Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-02-03

a contract with Mr.. Wendell, which be regard
ed as purely business transaction. Mr.. Big-
lef asserted that the law had been observed IN
every particular By the President and Heads of
Departments. The question of the bargain of
Bowman was private one, and one in which
the Senate had no business to interfere.
Mr.. Brown had read the account of Gen.
Bowman himself as TO the bargain
Mr.. Hale wished to know if particular
newspapers were to share 10 the plumber this
year, and whether they would be the same old
ones, new set.
Gen. Bowman's letter was read.
Mr.. Brown thought that if Secretary Thomp-
son knew what this contract of Gen Bowman
was, then he must have advised Bowman to vi
oIate the law, but he did not think the Secre-
tsry did know of 1t. He cared not who ad-
vised Bowman. He charged that Bowman had
violated the law by being Superintendent
of Printing whilo ho had an interest in the
public printing; but if the President and Sec
retaries advised him to continue in Office,
Knowing the contract wish Wendell, they ad-
vised him to violate the law. Ii the Secresa-
ry of the Interior advised Bowman, knowing
the facts, he denounced his advice notwiih
standing his long Friendship.
Mr.. Bigler claimed that Gen. Bowman had
Dot violated the law at all.
Mr.. Fitch Dem. Ind. wished to absolve the
Attorney>General from any colluslon ln the
matter. When be gave his advice he suppos-
ed that Gen. Bowman had resigned.
Mr.. Srown bad no doubt of it. But this
did not absolve Bowman, who knew that he Was
violating the law of the country. He must
have known it if he could read his commissions.
lie must have violated the Law knowingly and
deliberately.
Mr.. Davis Dem. Miss.) thought his colleague
was led away by bis feelings. One would sup
pose that some flgrau, act had been commit
TED. The law is, that the Superintendent of
Public Printing shall not be interested in the
public prlBtng. A newspaper had been trans
ferred to Bowman, to whom 1t was of no conse-
quence where Wendell got the money The
money could not have been made while Bowman
retained bis place as Superintendent of public
printing. The purpose of the law was to pre-
vent corruption on the part of The Superiuten-
dent In this case it is shown that Bowman
remrined in Office few weeks only. and did not
IN that time settle any accounts connected with
The public printing. This $4,000 was not
given to Bowman exclusively. In this contract
nothing was said of the printing for the Seuate,
but it was executive work of that character
which can be sent out of the District. Was
this voting money out of the Treasury?
Mr.. Brown explained that be complained be-
cause the man who did the work got $4,000
less ttan the law allowed him, and this sum went
70 the man who did nothing.
Mr.. Davis explained that il was not matter
OF Legislation whether this man got too m1ch
or too little. He thought :he question of the
Associate Editor had nothing to do with the
matter
MIR. Brown said he objected to man not
naturaiizsd being the editor of the organ Of the
Democratic party.
long colloquy ensued between Mr.. Davis
and htr. Brown, as to the soundness of The Con-
stitution last year
Mr.. Hale said he hoped to get some light on
the subject, but had about given up. He there
fore moved TO adjourn, but the motion Vas OBJ
jected to, and it was withdrawn.
Mr. Clay (Dem. Ala.) said that if the cleo
ton were pressed at this time be should not
vote for Bowman. He thought the matter
should be investigated, and offered resolution
that Committee be appointed to investigate the
matter.
Mr.. Hale thought the resolution of inquiry
should have a wider scope. There we're other
charges against Bowman. He wanted to know
whether il was condition of The contract that
$40 900 should be paid to one paper and $l5,-
900 to another and $4,000 10 another with the
knowledge of the Attorney General Though
it is said that the rest of the Administration
did not know Of it then, yet be thought it was
implied that they did know of it immediately af-
ter. He looked upon the latter charge as most
serious.
Mr.. johnson Dem. Ark. was opposed to GO
ing into investigation. He was ready to elect
a Printer, and then If the charges were made
aud proved, be was ready 10 expel him.
Mr.. King Rep. N. Y was astonished to see
any disposition to cover up and cloak lnvesti-
cation.
Mr.. Johnson (Ark.) did not wish to do that.
He was ready to investigate all the charges.
Mr.. FesseIden Rep. Me.,) thought it too bad
to make Republicans listen to family quarrel.
He thought they had better settle it among
themselves.
After some further discussion, Mr.. Craig's
resolution was withdrawn.
motion to adjourn was made and lost, and
the Senate proceeded to ballot for Printer,
with the following result:
Whole number of votes AS
For Mr.. Bowman u
The Senate then adjourned.