The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-17

port the doctrines Of jefferson, and Madbqons nd
Pok--to bring back the Constitution "a ~ alriet
coDstruclIon--so set bounds to the encroachmenta
OF the federal government--to arrest the uneonsu-
tulional and extravagant career Of internal ina
provements--to protest against the squanderlnE of
the public ands--to resist wild protective tariff
and to prepare the public mind, by proper dis
cussion during the present recess for the decision
?rthe great subjects which will force themselves
upon the next Congress. It may become The du-
~ OF some other republican champion to stay the
intrigues and corruption which are silently sweep
ing down the basis and the barriers of our insttu-
IONS; and, 1t necessary, we will most cheerfulIy
surrender that high office to younger and to ADLER
champions
Had Congress granted the relief we had ex-
pected, our own choice would have been left in
our own hands Let us remind our readers Of
what we frankly laid before the public on the 24th
Of last December, and which our more prudent
friends protested against our uttering:
From the Union Of December "a
"a word more, and we have done with thi.
subject. Whether we s'remain' at the head Of
this press, retire from it's duties, is in the hands
of Congress and the people. We are able to with
stand the abor--the unparalleled labor, we yen-
tlre to say--whicb we are compelled to undergo
Though it is amusing enough to look back to our
reply to Mr. Tazewe, in l627-twenty-three
years ago-yet here we are in Washington, ssply-
ing our dreadful trade" as Shakespeare says Of
the adventurous man who on the cliffs of Dover
was gathering samphire. But the springs Of life
cannot last forever. They will wear out under
the incessant friction which they undergo Yet
We are willing to remain in the public service.
although, il we were to consult our own incIina-
tons, would rather retire to private life. We
cannot remain unless Congress grants us liberal
relief from an oppressive contract. Our friend
John c. Rives--who is already flushed with the
public treasure; who accumulated at least 1925
900 before we bought out his establishment; who
is now every day "puttng money in his purse"
from the very liberal appropriation made to him
by the last Congress, without sitting his claims,
or sending him to the ordeal Of three com.pittees.
was our fortune to encounter; who is an Sable
bodied man, fit to dig potatoes and gather cab
bages-is attempting to defeat our relief lfCon-
gress should again be misled by false rumors
about combinations which never existed or vision
airy collisions to break down the contract svs-
tenn, and should again reject our application on
promtly nor more faithfully done, why, we must
submit with all the grace in our power If poti-
cal cliques or party spirit should be disposed to
crush US, the work is easily done. We shall then
be compelled to retire. Or if, INDUCING more
magnanimous spirit, they should be willing to
save us from ruin, and not turn us adrift, we can
either remain or retire-return to private life with
some little comfort, or remain with the means Of
employing younger and ADLER men to assist us in
the management of the paper We must prepare
ourselves for either fortune Our destiny is in the
hands Of Congress. -
But the arrow has been Sped Both Justice and
relief have been denied to us, not by a majority
of either house of Congress-for the Senate was
more friendly to us even than the House of Rem
resentatives--but it has been contrived by parlia
mentary tactics--by trick which we could never.
have expected from the source whence it emanat--
ed Our case has been spoken to death.
repeat, was willing to remain ut my post,
oh
fact, the last has become the only alternative
which was left to me- Congress have thrown an
immense quantity of work upon my hands. even
in the expiring days of its last session, although
| attempted to pursuade them to assign the
printing on hand to another Office | had really
no conception of the quantity until had looked
into the budget since their adjournment. AL
ready plunged into debt by an unfortunate con-
tract-though indebted to the most liberal cred
itors whom man could have-I could not COM
mand means enough, consistently with my pre-
vious obligations, to carry on both the newspa-
per and the public printing Obliged by nv
contract to execute the work in spite of all de-
NAL of relief, had to yield the paper or Dom.
ply with my contract. have done tho former.
To this course, also, have been deliberately adj
vised by the eminent political friends whom
have consulted on an occasion interesting to my
sell, interesting 70 my party, ,and care TO be-
lieve, interesting to my country but, Fortunate
ly for me, have been able to obtain a success
sor who is worthy of the confidence of our party
and of his country. A. J. Donelson is not a
stranger or obscure man in this country With
the prestige of General Jackson's administration
around him-the man whom Mr.. Polk had se-
lected to be his organ in the event of our not
coming to Washington-conductin with great
ability the annexation Of Texas--the selected
minister to Bern--and thus covered, too, with
the prestige of Mr. Folks name--a statesman of
much experience, of tact, and of talent-of great
equanimity and frmness Of character--a stsunch
republican in his prineiples-a devoted friend of
the rights OF the States and the union of the
States-where could | seek a worthier successore
If A. j. Donelson does not please the Democratic
party, who can as the editor of the Democratic.
organ inWashington! With such man, would
have been willing to sell my establishment on
much lower terms than to a man whose longer
purse had not won the confidence Of the coun--
try.
| shall yield the helm, therefore, cheerfullv
into his hands When the time comes for sur
rendering my paper to his guidance, shall once
more address my countrymen, and then tell them
how much feel and how anxiously think of
the condition and prospects of my beloved coun-
try. THOMAS RITCHIE.
WASHINGTON, March Is, 1S4l.