Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-17
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURES.
DEFERRED E-(Continusd).
HOUSE OF LEGATES-TuuRspAy, Dec 10.
ELECTION OF PUBLIC PRINTER.

Mr.. POWELL said, he wished To know the precise
grounds on which the candidates stood before the House
lie had not heard the reasons OF gentlemen for advoca
ing Mr. iiitchies election. lie understood that Mr. r.
was not practical printer, and that MIR but the
qL"stion seemed 10 be of political preference with
those who supported the former, rather than question
of the qualifications of the candidate for the duties of the
Office He was sorry TO find, the very threshold Of s
political hte disposition every thing party
considerations He willing himself to relinquish
such feelings OCCASION like this; and he hoped others
would act under the disposition. MIR. Richie
was known a jealous politician--as the Editor of n
violent party paper, and therefore MIR. Z. not dis
posed vote for hin, unless his claims 10 the office were
fully made known. He should therefore vote for MIR.
Shepherd, If the friends of Mr. Richie did deem it
necessary to shew the why this Office claimed
Tor their candidate
MIR. WlTCHER to put one or two interrogato-
RIGS To the friends of Mr. Richie. In the first place.
ask, who TO do the work if Mr.. Richie elected
Mr.. w believed he could prove by the Speaker, that
before Samuel Shepherd purchased into the firm with
Mr. Ritche, the public work was mseIaby done. ask
them, said MIR. W. who is TO do it? If he told that
MIR. Richie would hire other do the work
then he would ask, why they TO give the surplus
profit to him. when another to perform the
vice. If the Legislature willing TO give to any one
than the work was worth why not give il 10 the
printer himself?
Mr.. HOLLEMAN said he had intended to speak
on this question: as he somewhat indsposed lie
would have been content to let gentlemen discuss this
question in their way and to sit quiet while they
expressed their opinions of the candidates But they
would not be contented they will not be satisfied
with our silencethey will insist upon expressing
ut large the grounds which act in this matter
and Mr. H. was reluctantly induced to join in the de-
bate so far necessary to shew the principles on
which those with whom he concurred in opinion
about to act. AS TO some ct the remarks which had
fallen from gentlemen the other side and which were
OF too personal nature TO require replyhe should
pass them by being in themselves destructive of the
injury they were intended to effect He pleased TO
find, that gentlemen willing to renounce the
principle on which they acted at the last session He
was pleased to find that they could things different
ly under circumstances than under others. The
friends of Mr. Shepherd had been favored the present
III n q oil
had last yeorben they seemed to ''see through glass
darkly MIR. H. agreed with them in the general prin-
clpc which they avowed, that the ahorer worthy of
his hirethat the person who performed any given
vice ought to receive the reward-and if this
and different question, Mr.. Holleman might agree with
them in supporting their candidate. If Thomas Richie
were now for the first time presented the House. while
Samuel Shepherd had been The public printer for twenty
years, Mr. H. would, without hesitation, vote for Shep
herd. But the principle which he called TO
act, entirely ditferent--those who voted this
question last year fully aware of that fact some
of those gentlemen who wish for information were not
here last year. and TO them il due that explann-
ton should be given.
. that this election is 10 be made political question:
that is to assume Partizan character lfsuch the
case, Mr. III would ask who set the example of making
it party question? 1t was notorious last year, that this
ed party grounds-not aIfog IHes if eiefe
few gentlemen who honestly preferred practi-
cal printer. But there were others who ayowed that
they desired 10 Thomas Richie for his political
opinions while they also made Of the argument of
the practical printer to aid in their design.
gument of giving the reward TO the laborer; and if it
not uoyed in this by other and less defensbe
motives, 1T would have great weight. But how came ii
that this question of the practical printer occurred
until the winter before lashow it, that successive
Legislatures had seen Samuel Shepherd acting the
laborer while Thomas Richie was the titular Public
Printer, without rejecting upon the injustice complained
of exhibited by such state of things, Samuel Sshep
herd had been this " practical printer for fourteen
fifteen years. and yet il not until the spirit of party
in its strength that it found that his being
practical printer gave him claim TO the office, and
that the old incumbent must be turned out If this
the opinion of gentlemen formerly they were too weak
to make its avowal of any avail Two years ago
first expressed 10 this House, but the argument and the
effort failed But last year we met here new party
then what called the Wing party in majority,
and we knew before had assembled, that TIL. Richie
be put of Office i could be effected This was
known in the country to be Of the objects Of the then
dominant party and IL was known also that it party
queston-that thro Mr. Richie, the party which he
belonged to be assaied and wounded But than
thisGentemcn rose in their places in this House and
declared that they put the election of Public Printer
nPon party grounds and that Thos Richie the political
Editor, should be turned out 1t was in vain that we
expostulaed with you upon unjust il in
vain that told you ii act of party proscr pon
which would not be overlooked Ivy the peope-it in
vain that urged you TO a more liberal course, and
warned you not 10 do this thing, lest it be brought up in
Judgment against you We told you that the people did
not sustain you but warnings and exposluations
not needed. The party in the majority punished
the Republican party, by turning out Thomas Richie
and it promulgated to- the world great party tr
umph We then foresaw that the time would come when
should be forced TO redress this act injustice which
had been done party grOunds-and that, 1t had
been the act Of political party, il must at future
time be met by corresponding act the part of the
vanquished. If Thomas Richie had been turned out,
and Samuel Shepherd put in his place, upon other
ground than that the was, and the other not
a practical printer, might not have been called to
afford redress But, although that Of the argu-
ments advanced in favor Of the change ii notor-
ously but secondary considerations the political triumph
being the leading object The course of party pro-
scripon did not end here. When 10 act upon
the election Of Councilloran Office in which every
man is required to perform his dutywhich would
admit Of employment Of depuiy-nnd in regard TO
which, the argument Of the practical printer could not
be made use ofthe spirit exhibited In vain
was il urged that the old incumbent able and
faithful oicerthat he possessed experience, talents
and integrity. In vain did the gentleman from King
George appeal to the justice and magDanmity of his
party in Of the most eloquent speeches ever uttered
within these walls-n vain did he appeal to them To
spare that faithful public servant and 10 push the do
mnon Of party prescription no farther. fIe
Needed and that SECOND act Of party iberalty
summated.
On these grounds Mr. IL thought that the Republi-
can party bound IN the performance Of impeTa-
tive duty to redress tho wrongs which had been nict-
ed upon and TO rcbuke the spirit Of prescription and
intolerance which reared its head in this House of the
last session lie deemed their duty 20 Just far in
redressing those wrongs, as the wrongs themselves had
been carried and farther When they had restored
the former condition ofthngs-~hen they had replaced
those who bad been prescribed he believed they should
have performed the duty required their hands by thc
peopr and iat they should have done enough. lie
we'll aware Of the truth Of the maxim, that swo wrongs
did not make right Bat there were notifications Of
this rule, especially ~ political transactions. Even in
the conduct Of private life often forced to d. that
to remedy wrong which otherwise would itself be
wrong; but which nnder ihe circumstances s positive
right being absolutely necessary 10 safety and well