Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-13

relief you ought be re you adjourn, 10 provide some
other arrangementsifor the contamination oil the WORK
which is in his hands 1t Is Impossible ior MN 10
60 on with it with his present means.
Recoliect, if you please, what took place during
your last recess and recoect too what occurred only
a twelve-month ago. Mr. Ritchie soon as he found
what a runous contract be had entered into proposed
to make new arrangement for the execution OF the
public printing. He expected every moment during
that long session that Congress would act upon the sub
jeCt. tie offered to place his contract at your ee ana
he continued TO impore reliet your hands until the
last day OF the session. He tsutalzed from time to
time with the prospect OF some new arrangement, exc
cutting his contract all the while with singular industry
and fidelity up TO the very moment OF your hnal ad-
iournment The effort to relieve HIM then lailed
SIS all present here will recollect and you, sir will re-
collect too that Sunday mig h, the night before our
adournment-he went to consult you in regard to the
vast quantity of work which remained III his hands,
and as to the which It would be proper for him
TO pursue in relation it. He told you that he did not
feel that be should be acting fairly towards Congress il
he did not appfizs us, at that last hour that it
would be necessary tor US to make some new arrange
mens to carry the PRINTING! that he had prepared
letter seyera days before announcing to Congress this
condition OF things, which letter was then 10 the hands
OF friend ready TO be presented to the House the mo-
ment the question of reie should be decided against
him but that decision not having been made until after
midnight, the letter had not been delivered GU vii
recollect, sir, also, that you advised him, with that
frankness nd discretion which you will permit me to
say have distinguished whole public course, to ad
dress 10 the Senate letter. bringing to the notice OF
assemble the next morning. The Senator from New
York MIR. Dickinson,l will remember that Mr.. Rit-
chic did address to him such communication, and re-
Quested him to lay its contents before the Senate but
that senator and steady friend OF Mr. Richie ac
ting according to the best lights before him. declined
submission of the letter to our consideration.
Thus Mr. Richie was left with unprecedented
quantity of work on his hands, Congress having vo-
ted no additional means to carry it on-nay. having
passed resolution that he should not be paid during
the recess for the publication OF the TAYLOR pamphlet,
ha hoIp IrIu
letter to the House of Representatives the printing of
it having been forced upon him under the exist ng
tract, that would have allowed him $780,
000 though he offers to abandon that whole claim
as we'll as TO reimburse you atleas $4,000 add ton on
another job OF the discription II you will but grant
him the relief contemplated by the resolution OF the
House OF Representatives Under these embarrassing
circumstances, Mr.. Richie could never have gone on
with the work during the period OF your late recess
had not friend whose munitcence and whose means
are both in every mans mouth come forward gratuous
y and supplied him with facilities for the execution of
his contract. Then Mr.. Richie determined to spare
no pains or expense which might be requisite to the
execution OF the task before him. so far it might be
December last. He filed his ' own rooms with
workmen. He made effort to enlist all the other OF
fees in Washington in hsservlce. They not able
to do much for him. He then sent agents to PhiIadel-
phia and New York 10 put out large quantities OF the
work there at prices far beyond his contract terms.
In q word, Mr. Richie endeavored to do his duty as
energetically he could He declared in his paper
that he should make it F'debt OF honor" upon Con-
gress You know best how you are now paying it.
But now sir the cannot be acted again
if you this day refuse him relief. You owe it to your
constituents, it you will not act tavoraby on this resolu-
tion to adopt other arrangement for the execution
OF public printing during the approaching recess
How, il you refuse him relief can you expect him
to carry the public printing Indebted tothe gener-
friend already referred to from $4,000 to $4,000,
besides the pressure of other heavy debts not included
in this sum, how he again have his lib
eral benefacor? With what face coud he ask him to
twelve months hence he might by possibility succeed in
obtaining that justice to-day denied 10 him am au-
thorzed say he has already exhausted his
and the means of his sons in your service. To whom
he apply for aid if turned adrift again this day
upon that Of uncertainty upon which he has so
long been floating will not believe that this enght-
ened body will refuse Justice mertorous, yet
30 prosecuted as the venerable parsonage whose be-
half have ventured this day to address you.