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

ii, later years that hey existed separately in the State
on moderately extensive scale. IL was not long there
fore, since it had been in the power of the Legislature
TO separate the newspaper press and the public printing
II was but few ago that this state OF things
1t had nrisen and MIR b. was willing to take advantage
OF 1t 10 effect important object Others might think
diferentlybut he could say for HIMSELF that he should
give bis vote for Samuel Shepherd, with clear
science and undoubted conviction Gifts propriey as
he had ever felt in giving vote during his whole life.
MIR. GlLMER said he had expected that some gentle
man among those who prepared to support Mr..
Richie would have assigned why lie should
be elected. Mr.. G. had reached the House too late
hear the emaks of the gentleman from Prince George;
but he trusted other member would set forth the
peculiar claims of Mr. r. to the Office of Public Printer
lie hoped the House would listen o him for few
ments, while he gave the reasons why he should vote
against him. MIR. Gmer submitted 10 the House whe-
Their they this day called upon to vote the cleo
ton of party Editor Public Printer-to give sti-
pend from the Treasury politician who will do the
jobs of his party to give Office who will
perform the duties which the people requre' Who is
Thomas Htcilc, Mr. Speaker, that he should be made
Public Printer by vote of this Legislature? Did he
set type in his life? No. srHs trade is politics. and
ne served his apprenticeship under statesmen may he
never become the journeyman of demugogues If you
carry out this principle ofappointng 10 Offices OF
the duties which they know nothing what absurd
results would not give Extend all your Offices
and how easy it predict its effect Suppose for in
stance that you about to elect Judge but may
be said that he is lawyer that he knows nothing Of law
The ready answer to this objection would be- natter
he can employ lawyer 10 perform the duties for him.
Or suppose you about to elect Generals and said
matter, would be the repy-"he have il command
cd by other person. lis this the principle which
is to prevail in this ancient and proud Common
wealth! If it be, why not at avow it-why not
openly and boldly declare that is the printer whose
services you wantbu the partzan who will your
present purposes? If this is TO be the for po-
hucal services of pariizan Editor and the besowal
such rewards is TO become the general policy, Mr. CT
would greatly prefer that the should be voted d
recy out OF the treasury, than to cucumber the State
with officers incapable 10 perform their duties He could
wish also, that the Legislature should designate with all
practical certainty, the vice which to be punished
by deprivation Of Office, and the virtue which was
be rewarded by its bestowa Such discrimination
would save the future Historian great many ludcrous
mistakes II this Editor 10 be rewarded, MIR.
G. wished to know for what particular act it was He
was ready to admit that he had deserved reward the
hands OF all parties, for his sins and his outs and his
turning aboutbut for which of his services is he
TO be rewarded
In the Administrations of Jefferson Madison and
Monroe, when the of Virginia eliminated in the po
htical horizon he the faithful and vigorous of
all the sen,nes that kept their watch the altar of the
Constitution. Under the auspices of the Taylors the
Randophs the Roanes, and the Gileses he the ban
dog of what then the Republican party and he
failed to cry aloud and spare when the fin.
ger oil suspicion pointed at political delinquency The
principles which he advocated, and the by which
he then sustained the of constitutional liberty
were-economy In public expenditure, accountability in
public officers, virtue in public men, and jealous dread
OF all power So late he distinguished political
touch-ine not that in the O. Administration won and
remember the q. Administration, Mr.. Speaker0 if that
political paradox-who then at the head, and is now
at the tail of public afiirs-led his inpotent finger
houses IN tne SKY, or wrote nonsense about Panama
Mssion-this Quxotte straight way couchcd his lance
invoking the Genius OF War to the drowsy pari-
otism OF the people But now when the strong man has
come, with Procamations and Force Bills and Protests
striking the pillars of the Constitution foundation
when every department of the Government sunk
into the vortex of Executive palronagc-when the
States have become the things of political lugglers
when every federative feature of our Government s
rapidly crunbng into great central consolidated de-
nocracy-when President, exercising the powers of
monarch boldly attempts 10 appoint his this
sentinel cries ''a is we'-and 'roars you like any
sucking dove.Nay he is the first cry faction and
treason against those who question the inialIibty of
That PRESIDENT whose election he predicted would
be curse TO the country.
Mr.. Gilmer asked, would not postery be curious TO
know for what such rewarded in the name of
the Commonwealth?-Sup civic wreath, or what
acceptable to modern parotisni--a snug sine
cure or tat salary had been voted to any equvocel
character in h'story-to Benedict Arnorld for in
stance should we not be at loss TO know whether his
reward for his heroic devotion Quebec and Sara
togn or for his unparalleled treachery? There would
be doubt in the matter if he lad been rewarded by
Tory ascendancy, who practised under the maxim that
the King could do no wrong. Bot Mr. Gilmer asked a
Democratic Republican Legislature TO boware-hc be-
sought them to correct the proof sheet of this their prn
ter, before they sereotyped him the public treasury
Mr. 6. wished them inform him. what it that the
about to reward in the farrago of that individual
public life! Did they reward him for his steady dcyo-
ton to the principles of 49, for winng at the Pro.
clamalon?-or opposing the prescription aud tyranny of
an Administration which turned out half dozen or
dozen of officers for supporting another which has
tGTued out It's thousandiOr opposing the prodigal
nine ten millions per annum for supporting another
which expcnds more than double?for opposing an Ad-
minisiraon Tor It's corruption, under which Tobias Wat
kns and few other deiauers were detected or sup
porting another in which entire deparmen ceking
with fraud pecuation and bankruptcy-or opposing an
administration which appointed some half dozen editors
aud members OF Congress to public Offices, for sup
porting which has appointed its dozens aud
scores-ior opposing the bungling diplomacy of one
administration in losing the West India trade or for
UNFOLDING the buDgng diplomacy of another which
compromised our just claims France for third of
their amount, and has been since negotiating the
country into recover that? Mr. Gilner said lie
ing part of the Presidents message that if we must
have war with France, although might have been
avoided, he would adopt for himself the Of the gal
liant Decatur, Ny country, right wrong - Do YOU
SAID Mr. o. intend to reward the Editor of the Enquirer
for supporting The right Of instructions for support
ing the only prominent living public man in tile State
who has solennly denied t?-for condemninq the
latudinarlanism Of an Adams Clay and Webster or
transporting Martin Van Buren, whose political where
abous human philosophy has ever yet discovered aud
who, like the poles, has assignabe latitude or ong
tude? For opposing every who subscribed TO the te
nets OF his written creed for supporting every man
who opposed them:
But Mr. G. said, he could not 20 on through the chap
ter. IL was bad business--it was a DANGEROUS busi
ness; and he begged gentlemen to beware how they
tainpercd wlih the press The press TO politics.
what the pulpit TO religion We expect il To dissent
nate truth and 1t should come like volunteer into the
service, and not like mercenary hrcling Would they
not think it dangerous in these days Of religious toera
ton, and he would add Of political ioeraon (o as vet
lac was glad to say social relations untouched by
political difefences) would they not think il dan.
gerous measure If an attempt made 10 establish
Church by the power and means of the State az they
were now attempting TO establish prees 1t was once