ted in favor of Henry G. Wheeler, the Reporter
to the Convention.
On motion of Mr. THAWLEY,
The Convention was called, and
The Doorkeeper sent for the absent mem-
bers.
Mr. JOHN NEWCOMER moved to suspend fur-
ther proceedings under the call; which was
Determined in the negative.
Mi. SMITH renewed the motion to suspend
further proceedings under the call; which was
Determined in the affirmative.
The question was then stated to be on the mo-
tion of Mr. THAWLEY.
Mr. WEBER said:
That if he had been present at the time when
the vote was taken on the adoption of the resolu-
tion it was now proposed to reconsider, he
would have voted against it—not that he did not
subscribe to the doctrine, that "the laborer is
worthy of his hire," for in the discharge of eve-
ry public duty, he should endeavor to carry out
that sentiment, according to his judgment. But
his principal reason for intending at this time to
vote for the motion to reconsider was, that this
subject must come up again.
He had now in his possession a petition presen-
ted by the printers in connexion with this sub-
ject, and if they were again to open the question
of reporting and printing—if they were to assign
to the reporter and the printer what each was
justly entitled to; if they were to break down the
solemn contracts they had entered into—if they
were to do all this, he maintained that they should
endeavor at the time these conn-acts were opened
to divide the fund equitably. He desired to do
no one injustice. He was prepared to vote for
a proposition, after these contracts should be op-
ened, to allow the reporter as much as was paid
in either House of Congress for reporting the
debates, or he was willing to allow him as much
as the Virginia Convention paid to its reporter.
If, according to the terms of the contract, they
did not pay the reporter as much as was allowed
by other States, then he was prepared to go be-
yond the limits of the contract, and pay him a
fair and proper compensation. He was satisfied
from his own knowledge, as he declared in this
body when the subject was originally under con-
sideration, at which time he opposed the appoint-
ment of a reporter, that they could not accom-
plish the reporting and printing for eight thou-
sand dollars, if the session should extend over
three months.
He was satisfied that when they should come
to measure the work already done, it would
amount to more than that sum, and be was for
remunerating both the reporter and printer fair-
ly. He did maintain, and he thought he could
demonstrate it, that if the reporter was paid poorly
the printer was paid worse than poorly.
Therefore, that this whole subject might be op-
ened, and the contracts set aside, (for he desired
that new contracts should be entered into to do
all parties justice,) he would vote for the motion
to reconsider.
Mr. BOWIE considered it rather singular that at |
this late day of the session, they should talk
about going back, and making new contracts.
The gentleman was entirely mistaken in sup-
posing that the contract would be broken up.
The facts had been reported to the Convention.
by the committee on printing, and he was sure.
every body understood them. The appropriation
of four thousand dollars, gave out on a particular
day, and they were called on to say whether the
reporting should cease, or whether they would
make a further appropriation to carry it on. The
Convention determined, by a large vote, that two
thousand dollars further should be appropriated.
Under the contract made by the reporter with
the printing committee, (and his friend from Allegany
had said that he was perfectly willing to
give him as much as was given elsewhere,) the
reporter did not get as much as was paid in
Washington. The other day, they voted an additional
two thousand dollars, but it did not follow
that the reporter would get the whole of this
amount. If the Convention should adjourn by
the first of May, perhaps he would not get it. The
contract with the reporter and the contract with
the printer, were as separate and distinct the
sun and moon. They made one contract with
the reporter, and another with the printer. The
reporting had no connexion with the printing.
They were entirely distinct. He was glad to
hear his friend from Allegany, say that he was
willing to pay the printer a fair and liberal com-
pensation. So was he, [Mr. B.] and be doub-
ted whether there was a man in this body that
would not be willing to do the same thing. But
why should they connect these questions together.
They had provided for one, and disposed of it;
and now they wanted to reconsider it, in order to
bring in something that had not the slightest connexion
with it. It would be time enough to con-
sider the printer's bill when it came in. He had
heard no complaint from the printer. The gen-
tleman had said that he had a petitition from the
printers —on the same ground, perhaps—that
their appropriation would fall short. Was there
a man here who did not know that eight thousand
dollars would not be enough for reporting.
Everybody said so in the beginning. The gen-
tleman from Anne Arundel thought it would
cost thirty thousand, some thought it would cost
twenty thousand, and others thought it would
cost fifteen thousand dollars. Everyone thought
that if they could have the reporting done for ten
thousand dollars, it would be making a very good
bargain. He had no doubt that they would get
both for less than ten thousand dollars, and he
hoped that he would hear no more about this re-
porting business. They had now actually made
an appropriation, and the reporter had gone to
the expense of getting an additional corps, and
this day expected a reinforcement from Boston.
In consequence of their meeting at an early hour
thus making the sessions longer, he found it impossible
to get along with the present corps, and
was obliged to obtain additional force. Gentle-
men did not understand thoroughly the force of
the position in which they were placed or else
they would not so pertinaciously adhere to the
motion to reconsider. |
