Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-20
From the Washington Union, June III 4


l oi le various employees Of the office, Mr. McNerhany
was h organ OF sentiments which worthy Of his noble
profession and Mr. Richie responded them with felicity
ana i"Tcs showing that although he has richly deserved le
tile OF rstsrdn in his editorial SERVICE he has yet
nhnd all The nerve and feeling and skill which have enabled
'h on so many fields OF controversy 10 carry the triumph
ant !aa nl the democratic party
We tender thanks both the speakers on this occasion
of 'e generous terms with which they pleased 10
c"HnZc US as the successors upon whom had uen The
sohsiblity oi conducting the Union ncwsp ,pe In
Tor the confidence given beforehand uur humble Abilities
we couI Out express the qualification il would afford us if
we cou resee at The close OF our abors u verdict from
the Jury Of the vicinage half favorable as thu, which
had been accorded I" Mr.. Rtchc.
There were this OCCASION beside the donors of
the pitcher Tie President of the United States Mr. Crten-
Gen the Attorney Generals and other dstng persons
VINO ala justice TO the refreshments which had ibsruy
provided.
That our readers may preserve record the scene which
gave all who Witnessed it much pleasure we transfer 10
our columns the entire speeches delivered the
COMPLIMENT TO MR. RITCHIE.
Mr.. .Hc.NerhaRy's Presentation address,
Respected Sir have been depu,ed by the gentlemen en-
gagged in the several departments of the Union office TO pre-
sent to you this pchcr as slight testimony Of their una
fected regard and esteem.
In dischargng This pleasing duty may be permitted
indulge in few reflections suggested by this ncrted offer
ing your exalted worth, and which, trust may be
deemed wholly inappropriate TO the present occasion.
After service OF neay half century in the editorial
chair you have retired full of years and hunors quiet
and serenity of private life You about the
bosoul vi that glorious old Common wealth which e you
hr' and around which your dearest and warest affections
CLUSTER Oh while there seated beneath your vine and
hg-lree how brilliant and beautiful and cunsDng will be
life retrospect you! You look back upon the pusi
did other ilustrious Of Virginia. from the sacred
shades OF retirement and feel the proud consciousness,
too have in aduOus and noble vocation served
country faithfully; that you too, have gnany stood
by The uSloS, and bated for il with the pen the most
distinguished Of warriors did with the sword and that
you too have the paudits and eurned for
bright place in the memories of your grateful countrymen
Yes the past to you sir is full of pleasing and glorious
ecolectiuns In your native State brilliant galaxy of
shonc around you In the full blaze their great
you walked and enlightened Madison and Jrer-
son, and the other great whose tile world will
IL die yomr gifted friends and associates With
Them you comnuncd by word mUuh-from them you learn.
ed the great principles of repubicansm, unchangeablc and
mpershahe trnh itself They appreciated your nteec
ua and moral and political worth; and certainly of the
highest compliments which any could win that
which Thomas Jefferson paid 10 you when speaking Of your
admirable Preface the work of the distinguished John Tay
u of Caroline he said in letter addressed you, and pub
lished in the fourth volume Of "Jetierson's Works."
"Sound luminous. strong-nota word too much,
which be changed but for the That pen should
lay bare these wounds Of constitution and arouse
as il is able, The attention Of the nation"
Such compliment emanating from the head that con-
ceived and The hand traced the immortal Declaration of
Independence by the illustrious founder OF the
publican scnool-would never have been Offered
emnrntly worthy Of it, And permit me. humble as
feel myself that you have proved by your subsequent
distinguished and militant the wisdom and slaacly Of
Jefferson in advising yun to Ego on You have gone
and now the close Of long and eventu you
your cherished houc with brow encrclcd by vicu
wrtais-tc OF the American Press and the
champion of the American Union. Yes when darkness
covered the land, yelling as il werc The beauty ani bian-
cy Of glorious constellation and the ship Of State rock
ng amid the of analicism in danger of being
WRECKED yuu sir, as the gallant pilot at the helm of the
Union launched her forth camer seas and guided her
with steady hand the haven OF safely and reppse And
will here is the sentiment OF the great
Of the American pe"pe-hat 10 the influence Of the
paper which you aoy conducted land which, may be
rdoncd saying III his presence is edited oy gen
tlcman whom ynur mantle has appropriately alen)
mch If not more than TO any other single il TO bo
attributed he preservation Of this glorious Union.
