Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-02-25
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IS, 1s47.,
MIR. RICHIE AND THE U. S. SENATE

The Senate Of the United States have provided
large and commodious gallery for the public gen
orally. They have also a smaller gallery which is
appropriated exclusively to the Reporters, who take
notes Of their proceedings for the newspapers In
addition to these means Of accommodation there is
narrow semi-circular lobby on the same floor with
that occupied by the Senators themselves, which
constitutes the pricileged seats, which none are per-
mitted to occupy but foreign ambassadors, heads of
departments, officers Of the army and navy who fer
distinguished services have received 4 vote of
thanks from Congress, and some other classes of
individuals, who are particularly enumerated in
the rules of the Senate. The ladies' arc excluded
from this lobby, and no Senator has right to in
roduce any person, except one of those privileged
BY the order of the Senate, into it.
by courtesy of the Senate, the Editors of the
Union and lntelgencer, and probably some other
gentlemen connected with the Press, were allowed
TO occupy privileged seats. Some weeks ago the
Editor of the Union published most atrocious Ii
Del on majority of the Senate, charging in effect
that they were the allies of Santa Anna and Ampu
dla, and engaged in promoting Mexican interests.
The Senate waited two three days to see whc
Their MIR. RIrcHIE would offer any explanation or
apology for the outrage, but finding that he persist
ed obstlnately in his offensive course they passed
resolution excluding Mr.. RIrcuIE from the prjr
'eged seats, and thereby compelling him to take
MS seat amongst the common people! This Mr..
hITcHIE regards as terrible outrage, and his
paper teens with the most furious assaults on the
Senate ever since. The old gentleman has always
been suspected ola strong affinity for silk stockings
and the society of big men, and we have no doubt
1t Is very CALLING to his democracy to be prevented
from sitting by the foreign ambassadors and other
magnates of the land
10 cover his modification he pretcnds to make it
matter connected with the freedom of the Press.
But this is too shallow device to deceive even the
most ignorant. Mr.. RIrcruE very well knows
mat when the Editor Of the Times ibelled the
Senate last winter, that body by unanimous vote
expelled him-not from the privileged seats, for he
had never been aristocrat enough TO occupy one
out from the Reporters Gallery. So also when
the correspondent Of the New York Tribune last
winter stated that Mr.. Sawyer, of Ohio. was in the
daily habit of retiring behind the Speakers chair
to regale himself with mess of sausapes. the
House indignantly expelled him from his place.
These movements certainly looked much more
like an invasion of the liberty of the Press than the
exclusion OF Mr. RrTcHIE from his privileged place.
because they tended to deprive the Reporters of the
facilities necessary to prepare their reports of the
proceedings. But in the case Of Mr. RrrcuIE there
was nothing Of the die still retains his sea,
In the Reporters Gallery All that he has lost is
the privilege of mngling on the same level with
Senators and foreign aristocrats But this, we be-
iieve' Is one of the scverest punishments which
could have been inflicted on one who so much af-
fects the ''upper circles"