Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1851-03-01

tended ITS slttIngs more punctually
than most Of my associates, for the
reason that ] had no other duty TO
perform, the standing committees of
which / was a member never havinr
been called together during a session
of ten months. My synlpathies and
feelings were enlisted for Mr.. Ritchie
when the investigation commenced.
| cherished the hope most ardently
that he would go through with it and
sustain himself, thereby enabling bis
party friends to sustain him especial
ly when learned that he considered
the Investigation an imputation upon
him. But, sir, as that investigation
progressed, saw, with regret, one
plank after another removed, by the
testimony Of credible witnesses, until
there was not splinter or spar left
upon which he or his friends could
safely stand Fidelity to the country
and my own conscience demanded
that should disclose the corruption
which the evidence proved to exist,
especially as his particular friends
upon this floor denied the committee
the privilege of bringing itbefore the
House previous to action upon his
claim. Somuch, then, MIR. Speaker,
for my hostility TO Mr.. Ritchie.
Instead of dealing harshly with
MIR. RItchle at the last session, l will
demonstrate NIL the material facts
then stated, together with others,
which convince the House that my
feelings then were tempered much
more with mercy to him, than Justice
TO the country. He has found time
TO prepare a pamphlet of seventy-six
pages, which each member has re-
ceived, but has had no time, or per-
haps less inclination, to furnish the
House with summary of the work
actually executed, with the cost of
labor and materials. If he had de-
voted himself to making an exposi-
tion of his losses, specifically, he
would have understood much better
their extent. and this House could
have acted with much more iudg-
ment in voting him relief, for then
members could have known what
his losses were, and how much he
was entitled TO receive to make him
whole. Is there a member on this
floor who has data which will Justify
him in fixing the amount at $1,000
or $50,0003 The special committee
have more knowledge on the subject
than any other single member, and l
am very sure that some ofthat com
mlttee do, not estimate his losses very
heavy. If he retains the mconscion-
able charge of $l2,500 for printing
ten thousand copies of the opinions Of
the judges, pamphlet ofone hun
dred and eighty pages; is tolerated in
charging for double composition Of
the same document, ordered at the
same time by the Senate and House;
if no deduction is made by Congress
for inferior paper used in violation of
the letter of his contract, whereby he
saves 800 600; and he realizes a net
profit of $4,000 on binding the extra
documents, as he surely wiIl,-then /
have no hesitation in giving it as nv
opinion; that he will lose nothing, If
his business has been conducted with
ordinary prudence. If Mr.. Richie
had falhtlsSa. his contract il strict con
formity toits specifications, and made
no charges other than those author
lzed by it, his loss would have been.
about $4,000. By departing from
the contract in so many essential par
tlcutars he saves $40, 1000, and secures
hinselffron general loss on the work.
i gave an iiss,Hation 60 this effect at
the last session; and the fact of Mr..
Rachie's declining or neglecting 10
state his accounts, and show his los
ses item by item, (and he is The only
person who could make such an ex-
hibit, no other having access to his
books and accounts,J confirms ME i'm
the impression that his losses are fri.
fling, If atiy;;IIfi5IsE, and that he will be
much more likely TO succeed In oas-
sing hIs relief bill BY relying upon a
general declaration Of losses, where
by he can excite the tender comnas-
si5ii OF tire liberal and nHagna8ifnous,
rather than te resort &c si3st an!iasia-
ted and cruel mode Of obtaining re
lief, by making fair exhibir of actual
losses, and then let the measure of
rellef equal the loss 1t seems now,
that the Government contractor evin
cesthel utmost verdancy iii merely
demanding a restitution os his losses
by a hard contract; the progress of
the age writes hin1 Clowna fool if he
fails 10 make q fortune out Of lol
sing Bargain with the Government.
For one of these contractors, after
full knowledge Chat the work was