Bat however inviting, will datc upon this theme
have only touched upon it because Standing before
sir my mind naturally turned 10 that USnN which you hav.
ably, eloqneny, fearessly defended under ban
ner bearing patriotic words-"Comp
ton: The Union ofe States and the Rights Of the SaeS
Ii il true sir that a compliment is valuable wher
recipient is best known persuaded tnat you will es
this little token of our regard the m"e highly becaus
comes from those who for the past six years have had dal
opportunities of forming true estimate OF your personal
character And tits in this aspect that the printer may indeed
call yom friend However high and honorobe your position
editor and however just and Herlted the
c0nus which the American press with few miserable ex
ceptiuns bestowed you on the occasion OF your retire
mrnI yet as MASas an employer-hat you nave es
pecy commended yourself TO the profound esteem and We
neraou of all associated with you. um sure but feeo
express the sentiment OF every man who was ever employed
BY you when say thar justice magnanmity and true ap-
precion of the rights and interests OF the working man,
marked your whue conduct in the printing Office As one
Of thousand evidences Of tbs, may remark, that when
the Typographical Society increased the rates Of wages you
sir were very FIRST express ready ncquescence IN hr
by contract in the execution OF which you were
faithful you werc in your engagements to your employ
ecs And will here confidently venture the assertion that
il your appeal for reieyour appeal not to The magnanil-
~ but 10 lhr Justice of the national egsature-~ere 10 De
upon by Congress Of Printers yon would speedily
receive that for your labor to when you are 50
nsy entitled for printers keep before their eyes The
Divine Injunction" The iaborcr is eorthy 81 ms hrc
In contemplating the beautiful piece OF Workmanship when
have the honor present you and which so creditahe
10 the skill and Of the respectable firm by whom was
will observe that it bears on one OF its
n Ir motto "Sic Semper Tyrannis" With that motto
her glorious 'front.' Virginia has advanced In her
career Of power and greatness peerless among her sister
states the mother of heroes and statesmen Among her
distinguished sons you sir not the least conspicuous
and wise counscs as the editor o the leading jour
n Of lh: State does she owe much oil hcr ProsPcy anu
Glory and rennwn. Yes the Richmond Enquirer mas edu-
Gated many Of the best statesmen oil the and, ana VIII
through all time be enduring monument o your
ability and patriotism Virginia, with outss,Gnea M arms,
will wccue you back TO her honored SOIL and her sons OF
br prcsent generation will greet you as the esteemed friend
and associate OF their most ilusrous statesmen virginia.
to the unon will never desert champion OF lhe
Union ,.I;
ing press surrounded by flood of light and bearing the in
scr,plion, "rhe Peoples Friend-The Tyranrs Foe"
Yes the press is here approximately obed in rays OF light
r dlssenor Of light and intelligence Before It's
srous power darkness and ignorance flee as the shadows
night before the eulgence Of tile rising sum- II IS ule
Archinediau that the world II is the handalo
uf Science and Art and Literature Iii the palladium OF our
beres-the buIwark of institutions. 1t s emphatca
press honest free and unfeered the thrones OF yran!s
will crumbe and toer and fall for the enlightenment sucn
press duses is all the oppressed need 10 arouse them
n resistance tyranny The press is the great power mat
npels the spirit of progress-Ihat spirit which mas secured
for us an oceanbound republc which has made tie WIZ
dernrss blossom the which has dotted the ano WIN
churches and with which has reared up c
and towns and villages if by mngic which has spread
network of railroads wide spread domain when
has linked distant points together with magnetic ~fes
mnnca,ing thought with the mpdity OF ilghtnne "hch
has crowned with power and dignity and elofy as m
ton, and given passport 10 the respect ana auaoh
of the world The press in your hands, sir was suCh On en-
CINE of power. The people Of this confsdelacy rom e
great lakes the North TO the great gull on INC oo'a
from the Atlantic seabnard the base OF Inc ocAy
tains-aye the Pacific itself -acxno"eoss e
In conclusion sir permit to solicit your o
this lenento of regard. Though the git oe huo!e @
ar sure will be- the less treasured oy you On t ac
count Perchance when you gaze upon 1t IN me qne' Oh re-
trement it may awaken pleasing recoiecohi Wine
.sFond Memory brings the light
or other days around you
And with this grateful offering, sir bear WIN you 10 your
beloved home the prayer OF each ana all OF US
surrounded by those vino dearest TO you contenheh
and happiness may be yours and that the eves u y
e uniimncd by passing cloud OF ao'eFs"!' may
pass serenely and pleasantly away
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