioned by some. One or
two attempts have been made by Secre-
taries TO control this matter independent
Of Legislatures; once in Iowa we believe,
aud once BY Governor Cumming, in this
Territory. The Department, when ap-
PeaIed TO, without deciding the question
upon us merits, advised at least non-inter-
ference with the practiced and conceded
rights Of the Territorial Legislature
Al the last Session Of the Nebraska Leg
stature, Secretary MORTOS denied the
RICH, Of the Legislature to control the
printing.
As to the motives which prompted this
action on the part of the Secretary, we
propose to say nothing: Nor do we intend
TO DO more than refer 10 the fact that,
when Gov. Cumming attempted to pursue
this same course. no man, perhaps, IN Ne
braska, took a more decided opposition
than our present Secretary, who was then
a member Of the lower branch Of the
Legislature.
There were those-and a very great
majority, as was shown by the vote-who
differed with the Secretary and were
anxious the case should go up to the De-
Partment and be decided upon IFS merits.
Ire Legislature, therefore, elected a
printer; we were selected as that person.
and through an attorney here, had pre-
pared a Brief. confined entirely to facts
and merits. We also employed an attOr-
ney al Washington to look after the
matter.
W. acknowledg frankly, that, knowing,
as we did, the course pursued toward those
Democrats who had failed 10 "bow the
neck" we had no hope of ever getting
the printing; yet we hoped, and had
reason 70 expect, that the decision would
be announced, at least. as having been
made upon the merits of the ease. With
this we would have been perfectly salts.
fed, although against US, and considered
i a final settlement of the question. We
thus expressed oursef TO Secretary Nor.
ton AZ the las; Session Of the Legislature
Last week we received a letter from
our Washington attorney; who, by the
way, is az old school Democrat, "dyed il
the wool" From him we learn hat the
papers in the case had been submitted By
Secretary Cobb, to Gov. AIedill, FRS
Comptroller. witha request that he would
obtain the decision Of Attorney Genera
Black. The Attorney General had giver
no dscision, but "erprsssed an opinion
adverse to the action of the Legislature
Our attorney further writes as follows:
= End. however, what the real di6euhy is. which
stands Ia your Way. and which will prevent on
~eaedg for the injury you may have received BY Ia
conduct q the Secretary. IL Is that You arc ~
AHfi-Leconpioa Democrat, and the pot0er and tht
patronage, IS n Illinois. - gireH % the fec, WI
Vsofess q he L~seoBlptOH Democrats, aud in all thing
EorthiD ~ the shrine of Mr.. Buchanan. There Ic
the real dikeElty in your case. and hence conclud
that you are without a remedy. It j. repTesentes
that there are bat two DgeAaHGH newspapers nov
Printed IN Nebrassa, the Omaha Ne5raskiGa bein.
one ard mach pains has. I am confident. been takel
% prejudice your case with the Department, by ID
class Of persons / hare described. waC are used q
che instruments Of persecution against ai Eho d
not admit that Dir. buchanan 'cgR do no srrOHg."
i have not kE8Wz such riRaictire tyranny eve
before praetieea y any party in this country, as ha
been, and It'll Is p~raeticed towards the Anti-Lecnmp
ton Democracy q the West. l. seems 10 be mex
cradle. 50 that, as matters now stand, nothing, il
ny opinion, can be done here for your benefit"
We have no comment 10 make upon tht
above extract, more thar to say: here j
further evidence hat if the present ad
ministration does not find a prominen
place Of hisiOry's page, 1t viii not be 70
the want OF sscopy."