Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
October 17, 1850
Green Mountain Freeman
Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont
What is this article about?
Anecdote from Mr. Buckingham's Reminiscences contrasts honorable payment by General Washington to Benjamin Russell for gratuitously publishing federal laws during early Congress with modern profiteering by printers of a Patent Office Report.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE OLD TIMES.
The following is an admirable contrast with the spirit which now prevails at Washington :
Mr. Buckingham in his Reminiscences, states that during the first session of Congress, the late Benjamin Russell, who had done so much in the Centinel towards the adoption of the Federal Constitution in Massachusetts, wrote to the Department of State, offering to publish all the laws and other official documents gratuitously - the country being then almost bankrupt. They were accordingly transmitted to him and published in the Columbian Centinel " by authority."
At the end of several years he was called upon for his bill. It was made out and in compliance with his pledge was receipted. On being informed of the fact, General Washington said -."This must not be. When Mr. Russell offered to publish the laws without pay we were poor. It was a generous offer. We are now able to pay our debts. This is a debt of honor and must be discharged." A few days after, Mr. Russell received a check for seven thousand dollars-the full amount of his bill.
In contrast with the above, we may state that the printers of a late Patent Office Report are said to have made $75,000 out of that single job.-Olive Branch.
The following is an admirable contrast with the spirit which now prevails at Washington :
Mr. Buckingham in his Reminiscences, states that during the first session of Congress, the late Benjamin Russell, who had done so much in the Centinel towards the adoption of the Federal Constitution in Massachusetts, wrote to the Department of State, offering to publish all the laws and other official documents gratuitously - the country being then almost bankrupt. They were accordingly transmitted to him and published in the Columbian Centinel " by authority."
At the end of several years he was called upon for his bill. It was made out and in compliance with his pledge was receipted. On being informed of the fact, General Washington said -."This must not be. When Mr. Russell offered to publish the laws without pay we were poor. It was a generous offer. We are now able to pay our debts. This is a debt of honor and must be discharged." A few days after, Mr. Russell received a check for seven thousand dollars-the full amount of his bill.
In contrast with the above, we may state that the printers of a late Patent Office Report are said to have made $75,000 out of that single job.-Olive Branch.
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Washington Honor
Benjamin Russell
Federal Laws Publication
Debt Of Honor
Patent Office Report
What entities or persons were involved?
Benjamin Russell
General Washington
Mr. Buckingham
Where did it happen?
Washington
Story Details
Key Persons
Benjamin Russell
General Washington
Mr. Buckingham
Location
Washington
Event Date
During The First Session Of Congress
Story Details
Benjamin Russell offered to publish federal laws gratuitously in the Columbian Centinel; years later, Washington insisted on paying him $7,000 as a debt of honor, contrasting with modern printers profiting $75,000 from a Patent Office Report.