Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-09

OF this day be Of grateful recollection With
pleasure and cheering consolation may he look back
his future hours al retirement that period when the
doctrines for which lac had fought for than thirty
years were sealed by his own political narty rsom.
With this issue plainly and distinctly set forth Mr.
Speaker am perfectly indifferent about tc result not
only OF the pending election but of every other which
may be made IN the House during the progress ofhe
sion Never did political party enter into dcberative
body with a course more clearly marked than that of
the old Democratic Republican Party of the present L.
gislaturc Whenever question 81 importance up
tor consideration we have only il with impair
tiai eyesirip of all dsguisepresent in its
lOursthcn let it take its matters not whether
for or against usand leave the result the People
During the last session, sir, as you well know,
were involved In gloom and doubt, and, was almost
ready to say, had given up in despair had cheer
ia voice to animate dropping spirits; oil Of
laton poured into agitaod bosonns
IL seemed that Old Virginia. the mother of us all and
can assure the gentleman from the City of Richmond
that he is not alone in his pous ejaculation God bless
her, and God help her lit seemed that Old Virginia had
departed from her ancient faith had forsaken her own
principles and had left the few who sustained her inc-
rests aud her doctrines to suk beneath the frowns
tic calumnes which Were po;,.ed in unmcasurcd tor
rsnts on their devoted heads. In the midst of gloom
however, VIC still took courage We determined
with the patriotic Milton, who lost the glorious light of
day and would cheeriuiy have lost his life i'm the cause,
Of his country-lvith him were determined i'm tl,
midst of pers and of overthrow To obate jot Of
hcdt or hope, but stat bear up and steer righ
Though felt for time that had been vet
conscious OF the rectudc of our own purposes;
conscious of other feeling than the advancement OF
truth and the good of country and we were ready
with the noble Athcnan drink the bitter cum proicr
ed To lips 10y the hand of our own countrynen; fold
our nantes about Us in indignant silence and lie down
| and die.
But that gloomy hour has passed away; the panic
and the revolutions which attempted 10 be forced
upon us, have likewise passed away never we hops.
to return and have more met together
u9der very different auspices. Virginia reccd and
tottcred for moment-her eyes were covered as
1t were with thick scales she stumbled for brief space
but fell not She has reganed her erect and
steady posture; the scales have fallen from her eyes
ser-
wants. with the even balance of Justice i'm her aht hand
And, be assured sir that she will iudoc ms 6v thos
same principles which she maintained five and thirty
years agothose principles which herself unaidcd
and alone snatched from the whng of CONSOLE
daton Anu by those DOCTRINES vital the existence
OF our Constitution and Of our libcrties shall ever
wish to be tried.
The Republican Party may have the cheering ossur
ance, that whatever be their numbers here Virginia is
with them. We say with a late French Minister
who was III n small minority in the Chamber of Depu-
es nos sommes quardne ic ais la France dernicr
nous We may be in minority here, but Virginia is be-
hind us The earth has quaked, but the DeoyLe
have aroused from their slumbers and put ON their
arnior Tor the battle. They gathering together
IN one mighty host, and pressing onward i'm solid un-
broken phaanx They already at your gates
von to go forward; boldly and earlessly pursue the
course We have begun, and they will sustain us Never
had the friends to the of popular rights brighter
prospect. The brawny OF the North, the sturdy
woodsmen of the West, and the ardent spirits of the
Sonth are all pressing forward to join the mighty host
The glorious sun OF Auserlitz has risen upon us And
1t the Republican Party of this House. to which all eyes
turned will only be true TO thenselyestrue To the
peope-true to the great cause of Democracy and popu
lar sovereignty, a triumphant victory awaits them
Nh Hooe said, he did not rise to make speech; but
ne knew that the sentiments of every gentleman who
voted ON this question would be canvassed on political
grounds, and he wished to discaim for himself being
actuaed by political likes disikes in the course he
should take lie believed that Mr.. Shepherd had done
the work OF the Office for many years-at he could still
do the work. and that lac needed no overlooker-and MIR
Hooe should therefore vote for him. 1t was from no I'M
friendly feeling to Mr. Ritche that he should do this
on the contrary if any other Editor in nomination
IN opposition TO Mr. Richie, Mr. H. would vote for Mr.
X. His vote not political but was thrown ON the
side OF man amply competent TO perform the duties of
the office, as the House was well aware
Mr. JohnSon Of Richmond said-Mr Speaker have
with good will, believing that shall thereby render
public service. have rsen not to enter in the debate
but simply to explain the reason which will goycrn INV
vote in the election ofpublic printer
may be permitted, hope, preliminary to the dis
charge of this duty, to advert the which has
been so modesty, yet freely, given US by the gen
tleman from Mecklenburg. He has learned from his
intelligent and faithful constituents the folly of rest
ing his vote for public printer those considerations
OF fitness and justice which, apart from party noIi
tics, obviously belong to it ,-and the wisdom of so
bestowing his suffrage, as to sustain his favorte
Instructed by these lessons, and guided by the LIGHTS of
his experience, he has resolved scadfasy to advocate
the election of the Editor Of the Richmond ENQUIRER
who has so zealousy maintained the party doctrines
which the gentleman from Meckenburg avows; and
mos. earnestly advises TO bring forward as his
competitor for office his great political rival the Editor
OF the Richmond Wing. who has rendered distinguished
service in the ranks of the Opposition The gentleman
from Mecklenburg will allow to return him INV hear
y thanks for his kind and dsnercsted advice; but he
VIII excuse me, hope, for declining follow it. If
could ON any occasion take counsel from mine enemy
could not now put in nomination for this office either
John Hampden Peasants, any other Editor of public
newspaper because for none such could 1 consent to
give my vote.
What is the question, Mr. Speaker, which this election
OF Public Printer propounds TO the General Assenfblv3
III the only question WERE whether the duties of office
have been faithfully discharged for the many years that
MIR Rcile has enjoyed its profits his claims TO CONT
nuance IN 1t would be unanswcrable for it is conceded
that during that tme its duties have been well executed
But this is not the only question: whilst Mr. Richie has
performed by his partner Samuel Shepherd who is a
printer by trade, Mr. Richie himself has been the Edi
tor OF political paper constantly actively, zeaousiy
engaged IN tile warfare of party politics And the true
question is whether it be more wise to continue i'm
tins Office the partZan Editor, 10 give it TO tile faith
iu aborer who has discharged its duties and who is UNI
known IN that party strife which agtates and distracts
lift does not disgrace and endanger, the country.
In this view of the question, my mind does not
hesitate for moment III preferring tie claims of
samuel Shepherd His appointment is recommended
by the most obvious considerations of natural Justice
and public policy 1 have long and anxiously marked
the course pursued by public men, in bestoing the pat
ronage OF Government, and have often Witnessed with
sentiments OF strong dlsapprobaon with feelings of
hkcaton and shame, the claims of mertorious men who
had devoted their youth to the duties of Office who
had acquired all the skill requisite for the discharge of
those duties, and who possessed every qualification that
could fit Thorn for the oice,sghed disregarded post
Poned to the claims Of personal political favor
tie cleTktof the county court, for example be
elected-a young man, dependant upon his own labors
the of himself anlilv Inv lon.r