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


Debate in the y. s. Senate, Jan. II, 1860.
The bour having arrived for the election of
Printer to the Seuate,
MIR. Brown said, he did not intend to vote
for the nominee, SIR. Bowman, and he would
give his reasons. The first was personal to
himself; the entire Constitution had, ia INSULT
ing aud discourteous terms, discussed the
speech delivered by him before the Mississippi
Legislature last Fall, without permitting its
readers to see what had been said. He did
not wish this to control the votes of others
ID the second place, the letter of Mr.. Sneed,
prominent Opposition gentleman of Missls-
sippi, to parties in Memphis, was published 10
The Constitution, while his speech was exclu
ded. The letter of Mr.. Sneed was most Of
feusive to the Democratic party Of his Stare,
and therefore, on party grounds, he was not
bound to support Mr.. Bowman. The third
objection was that be had heard and believed
that the associate editor of the Constitution
was an unnaturaized foreigner, and yet he un-
dertakes TO instruct him in his duty. he did
not think him proper person to edit the or
gan of the National Democracy, aud to be set
on by such a man was more than his Southern
blood could bear. The fourth objection was
that Mr.. Bowman, 10 advance of getting the
printing, had bargalned it away. He pro-
nounced this disreputable. He knew Mr.,
Bowmsn denied it, but not in sueh shape as
to make it convincing. Such a proposal was
in violation of the law which required the pub
lie printer to work himself, and be shonld
withhold bis vote on this ground. He had a
great objection to being sold out in advance by
g. W. Bowman. The fifth objection was The
gravest of all. He charged that while Mr.
Bowman was Superintendent of the Public
Printing, be, IN gross violation of law, became
interested in the Public Printing. In April
last, Mr.. Bowman, then being Superintendent
of the Public Printing, entered into con-
tract with Mr.. WENDELL by which the former
took the Union establishment, the latter pay
ing S20, 900 year to him as long as he Wen
dell should De public printer. lie (Bowmapl !
received at the time So 900 on the contract,
which had direct reference to the public pliat-
ing. But the act of Mr.. Bowman was either
gross corruption or gross stupidity. He
fBrown) did not know whether It was necessa-
ry to have an organ, but if it was We should
have decent one. He would never vote
money out of the treasury TO sustain this rick
city Constitution. THIS is not the only moG-
ey paid out for papers. He had heard that the
Philadelphia Pennss lyanaan had received Sl5,-
COO and the .4rgus $4,000. if Mr. Wendell,
who did the pIntlng, contributed to these
worthless, vagabond papers, why might not the
architect of the capitol, the stone cutters, &c.,
be called Oh to contribute to them. OtGers
might do as they chose, but be Brown would
wash his skirts of these dirty TRANSACTIONS
He knew that it would be said that the office
was Improbable, and therefore that Mr.. Wen
dell paid MIR. Bowman TO take it Oft his hands.
But could be tot bave got rid of 1t cheaper?-
The truth was, Mr.. Wendell had been compel
led out of his labor to sustain this thing, an
organ which was not one. He BROWN spurn-
ed and despised the whole concern.
Mr.. Hale (Rep. N. H. asked Mr.. Brown If
any member of the Government knew OF The
transaction?
Mr.. Brown said letter on the subject was
addressed to the Attorney General, and of
course he knew.
Mr. Hale-Did not one peg higher than
the Attorney General knowl
Mr. Browu-I can'tsay
Mr. BigIer lDem. Pa. y entered his protest
against the inference that the President or
Cabinet ustigated or advised transactions by
which money could be improperly taken from
the Treasury. The press teemed with this
scandal, and it was time that it was answered.
He denied that the President or the Heads OF
Departments were responsible for the money
paid for printing. The law separated the mat
ter entirely from them. Ii exorbitant prices
had been paid, Congress was responsible, as
the prices we're all fixed by law. Where then
was the justification for these broad imputa-
tions on the President.
MIR. Brown said the Senator drew largely on
bis imagination. He Brown had said noth-
ing about the President.
MIR. Bigler had no desire to do the Senator
Injustice. He had alluded more particularly
10 the general clamor on this subject. He
then continued in defense of the President and
Heads of Departments. After which be re-
ferred to MIR. Bowman, saying he had known
him for twenty years, and that he always bore
au excellent character for integrity. he hsd
refused extra pay from the Pennsylvania Leg.
islature after the Mexican war, and expressed
to President Pierce on q certain occasion an
attempt made to bribe him while Superntend-
eat OF Printing. He (Bowman) was vigiiant,
and anxious to protect the treasury against
pecuiation. The committee on printing had
the fullest confidence in his integrity. lie
had resisted the practice of double compost
tion while he was in office. He (Biglsr) then
explained MIR. Bowmans contract with Mr..
Wendell, stating that he resigned tie Superln-
teDdency when he made the contract, but held
the office short time longer in order to super
intend, by request OF the Secretary of the la-
terror, sou.e contracts for engraving. de
(Bigler also had letter read from Attorney
General Black, advising Mr. Bowman to make