Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-12-10

". Refused, ft ~ ~ m tr>
Virginia Legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Friday, December 8.
PAINTER.
Mr. Rutherford nominated Thomas Ritchie the present
incumbent and said he would take this TO reply
objections which he had heard advanced tn Mr.
Rch;e's election. II had been stated that MIR r. had
hitherto employed printer perform the duties Of the
ufce al compensation much lower than tho amount of
the profits oil the business and fore that the Office had
been to MIR. X In some respects a sineewe. This, Mr.
n ooserved was not iaot was true that Mr. Rchie
was associaed ID business with excellent printer
ardhat they had performed the public work In ship
ms pso' med large amount of othe job work. in
ssary OF the public printer Mr. Shepherd the partner Of
Mr. r. received $500 for the exclusive eviction of his
attention to it, and Mr. X. received 800. II had been
also s,d, that Mr. r. did perform any OF the duties
But it not Aho the burtben of the business de.
volved ON Mr. Shepherd yet Mr.. X. did aid him. when.
his other avocaons would permit Mr. Ruberloord
said he should vote for Mr. Rch upon the ground that
in the election OF public officer the only questions which
could with ProPrety be asked were, whether he was
the opponents OF Mr. Richie would take ptions 10 the
manner In which the public work had been performed
the question Of the prices which tho work had been
DONE II being subject with which he was not well ac.
qnainted: but he would rfer the House Report of
Commuee ON the subject made in the year 1928, in
which those prices were declared to be reasona bie-
lMr: X: then read the report] He hoped the House
would elect the gentleman whom he had be.
cause he had been faithful public servant and still more
because he trusted this occasion would not be taken 10 in
troduce into this Legislature system OF prescription for
ponca opinions, which had yet been adopted in
this State and which could but the injurious ef
lee. OF dusng spirit of party strife throughout the Com
Mr. Psrriott nominated Samuel Shepherd and advocat
ell MS election upon the consideration he had in fact
performed the duties oftbe Office for long period; and
Mr. r. was OF opinion, that The person who did the duy
ought to receive the emoluments of asy public station
Although was known, that, oensiby Mr. Richie was
public printer. it equally we'll known that to Mr..
shepherds industry and skill
the faithful in which the duties had been
ed, while Mr.. r. had divided the profits with him Mr.
tween and 5000 dolars-of the profits upon this sum
Mr. Richie received about $1,000, while he did little or
nothing to en,e him to it, These reasons, he hoped,
would induce the House to besow the Office on the man
who performed the duties.
Mr. Gregory rose to give the reasons which would &C.
tuaie him in giving his votean in doing So he did no,
ieei bound TO explain for the satisfaction either of the
individuals nominated. But il was duty he owed him
sell That his motives should be fairly stated and under
thought him entitled the Office Tor the that he had
Tor some time performed the duties faithfully satisfac.
.oyLand ne put 1t upon no other ground. The speaker
last year. that If the question was placed upon politi
ca. footing, he (Mr. G) should be constrained to
vote against them BOTH For, if he had deemed il
10 put ms vote on the ground of political prin
ciplcs he would have voted for no one but Nuiier-
He knew nothing of Mr.. Shepherds political opinions,
never spoken than twice or three times with MIR
Richie in bis life and although he had read his paper for
years; yet ne DID not know Mr. RS politics. and no
should be pleased TO find who did. He did not
know what party could support Mr. Richie OH poi,ics
grounds, Federslis could certainly support hm-and
Republican could console counepance him
since the issuing OF that fatal document the
oil President Jackson He had said that il he was called
upon 10 woe on party grounds, he would support
man ou' Nuiher But he particularly objected the
appointment of Editor of ne wspaper to this or any
other ONCE; for they knew, that while he was receiving
and vii'iyng the minority. He thought the man who
performed the duties ought TO be appointed the Office
who made OF barter Ae the itself
1t was far better to appoint who would attend solely
70 Tvs dues and he was willing toput the ground that
IL should be given to no Editor Of Newspaper. Men
would act as their interests dictated, altho times they
might be unconscious OF the motives by which thew were
actuated. And Editor of journal would naturally
turn all the placed in his hands to the support
OF the cause with which he was identified. Mr. Shop
nero was an honest man, and would do his duty
he knew not what the politics Of Mr.. s. were so far
as he knew, he might be Of the rankest tories in
.he worlds but he was not active politician, and had
could be selected twelve men in the whole State who
would say that there was any good reason why Mr.
Richie should be elected, he might doubt the propriey Of
opposition 1t was the baneul political influence of this
Editor, that induced him to oppose any means which
might increase iHe asked the House, whether If the
question one--if il was now for the first
time proposed. that Mr.. r. should be elected public prn
ter, with knowledge that he would employ Mr. Shepherd
70 perform the dutes-would the Office be given Mr..
h!-No: He would be hooted from the House. Has he
any claim from the faithful performance of this duty!
Surely not-and the bsstowal of the office ought 10 be
pun upon no otber ground. The legislature ought
t:bsh the principle, that party politicians should be
elected to office upon political grounds. And was
the proper time TO make the commencement.
Mr. Wilson OF Bot said he should put his vote on this
SUBJECT on Tie sole ground Of the ability OF the nominee
do the duty and the proof that he would do il faithfully
was TO be found in his long and valuable services No man
could deny that Mr. Richie had performed his duty
this Office with zeal and fidelity. Mr. w here referred
10 statement made by the gentleman from Richmond
when Mr. Rutherford explained Mr.. Wilson observed
That there was nothing in the fact of Mr. RS come
with Mr. Shepherd which ought operate against the
election OF the former Mr. Richie had received mar,
OF the profits OF the Office, and Mr. She perd part but in
nis MT w saw no good for turning MIR r. out of
The offcesincs he had been responsible for the proper
performance oil its duties He cared not whether he
The Editor oil political newspaper or not That was no,
the question. The House about 10 elect person IN
perform the duties OF the situson and n he bad thus far
served faithfully he ought TO be retained in it, Unless il
snou'd be shewn that he had neglected his duties MIR
w. lot one could not consent 10 turn him out
MIR Faulkner had not designed 10 tako any part In hi.
debate; tut character had been given 10 IL which
dered II proper Tor him TO express tie alton.
by which he was governed in the vote lie should
lie should vote Tor MIR. Shepherd and against Mr. Richie
not 'er m reasons assigned by the gentleman from James
CITY, but because he regarded this proper occasion for
the establishment OF sound and sauary principle in the
dsouton OF The government patronage of this State He
wished the principle carried into effect of bestowng pub
lie oces on those only who performed the dues-snd he
scorned the petty considerations Of party politics 10 which
this movement had been attributed The spirit of our in
stulions had so far purified the political atmosphere thai
but lew sinecures remained among us. Few individuals
bold Offices the duties OF which are performed by others
such, however, the lie In