Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-06-01
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Reported for the Daily InteIligencer
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, May 81.

for the return of the recapturcd Africans.
There were now 1900 of them at Key
West The report requests that the bill
Ue passed at the earliest practicable day.
Mr.. Smith, of Va, did not want to force
them back in chains, bat grant them the
privilege of staying in this country.
Mr.. Reynolds gave notice that lie would
call up the bill next Monday.
The House resumed the subject of the
reform in the public printing.
Mr.. Cobb said there ought to be change
of policy. Old rats had crept into the
public crib and had got so cunning to
hide themselves from public gaze.
Mr.. Smith, of Va, said that Mr.. Cobb
might pass for nu old rat himself, but GER
t.tinly he iSmith) not after old rats
lie had come TO the conclusion to support
the bill for Government Printing Office.
He WAS sorry that Mr.. Haskiu had spoken
of the President with so much passion and
feeling. He would not hang a dog on
such Testimony as that OF Mr., Wendell.
1t is bad taste in him to scatter pRrthiNn
arrows ut the President in the attempt to
degrade him, when he (Haskin), for cause
yet unexplained, gave the contract for
binding to friend at higher price than
was offered by responsible bidder. Be
sides, Mr.. Haskin had voted for Mr.. De-
frees for Printer after he had proposed to
the Republican caucus to give half the
profits for partisan purposes.
Mr.. VaIlandigham spoke in favor of
public printing office.
Mr.. Pryor spoke in the same way and
complained that the President neglected
his duty in not informing Congress that
the amount appropriated for Post Office
blanks was excessive, instead of parcel
ling the surplus among partisan presses.
y running debate eHsued between Mr..
Pryor and Mr.. Burnett, in which the latter
maintained that the President had no con-
troll of the matter and that it was the duty
of Congress to correct any corruptions.
Mr.. Pryor. in the course of his remarks,
said that the evidence was uncontrOvcr-
ted, that the President said to the gentle
men who executed the blanks, here are
$50, 900 for your services, and here are
$4,000 to be distributed between the
Pem"sylc0nidR, -Irgus and Medary's paper
in Ohio.
Mr.. Burnett said if such testimony ex-
listed, he had not seen it. He did not how
ever question it, for he know nothing
about it. He then argued against the gov
erment Offices and in favor of reducing
the present rates of printing.
Mr.. Florence was in favor of establish
mcnt of a government printing office, the
contract system having proved failure
and because it would render the business
Independent of the corruption attached
to it.
Mr. Burnett expressed the hope that the
printer the next time he charged corrup-
ton in the administration, would bc bet
tel Informed us TO the facts.
Mr. Pryor acknowledged his indebted
ness for the advice. Let the House order
committee and make him president, and
he would prove what he said.
Mr. Burnett said if the gentleman Nc-
cused the President, he would vote for
another committee. If the corruption cx-
lists, let him be arraigned, imPcached and
disgraced. If the gentlemen desire to
show their zeal, it would be better for
them to fire brOadsides at the Republican
party, instead of getting up family SQUAD
blcs.
Mr.. Pryor replied that he was fighting
on his own individual responsibility and
in defence of the interests of the people.
He conceived it sound policy that the
Democracy should wash their hands of
all corruption.
After further discussion, Mr.. uaskin
closed the debate. Contcndiug that the
President knew of the profits of the Post
Office printing, and stating that he would
vote against all schemes of extravaganza
and corruption coming from either Demo-
The bill for the establishment of gov
ernment Printing Office was passed; l2O
against &c.
sENArE.-Mr. SlidelI from the commit
tee to investigate cOrruptious in public
printing, made "A majority report to the eff
feet that any monies paid ny Wendell
were in accordance with bargain, and if
he paid any for political purposes it was
entirely voluntary and without any knOwl-
edge of any officers of the government
The report condemns the present system of
printing as the worst that could have been i
adopted. 1t reflects severely on Wen
delrS testimony and exOmerHtes the Prest-
dent from amy knowledge of the NATTER
It concludes with IL resolution that the
committee be instructed to inquire into
the expediency of providing for the prin-
ting hcing done by contract or otherwise.
Mr.. King made n minority report to the
effect that the testimony shows clearly
ghnt large sums have been paid to the
printer for the support of party papers
and to influence elections and that the
payments SO made, were known and as
scented to By the President. The minority
agree to the resolution appended to the
majority report.
Mr.. Anthony urged complete reform in
the public printing. He thought that the
newspapers that could not support them
selves, were of no use to any party, and
that the printer to the Senate having vio-
lated the law by transferring the printing,
the office should he declared vacant.
The subject was postponed till to-nor-
row.
In executive session, Mr.. Dixon present.
ed the credentials of MIR. Foster, re-elect-
ed for years from Connecticut.
-& -
CArrARAGus, n. Y, May 31.-A tornado
passed over this place at about a o'clock
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