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

quences There was a time I,e was well aware ,hsn
was recommended by necessiiywhen the profits Of the
public printing were not sufficient authorize indvi
dual TO engage i'm Il unless hc could combine il with the
publication oil newspaper But such not the case
me puoe work had largely increased; and while time
had developed that to employ an
editor 70 perform these duties, Il had also developed the
m enecs OF bestowing government patronage upon the
conductors oil political journals and its tendency to
rupt and destroy the purity OF the press The iDceang
power Of editors OF newspapers last becoming matter
OF serious alarm. They rapidly becoming our mas.
tiers. They would make our Presidents and our Go.
vernors, and dictate the individuals fill every other i'm
porant station. And whence does this arise From the
fact that they not dependent tho people, but are
supported by patronage oil tie government press in.
dependent OF the people, a looking support to govern.
ment patron must have the rover OF dcang to
the people. Look the hall, OF Congress- and obsery.
the petty squabbles going there, give the
patronage to iavor'es rewards political services In
some oil the States the same principle prevails One party
Is no sooner victorious. than they had been
done BY thor predecessors. Would not this legislature
act wisely TO rcpuda,e such principle! Should we moi
do service to the State by separating the political prcss
and the patronage oil the governments; and by setting an
example OF comforting offices upon who are not con-
pected with the political pressl The services OF printer
are required, and our opponents offer political editor
We, ON the other hand, propose give the office to
printer. why should the emoluments of this office be
given to aid In the dissemination Of opinions which are not
concurrec in by the majority Of the people WHY should
the peoples money be used TO foster the organ of po
cal party, or as premium for political servces He be-
eved that the State would be benefited bv the
job work OF tho legislature from the and
he hoped precedent would be established by the vote
litca press and the government patronage Snch Ji.
voree would be an honor to the Commonw and would
contribute to the peace and tranquility Of the country
Mr.. Shepherd distinguished for uprightness and in.
tegrty OF character. His skill prompiness and
as printer had been fully proved House by his
WORKS. anu he was now employed in striking and cor
recing te proof sheets of the documents Of this body
The law works which he had published had been con-
sdcred equal in point Of to apv
such works in the country, and had given character to
the printing OF the South The friends of Mr. Richie
nigh. claim the favor Of the House for the manner in
hall nnn ln,o l.,ss
really belonged to Mr. Shepherd, and Mr. f. boned the
Office would be given to him.
Mr. Rutherford said that gentlemen had put the qucs
ton whether the House oud confer the office of pb.
printer on the Editor Of political paper or on a printer
But IN. question really was, whether the House will take
anoher by which de cson they will Give the same no
INT TO the Editor that he derived before cry was raised
against the employment Of political Editors in hi, cana.
ce AS for us his recollection went and even farther
the public printing had been done by Editors of news
papers, ana Tor eighteen years had been done by Tho
mas hche. But they were told that il must not be
gwen TO an Edior bu, 10 the individual who performed
tbe duty: The argument of gentlemen was one which
defeated ITSELF He ought 10 have told the House that
Mr.. Shepherd employee foreman 10 whom he gives ssOo
per annun, and who performs the operative labor If
mere was any thing in the argument of gentlemen TO
mr shepherds claim, they ought go his Office and
ascertain the name of his foreman and vote for him a.
me true operative, for public printer Mr. r. had known
MT Shepherd long, and we he honest man, and
he were now on this floor free say what he wished
In this case he would sayvoe for your old printer As 10
me TACT Of Mr. Richie being Editor, was not tena.
bic ground OF objection to him. Mr.. II. would as soon
vote Tor the Editor Of the Wing Jeersonan were their
position the same 18th that OF Mr.. Ritchie
Mr. Gimer said il had not been his intention 10 engage
in this discussion, but observations had fallen If om
other gentlemen, which rendered necessary for him 10
make few remarks. 1t argued by the pentIeman
who last addressed the House, that if they elected Sami
ney should have in fact elected the present
ncumoen and also, that MIR. Shepherd was not DESTROYS
OF being elected TO the station Mr. c. said he could not
De accountable for the changes and of the hu
m m rnulA
individual might undergo a change in however short me-
rod But this he did know-hat he had Yesterday an in
erv'ew with Mr. Shepherd not Of his. (Mr. G's seek.
ing anu mat IN the conversation which passed be.
tween them, Mr. s. declared that, aItho' lie felt the
highest respect Tor the present incumbent and would do
no'hng TO induce or encourage opposition to his claims to
the ofce-yet, that he the father of six children
whose maintenance and education he depended en- his
business-thai. should the Honsa decide ag aims, M
Kitchle his duty TO his family would induce him TO accent
the Office; and that in such case he felt free TO accent
the station. And why, said Mr. G. should we moi eier,
Mr.. Shepherd! Is it because he is printer. bec,us he
was brought up TO the practice of the most useful and
important OF the mechanic arts? Why, shall it be said
that he is not entitled TO the Office and free TO ask the no.
nors AMI cmolumens of the State, because he
mic: On that ground he would surely not be opposed-
mao thought 1t his duty to say thus much in expla
nanon and while on the iionr he would the oppor
tunity to say that he stood here CRAFTY no par,v pur
pose or personal Pque, Tor he entertained and none
ne soou mere as The representative OF the emen of AL
oemaile as virginan, feeling sensvey on everv
subject in which the character and honor OF the State were
at stake And he felt that this question did touch the cha
racter OF our State What are we doing, Are we abou,
10 vote away between and 5000 dollars of the peope'.
money 10 besow mere empty honor an indivdua 1t
is not So Are you besowing political or mere
mechanical Office! Undoubtedly ought TO be the Iat
Yer; ana ne wished the people 10 know who il was who
wished TO bcstow il political office, and who as
mechanical one. What do you want! A public prin,
err: man who can perform the duties of the station
iaithiuIy-you want practical printer; and although
Mr: Richie is no printer yet we are told that he
Is the most fitting person to fill the Office Would
such principle oil action be tolerated in the choice of
any other public ofIicer' If you are about to eIect
JUDGE do YOU take a doctor ,v;.h
neral, would you take a dancing master? No The fiji
ness Oh things would forbid and the o0ie es would he
wretchcdy hlled This the ground on which he mn,
MS opposition TO the election of Mr. Richie public
printer was wanted, and he wished his constituents ,o
know or they were, he presumed the only
were interested 10 knowing bis views) what his sen
men's on the subject Who is Samuel Shepherd,
He was bred TO the arduous business of printer and he
mad established character for skill and accuracy in his
profession MIR. q. knew that exaneoIs circumstances
were scarcely proper to be introduced on such an occa
son-and the politics OF MIR. s. not fair topics OF dis
cussoh out TINS much he would say that Mr. Shepherd
was an upright and honest man. and good citizen MIR
presumed that Mr. Shepherd had political opinions; but
from all those OF whom lie had asked in relation 10 Mr.
Shepherds political sentiments, he had Iound no one who
could say what they He private citizen and no
Po'tician But there fact which Mr. G. had he ard
10 fea'ion 10 Mr 81 which ought TO speak loudly in his IA
Vor WAS, That while minor, at time when this country
wSnovedi IN war-when cloud hung over the prospe
Oh NE na'ion-he took his musket OH lis shoulder and
aened as volunteer to face the enemy, serving all ar
duous campaign on the Canadian Frontier This fact
might serve to strengthen the other reasons why Mr.
should receive this Office. And ho.e reasons induced
MT ". 10 give him his support He did not oppose MIR
tchie as The gentleman from Richmond CITY supposed
because political prescription TO be conmenced but