Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-15

success oil the party Of that individual would as conse
qnence besow this Office on him. And was it to be the
very first act orths Legislature, to give colour to
this accusaonto place in the hands OF this begerent
an Office, the duties of which he is not expected per-
form! Will they give him this very advantage which
he has disclamed-and affirm the truth of those
tons which, had higher course been TAKEN would have
passed for ie ospersions OF eniy the ebuitons OF
The Press we know, exercises a commanding infu-
ence the opinions and movements of the people,
and the dcsiinics OF the State: And nothing
duce fatal effect upon our institutions than
bring upon that powerful instrument mpuStion of
being the agent of party, under stimulus of
pay, the prospect of rewarda political Swiss
which throws out opinions to temporary ends
Nothing is more be avoided by every means in our
power than such of the press, thatit shall
no longer operate for the pebble benefit but merely for
the benefit of the person who falsely holds himself out
the disnterested instructor of the public mind while
his actions are dictated solely by mercenary considera-
| lions.
should wish, said Mr.. S. as public benefit of great
Importance, 10 separate at all times the public press from
the sinister upualion OF venal and mercenary views.
Is the public confidence TO be attracted TO the statements
OF press by making it venal by making nercenary'
Give the Offices which you have besow, partizans,
If you WILL but keep the of public information
and instruction clear from the danger OF this corruption
Let the public moniinrs-fo such they ought be-be
placed beycnd rcproach the suspicion OF reproach.
MIR Stanard appealed 10 the party of the nominee of the
gentleman from Prince George, whether point
OF policy they should afford ground for belief in the
tuhof the accusation, that the efforts Of their avore
organ merely the mercenury services OF heated
| partizan.
The gentleman whomNIr S. had nominated, had given
10 by the faithful which he
had performed the duties the very character which the
gentleman from Prince George claims in favor of his
nominee, MI Shepherd having in fact performed the
duties, that praise, then, ought TO he bestowed MIR s.
and not on the other candidate This question: whether
the Office should be bestowed the man who actually
performed lis duties, had not its origin in the divisions
which now existed in political parties When Mr.. S.
was FIRST offered the House candidate he was
sustained party grounds-he was sustained on the
principles OF right and propriety, by of the
faithful adherents of the former incumbent Hence it
was evident that was not party question then aud
m rIn lOapc :. 81 A.
popHety of comforting the Office Mr.. Shepherd and
that was prevented from being the result only by the
supposition that il might be considered stigma cast
on the ioriner incumbent Such the ground
on which this question considered before the pre-
sent incumbent was electedsmply the ground of TT
ness ior the ONCE and capacity to perform the duties
But even he was then advocated political grounds
the House Is now called upon to fill this Office unbiased
by such consideraions-the only considerations which
should be regarded those which belong the rela
tive fitness OF the two Individuals and the relative jus
tcc and propicty of placing the office nm indivdnal
whose education has fitted him for the performance of its
duties, or one who is notand who therefore must hold
the situation to great extent a snecuTe
Mr.. Stanard had endeavored enforce the desirable.
ness oil separating the press the channel of sound
and wholesome information to the public far as pos
sibe from the temptations of Office which have direct
tendency to make it, no longer the faithful instrument
public Instruction, but the Swiss of party only looking
Tor reward-There was one other view in connexion
"!lh ms to which he would alude. In like this
when the services of political incumbent were of far
higher Importance to the party than the duties of his office
they would probably bias the opinions of the Legisla-
ure as to the manner in which those duties were per
formed, 10 cause their clumsy unsbul performance
! to be overlooked. No parzan would be dismissed %
scrutnize with severity form very correct
opinion, whether the duties of the Office had been ner
formed faithfully not by the iavorte organ of his
party.
! Mr.. BROWN merely rose 10 explain the vote which
he should give. When he had formerly been member
of this House, the Editor of the Enquirer was and had
oeen Tor some years. the Public Printer He was at each
session brought forward, and Mr. b. voted for hinThe
work had been well done and he knew of no canse Of
dissatisfaction with the then incumbent-Two wears
candidate ord uaa
10 the House candidate; and it was then stated to,
although the Editor of The Enquirer had held the Office of
Public Printer, the work had Tor many years been dime
by the hands of MIR Shepherd and under his direct If
not entire suPerinlendancenot only the printing but
the reading OF proof Sheets revising, &c 1t then seem
ed tcsMr b that if Mr. S. elected the House would
be sure that the work would be well done for the same
care and fidelity which had excited the appreciation of The
Rouse when Mr. . was acting subordinate part, might
! be expected from him when acting for himself But
heTe was win MIR H. greater consideration for favor
ing the claim OF Mr. y. 1t offered opportunity for
electng object which had always appeared TO him of
high mpoanec-thc separation 1.-THE press from public
oihccs. Ii presented opportunity giving an office
requiring merely the labor of an intelligent printer to
practical printer man who understood and performed
the duties of the Office On the ono side vos ,or,Ia
man who was the Editor ofa highly influential political
newspaper, and who knew nothing practically of the dt
les OF the ofice--on the other printer type setter
who for years had practsed The trade and who possessed
skill and experience Mr. b. could but perceive that
it favorable for separating the patronage
! of government and the press.
The political agitaions of few years previous are
well recollected At the time when the jackson party
was struggling fer the ascendaneyhe party 10 which
hlr B then belonged-geat complaints were made that
me party IN power was supported Ivy pensoned and
hifelng press We said MIR. b. then complained that
sueh was the case and we thought with good reason
That party finally succcssul General Jackson ,cas
elected to the Presidency; and among his first acts were
the bcsOwal OF Offices the Editors of nevsoapers wiz,
had esPoused his These measures were received
win great discomfort by many of his friends and If Mr.
- recollection was correct the Editor Of the ENQUIRER
expressed his dissatisfaction at those appointments as
departure from the prime pies by which the party had
been governed Mr.. Brown had ged his opi.
nion That the press should be kept apart from govern
neut patronage, and when Mr. She pherd was nominated
/ for the Office of Public Printer-that consideration
blended with others, had its effect on his mind He
thought IT highly proper that the House should elect fbe
man who did tie work, and a man unacGuaintod
win II, who would employ printer and delegate tic
duty 10 subordinate On these grounds MIR Brown
that occasionand was again nominated last year when
/ FIR -. again voted for hm-and he succeeded. Mr. b
said, there many gentlemen here " 10 had seen the
| public printing for some years past-and was we'll
known that there falling of in the manner in
which II was performed during The last wear Indeed
~ was said by some. that IL had been better done dunno
that periodand perhaps the reason was that Mr. sbe
herd was the printer in his own name Mr. b had frr
quenty been told, That there not better printer
than Samuel Shepherd IN the Union But inside from,
the business qualifications Of Mr. S. there was p,ncb 10
entte BIN to favor in his character and conduct ne
man. Does any one know Samuel Shepherd Has Inc
made himself known TO the members Of this Legislative
soliciting their votes? No. iIc is found FOLLOWING
members f. obtain their favor lie is of his Office atten
ing TO his business. lie modest man and man ~
talent Tor Mr. - considered good the best dcscrj,
ion OF talent Why then, should he be driven from tjs
Office. On what driensibc ground could he be exclnI
ed! Where shall we look for precedent in case so plain