New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-18


had bargained 1t away. He pronounced this disrepL
table. He knew Mr.. Bowman denied ii, but not in
such shape as to make it convincing Such propo
sa was IN violation Of the law which required the pub
lie viner 10 work himself and be should withhold biz
vote on this ground. He had great objection 70 beiae
sold out ~ advance by G.. W. Bowman. The fifth
objection " Us the qayeSt OF all. He charged that
while Mr.. DO Sman Superintendent Of the Public
Printing he in ,Toes violation Ct law, became nterer
ed in the Public Printing In April last Mr. Bowman,
then being SuperinteN dent Of the Public Printing, en-
tered into contract with Mr.. Wendell, by which the
former took The Union Establishment, the latter pay
ing S2O, 600 year to him long IA he wendell
should be public printer. He (I}Owman) received at
the time 50 0O0 the contract which had direct re-
ference to the public printing But the act OF Mr..
Bowman wac either gross corruption gross stl-
pidity. He lBrown did not know whether il was ne
cessary TO have an organ, but If il was we should
have decent one. He would never vote money out
OF the treasury to sustain this ricketty Constitution.
This is not the only money paid out for papers, He
had heard that The Philadelphia nsyluaRian had
received $4,000 and The Argus 5000. II Mr..
Wendell, who did the printing contributed to these
worthless yagabond papers why ght not the archi-
tect Of the capital the stone cutters &c. be called on
to contribute to them. Others might do they chose,
but he (BrOwn) would wash his skirts Of these dirty
transactions. He knew that would be said that the
Office improbable, and therefore that Mr.. Wen
dell paid MIR. Bowman to take it off his bands. But
could he hot have got rid of il cheaper! The truth
was Mr.. Wendell had been compelled OF his labor
BROWN spurned and despised the whole concern.
Mr.. HALE Rep, N. H. asked MIR Brown If any
Member Of the Government knew of TIE transaction
Mr. BROWN said a letter on the subject was ad-
dressed to the Attorney General, and OF course he
knew.
Mr.. HALE-Dd not one peg higher than the At
torney General know
Mr.. BROWN can't say.
Mr.. BlGLER Dem, Pa entered bis protest against
the inference that the President Cabinet nsg ited
or advised transactions by which money could be In,
properly taken from the Treasury. The press teemed
with this scandal and it was time that answered.
He denied that the President the Heads of Depart
ments were responsible for the money paid for print
ing. The law separated the matter entirely from
them. If exorbitant prices had been paid Congress
was responsible, az the prices were all fixed by law.
Where then the justification Tor these broad I'M
putatiOns on the President.
Mr. BROWN said the Senator drew largely on his
imagination. He (Brown) had said nothing about the
President.
Mr.. BIGLER had no desire to do the Senator in
Justice. He had alluded particularly to the gen.
eTal camor this subject. He then continued IN de-
tense of the President and the Heads of Departments
After which he referred to Mr.. Bowman, saying he
had known him for twenty years and that he always
bore an excellent character for integrity. He had re-
fused extra pay from the Pennsy lvanla Legislature
after the Mexican war, ard expressed TO President
Pierce a certain occasion an attempt made 10 DrlOe
him while Superintendent of Printing. lie tBowmanl
was vigiant, and anxious to protect the treasury
against peculatiOn. The Committee on PRINTING had
the fullest confidence in his integrity. He had resisted
the practice of double composition while he was IN Of
fee. He iBgler) then explained MIR. Bowman's con-
tract with Mr. Wendell stating that he resigned the
Superinendency when he made the contract but held
the Office a short time longer IN order to superintend,
by request of the Secretary OF the INTERIOR some con-
tracts for engraving He (Biglerl also bad letter
read from the Attorney General Black advising Er.
Bowman TO make the contract with Mr.. Nenden,
which he REGARDED purely business TRANSACTION
Mr. Bger asserted that the law had been observed IN
4 Il anA do nf
partments. The question of the bargain OF Bowman
was private one and in which the Senate had no
business 10 interfere.
Mr. BROWN had read the account of Gen. Bow
man himself as to the bargain.
Mr.. HALE wished to know if particular newspapers
were to share in the plumber this year, and whether
they would be the same old ones or a new set.
Gen. Bowmans letter was read.
Mr.. BROWN thought that if Secretary Thompson
knew what this contract of Gen. Bowman was, then
he must have advised Bowman TO violate the law, but
he did not think the Secretary did know OF 1t; lie
cared not who advised Bowman. lie charged that
Bowman had violated the law by being Superintend-
ent of Printing while he had an interest IN the puohe
printing; but if the President and Secretaries advised
him to continue in Office, knowing the contract with
Wendell they advised him violate the law. Ii the
Secretary of the Interior advised Bowman, knowing
the facts, he denounced his advice notwithstanding
his long friendship.
Mr.. BIGIER claimed that Gen. Bowman had not
Mr. FITCH Dem, Ind wished to absove the At
tornev-C General from any collision in the NATTER
When he gave his advice he supposed that Gen. bow
man had resigned. . go
Mr.. BROWN had 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 1t II he
could read his commissions. He must have violated
the law knowingly and deliberatel y.
Mr.. DAVIS Dem, Miss thought his colleague was
led away by his feelings One would suppose tnat
some fragrant act had been committed. The law Is,
that the Superintendent of Public Printing snail not DC
interested in the public printing. A newspaper nad
been transferred to Bowman, to whom II was OF no
consequence where Wendell got the money. The
money OUld not have been made while Bowman re-
tanned his place Superintendent OF Pubhc frhtng.
The purpose of the law was TO prevent corruption
ON the part of the Superintendent. In THIS case u Is
shown that Bowman remained in office few weeks
only and did not i'll that time settle any accounts oon
Dected with the public printing inns s%o Oou was noe
given to Bowman exclusively In this contract nothing
Was said of the printing for the Senate but II was eA-
ecutive work ofthst character which be sent out
of the District. Was this voting money out Oh the
Treasury . ,,
Mr.. BROWN explained that he complained because
the man who did the work got S2O,UoO less IMAM tne
law allow ed him, and this sum went TO the man VINO
did nothing.
Mr.. DAVIS explained that it was not a matter OF
legislation whether this man got too much or TOO Ut
te He thought the question of the Associate Editor
had nothing to do with the matter.
Mr.. BROWN said he objected 10 a man not natural
lied being the editor of the organ OF the Democratic
party. u r.-,,,-
Crown az to the soundness of The Constitution last
year. ,..1. A..
Mr. HALE said he hoped to get some light on the
subject but bad about given up lie therefore moveu
10 adjourn but the motion objected to, and IL was
Withdrawn. -.
Mr. CLAY Dem, Ala said that if the election
were pressed at this time he should not vote for Bow
man. We thought the matter should be investigated,
and offered resolution that Committee 90 aPpoh'eu
10 inyestig ate the matter.
Mr. HALE thought the resolution of inquiry should
have a wider scope. There other charges against