The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-04-27

The total annual saving in this way is $l24,
600. Nor is this all. The engraving and lith-
oi5raphic printing has cost annually, since 1852,
a aggregate OF about one hundred and thirty
thousand doilalS. According to the report of
the conn ittee II the House of Representatives at
The last session, appointed to investigate the
conduct of the predecessor of Gen. B>wmaG,
one hal of this is hereafter 10 be saved. The
committee say
"By comparison of prices paid by General Bow
man for engraving and I.hographic printing with
those paid by his predecessor, there is nearly fifty
per cent. difference in favor of the prices paid by
the latter"
Another instance The charts for the Coast
Survey report for 1857, executed under the SUI
perintendence of the predecessor of Gen. Bow
man, cost SI57 so each whereas the same
kind OF charts, of even larger size, were con-
tracted for and fJrnlshed under the supervision
| of Gen. Bowman at S47 90 each-berng less
than one third the price previously paid, and
being saving on that report alone of at least
| $780, 900 per annum. These are some facts
connected with the career of this gentleman as
! Superintendent Of Public Printing.
| Now, sir, why shall he not be elected Prn-
| ter to the Senate 1t is alleged that in trans
| action with Mr.. Wendell, in which he became
! the owner Of the newspaper formerly known as
! the Union, now the Constitution, be has so
| far sunk his political and moral Stafus that he
should not be endorsed by the Senate that he
| has been guilty of such impropretes, if not of
| criminal acts, that he ought to be discarded and
rebuked Now, sir, know that no honorable
senator, if convinced that Mr. Bowman has
/ been guilty Of violation of law, will vole for
J +. b!
this subject, and suggest to my friend from
Mississippi that he must have respec: for the o.
pinIons and feelings OF his fellow-senators who
differ with him on these points, and who stand
here determined 10 vote for hin, because they
believe he will make faithful officer, and be-
cause they desire TO vlndicate him against allie
cations which they think unjust and ungener-
/ Gus,
| | prefer, because It is better that this whole
| subject be developed and disposed Of, to intro
duce this branch OF the subject By letter writ
| ten bv the Attorney General to a gentleman in
the State OF Tennessee, explaining the facts and
| circumstances connected with the transfer of
The newspaper to Gen. Bowman.
The Clerk read the following letter
WASHINGTON, JuNE s, 1859.
| have to saw that do not know what charges were
made or retracted By the States concerning he
transfer of the Constitution printing office to It's pres
| @nt ProPFieter-; but have some knowledge of the
terms and conditions OF the contract refeTI cd
| When that establishment was first offered to
! General Bowman he rejected il. he proposal was
afterwards renewed, again and,again, until it came
| in form which was acceptable. HIS first refusal
| and his final consent 10 the terms Of Mr.. Wendell,
were gwen after cons ultation with me, and agree
| ably to nv opinion 1 gave him advice ninc other
character than that OF his personal friend: and he
| sought my counsel solely because he knew | would
| do all could to guard him against loss, either In
| money or reputation. | had official connection
| with the business. No authority given to
bind ;he Government, and | was not expected or
asked 10 do so; neither the President any he ad
of a Department, other public officer, gave any
thing or promised, directly or indirectly, that any
thing should be given in the future, for the benefit
| OF either party. Some work from the Government
| may have been counted upon, but only as private
patronage was expected that is, 1t would be got if
if the interest of the Government and the plea
of the officers to give IL but not otherwise
No belief was expressed and none, | am confident
was entertained, that this administration would
suffer the Treasury TO lose cent for the sake of
sustaining favorlte man, or promoting the prospsri
| ty of favorte newspaper. All concerned know the
folly of supposng that public work would be sent
TO one who could not DO It cheaplv we'll as
| It couldibe done b., anybody else.
In short, sir, this transfer of printing office
as purely private affair the sale of any planta-
tion in your district. TIE Government had.nothinG
in the world to do with II and the public treasury
is not Affected by il to the amount of copper. The
seller voluntarily parted with his property for
| a consideration which the buyer was willing to
| give and do not suppose that either you or your
constituents care straw which party got the best
| of The bargain.
| ought to ado that the President and all the mem
bers ofthe cabinet, except myself, ignorant OF
| al the time IL made
! suited about it, as | would probably have been con-
| suited about anv other matter of equal Importance
| 10 the private interests of General Bowman. gave
| him my aid with aacriiy and cheerfulness for |
I have long known him as a most upright and worthy
as well as energetic and fearless man; of unspoted
| integrity, and faithful TO his duties in all the reIa-
| tions of life. To charge him with corrupt scheme
| TO- pundering the public IS so absurd that it
| only be made more ridicuouss by ayerring that Mr.
| Buchanan was Joined In IT
| You may use this letter far as you think it
cessary or useful, in your yndicaton Of the demo-
! cratic party Yours, most truly,
| Hon. CHARLES READY. J. 5, BLACK.
| There is but one point in all this case that,
| to my mind, Is worthy otspecal note, and that
| IS the fifth allegation of the senator from Mis-
siss;ppi, 10 wit That Mr.. Bowman, being he
Superintendent OF the Public Printing, and be-
coming the owner OF The paper known as the
! CONSTITUTION, under the terms OF a contract
with Mr.. Wendell, brought himself within the
prohibition of law of Congress that forbIds the
Superintendent of Public Printing having any
| interest in that business. That is very grave
allegation, and il l believed it we'll founded
certainly could not vote for Mr.. Bowman
But, sir, think the senator entirely mistakes
the intention of the law. The law says the
| Superintendent OF The Public Printing "shail
not be interested, directly or indirectly, in the
public printing" What is an interest! /.
must manifestly be that sort of concern 10 the
business of public printing that would make
man responsible for loss, and entitled 10 a por-