Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-19
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURES.
DEFERRED DEBATE.-(C oncludsd.)
HOUSE OF LEGATES-THuRspAY, Dec


DEFERRED DEBaTE.-( Concluded.)
HOUSE OF LEGATES-THuRsDAY, Dec. 10
ELECTION OF PUBLIC PRINTER.
MIR. WATKINS said he had hoped that this subject
not single idea which had been advanced in the
present debate all relevant the question before the
House, which was not debated and last year
Why was found necessary TO drag into this discussion
the General Administration of the country-and what
he should like TO know had its policy 10
do with the election of Public Printer for the House
of Delegates?
The gentleman from Northampton had made an ex-
tract from some remarks of Mr.. w last year-Mr w
did not deny them and believed the gentleman had quot
ed him correctly. He seemed to imply also that Mr.
w. did not always meet his pledges Perha ps he did
not always quite TO the mark although he en-
deavored to do But he thought he fulfilled his PLEDGES
as we'll as the gentleman from Northampton had full
filled his pledge given last year. that if the Spring Elec
tons showed that the people opposed TO the cleo.
ton of Mr.. Leigh, he would resign his seat
Mr. PARKER rose to explain He said he had never
given any such pledge His pledge had been that if the
Spring Elections should return Legislature opposed TO
MIR Leigh, and that Legislature should give MIR L. in
struelions which he could not obey, he would resign
Mr.. knew that it had been stated in the newspaper
edited by the gentleman from Goochlands nominee
that he (MI P) had given such pledge that gentle
man alluded To-: And MIR. z. took this opportunity to
say that the statement was totally and nnqoafedy
Mr.. WATKINS said he did not stand here to violate
ms principles He stood here claiming at the hands of
this Legislature, retributive Justice The principle
which he had avowed last year the principle on
which he acted IN all ordinary but this was not
such case That principle violated last wear by
the party then in power, and faithful officer remov-
ed to make way for the avore of the dominant Marty
In voting for Thomas Richie Mr. w was doing
no more than he would do for any other man. who in
exactly similar circumstances, should be presented
to the House. And much MIR. W. was opposed
to the Editor OF the Wing had he been turned out of of
flee as Richie was, Mr. w would have voted TO
him Had mental in the office of the Editor OF the
Wing allowed himself to be made tool of party to
turn him out, MIR w should feel bound redress that
act 50 aI "a, as his vote would do t. And who, would
Ritchie-with him he had long been in business shar-
ing the profits oft firm and he ought have been the
last man to come here and oppose from whom had
never suffered injury but from whom he had received
many benefits Mr.. w heard question from some gem
said Mr. W. Heis a Whig-and somehow, whenever
stumble upon man in office of late, he turns be
Mr. w recolected that many wears aeo. the Office IF
Public Printer held by Samuel Peasants who was
the editor off newspaper, and who long the ncun-
bent, and that Thomas Richie succeeded him Some
years since, there was committee Of this House raised
to enquire into the prices charged by the public printer
lie believed that the gentleman from Ptsylvania was
member OF that committee, and woald ask him what re-
port made.
Mr.. WITCHER said, he was member ofthe commit
tee referred tot was raised to nquire into the nrices
charged for the printing And it was then that
MIR. W. ascerained that Thomas Richie knew nothing
about printing and that Shepherd the acting man
Mr. s. sent for by Mr. r., and satisfactory testimo
my was offered of his character and capacity.
Mr.. WATKINS. This is just what wished 10 know
1t appears then, that the gentleman from Pttsylyania
ascerained many ago that Mr. Shepherd was the
practical printer and that Mr.. r. not; vet the ge n
tleman did vote for Mr. Richie the year am for
several years after What had become Of bs
sense ofjusce it has been called that he md nonS
others, after having ascertaned the startling fo thai
Thomas kitche was not practical printer and that
Samuel Shepherd was one they should repeatedly
supported Richie candidate for the Office and sui
fered him to ill it without a murmurs
The truth is that all this parade about Shepherd's do
ing the work IS ialacious The Wing party know that
Samuel Shepherd no more does the work than Thomas
Richie did a tie has II done by whom he hires
practical printer is all perfect moonshne Mr. Shep-
herd reads the sheets and supenends the business but
he does none Of the work The Whes, said Mr. w
know all this well enough but il is the Republican parfv
at which they wish 10 strike, through Thomas Rtche
WINE they were so Jealous in the depreciation Of the
election OF an Editor to fill this Office, Mr. w wondered
they had not alluded TO the Senate of The
United States, which has repeaedly--nay, uniformly
elected party newspaper Editors their public printers
But great virtue is assumed by the Wings because they
did not last year elect their party Editor instead of MI
shepherd. And why Ola they not elect parzan Edi-
tori can tell you, said Mr. w. 1t was because thai
the first year Of their Offering Shepherd, they had not
majority, and could not expect TO succeed political
grounds alone SO they got up this argument of
the practical printer which seemed quite plausible
so far as IL referred TO Samuel Shepherd but vonId
not have been applicable to another candidate WI
last year they again opposed the election of Mr.
Richie, IT would not do 10 abandon either the argument
or the man; aud now they make great boast Of their
iofbearance for not having elected parfzan editor.
The gentleman from Northampton, who is somewhat
IN the habit Of making predictions SAYS IL s time that
Virginia should arouse There IS need Of calling upon
her 10 arouse nj this time She has arisen in the majesty
OF her democratic strength and are endeavoring ~
bring back her public Offices 70 the condition i'm which
bey stood until the enemies Of the Republican oarfv
achieved temporary triumph And one step tovyards
eifecung This object is the election Of Thomas Richie
Public Printer.
Mr. DORMAN said he rose to state sepe faets which
bad come within his knowledge in a different manner
than that in which they had been stated He wished IN
shew, That Thomas Richie the public prntar
Tor 70 years, and that according to the alternative sun
posed by The gentleman from Isle Of Wight in which ie
says he would vote for MIR Shepherd had he been the
49, f-'ner he was acting inconsistency TO vote now
for Thomas Richie. NV
Mr.. HOLLEMAN said the gentleman probably mis-
understood him lie said that IL Mr. Shepherd had boon
The elected public printer for series Of years and Nj
Richie now stood IN the position Of Mr. Sbepberd he
would vote for tho latter. "
Mr.. DORMAN said, he did nisnnderstand the ceo,l.
man. lie thought his meaning was that fhe had done
the duty for series Of years under the circumstance
asserted that Mr. Richie had not been The public printer