Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-05-21
Democratic Documents.

Democratic Documents.
The Washington Cd. CO. National
Mtelligencer says:
There never was 80 general a call
upon Congressman and political COM
mittees here for Democratic docu.
ments as at present. The mad mea-
sures of the Radical majonties in both
Houses of Congress have alarmed the
people, and whetted their appetites for
Democratic or Conservative speeches,
illustrative of current topics, to de-
gree not only unprecedented, but
quite beyond the ability of Congress
men to supply the demand.
A Congressional Committee has
been raised for distribution of cam
paign documents, and their card has
been published, with a lis. of speeches,
and the prices at which they can be
furnished. We understand that this
committee are in receipt of numerous
orders, but that not more than half of
them are accompanied with remit
tances to pay for what is ordered.
Individual members of Congress also
receive applications from every part
of the country for speeches, which
they are expected to furnish gratis.
A wide spread misapprehension pre-
walls among the people in regard TO
the publication of speeches. 1t is al
most universally supposed that they
are printed at public expense, and
that members are only taxed to frank
and send them out; whereas the fact
is, that members pay for their own
speeches, and others, the same price
that other people are charged for
them. 1t is only such documents as
are printed by order of one of the
Houses Of Congress that are printed
at public expense. The Agricultural
Reports, the Congressional Globe, and
departmental papers generally, are in.
stances of public printing, and these
are furnished TO members in limited
numbers; but the speeches of mem.
bers are never ordered by the Houses
to be printed in pamphlet form, and
are always brought out at the expense
ofindividual subscribers. Stereotyped
as they are here, copies of speeches
can be multiplied indefinitely, and are
furnished at prices that barely quit
the cost OF production, butat those pri
ces are paid for by the members order
ing them. Every member expends sew.
eral hundred dollars each session fol
speeches TO send TO his constituents
But when they have taxed themselves
as largely as they feel able TO bear fol
the benefit of their immediate con
stituents, q great void still remains tC
be filled. All the Southern States are
without Democratic Representative
in Congress. Only one Of the six New
England States has a Democratic rep
resentative on the floor of either House
and several of the Western States
have not one. In other States thai
are partially represented by Demo
Gratis, there are many districts which
at the late elections gave large Demo
cretic majorities, and yet others with
immense Democratic minorities tha
are unrepresented. Now, to requir,
members of Congress to buy speeches
to supply oil these numbers of Demo
Gratis and Conservatives in such dis
tricts, besides supplying their imme
diate constituents, is unreasonable
Neither the Congressional Committe,
nor individual members not of the
committee, oughtto be asked TO beal
80 unreasonable a burthen; nor woulC
they be if the people understood tn,
facts as they exist, and it is the desir,
OF members that the Democratic news
papers in the country shall explain
these facts to the people.
Everywhere more or less organiza
tion prevails among the Democrati,
masses. There are State and county
committees throughout the Who'll,
country who might, with very littl,
effort, raise in their respective sphere
money enough to buy a full stock o
the speeches which the Congressional
Committee advertise, and which thel
would be happy to send to any loca
committee on receiving the money
they will have to pay to the printers
Funds so raised would burden nobody
Any Democratic or Conservative wh,
is worthy TO receive a speech gratil
from representatives of other district
than his own, would not object {,
paying one or two cents fora pamph
let copy. Nay, he would be glad 4
| do so if his local committee woult
organize a chance, and it is not doubt
ed that the local committees woult
take action in the premises if the fact
and circumstances which we hav,
brought TO view in this article wer,
well understood. But to make then
understood, the local presses shoult
explain them, as We doubt not they
will do.
We commend this subject, therefore
TO the instant attention of Democrat,
newspapers everywhere, in cities
towns and country, and respectfully
urge them to explain to their reader.
now, before the campaign opens, how
chcaply speeches can be obtained
from the Congressional Committee
but how unreasonable it is to expect
individual members Of Congress Il
purchase and distribute them at theil
sole expense. The trouble of frankinl
and sending them will be cheerfully
borne by Congressman, but tho cost o
purchasing ought not to be added Il
their other burthens.
The Boston "Cretans" are making
a demonstration upon Congress tC
procure recognition of Crete, as {