North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-12
AnIouRNMENT oF coNGREss.


sketches the " laat hours of Congress" in connec-
ton with the defeat of Mr.. Rtchie's claim for relief
from his losses on the Public Printing
| IA few days since, business took to Washing
ton where remained to witness, for the first time.
the throes and agony of an expiring Congress. Inc
scenes full of exciting interest," out the enect
upon the observer painfully Notifying. Io us,
who had for so many years observed lae uIgnihed'
deliberate and orderly proceedings OF our state Legs-
lature the contrast presented at washington, while
source of pride to Virglnlan, was hunlilatng to
citizen of this great confederacy Justice, delib-
Grafton and q" Heavens hrst law, oider' seemed 10
have flown to the stars been tramped under foot.
Our 6rst glimpse of the expiring Congress was in
| the House on Friday morning. Inc measure under
consideration the report OF the printing commit
tee for the relief of the public printer from the hard
Sims IF a contract, the beneficial clauses of which
the Government itself had nuifed. The subject
had been so fully examined and discussed, and the
time for action short, that the previous question
was moved and sustained. At the factious op-
ponents of the measure, hlrried by blood hou nd
able device and parliamentary straagem for delay
such as calls of the House, motions to Law on the
table, calls of tine ayes and noes, teers on said
calls, &c. &c.
Ali these schemes, however, failed, and, after sew
eral hours of this noble warfare, the resolution was
passed. But even then, the hunt was not ADAM
doned-for Wentworth endeavored to make fght on
the title, and called the ayes and noes-but he was
occasion, it Notifying every admer Of South
Carolina gaantry, chivalry and magma nimity, to see
her representatives closely allied with the spitefu
malicious Evans of Maryland, and the unprlncipled
free-soilers Wentworth of1llinois, Crowe of Ohio,
Wilmot of Pennsylvania, and others of that lk. 1t
grated the of every Southerner and patriot
hear Mr. Burt of South Carolina, suggest to Sc my
friend from Illinois," (Wenworth, the reprobate,)
the of action to strike down the Editor of the
Union. With the exception of the members from
South Carolina and struggling disunionst here and
:here, the Southern members showed themselves to
be guided by high sense of justice and magnanmi-
ty. Though the measure finally tailed, it is
of pride to know that every member from Virginia.
in both Houses of Congress, whatever their party
afinities or conflicting views on the vexed question
of the day, on this occasion up unanimously
to the standard justice and right"
The Enquirer then goes to trace the result as to
this claim of Mr. Richie in the Senate:
s'The resolution, which, after so long a struggle,
sustained by The House, went 10 the Senate. On
the day. it read first time and would have
passed then, but for the objection of Turney of Ten
nessee, copperhead - disunonist, and whose vim
dicative malice Nature has plainly stamped on his
countenance. The River and Harbor bill consumed
nearly all the few remaining hours of Congress-but
even then, there sufficient time left for the Sen
ate TO pass the measure of simple justice to the Pub
lie Printer. Party and personal hostility, however,
could not allow such an opportunity for revenge to
pass unimproved. Turney had gone, but Seward
there and called the ayes and noes-and the trio,
Pearce of Maryland, Ewing of Ohio and Hann of
Maine put their heads together and avowed their de-
TO defeat the mesue, by speaking till the
hour Of IL, the termination OF the session. Under
these circumstances, Senator Foote very properly
withdrew the resolution. The crying injustice and
outrage Of this proceeding stand forth glaringy
when ii is borne in mind that after the defeat of this
measure, the lighthouse BILL approprating thousands
for the whole coast, passed Without being read
and yet, a claim which both Houses had sanctinned,
and which had been sfted in every way must be dis
cussed to death! Another element of injustice. is
the fact that allowance of IS per cent under the
prices of 1919, made to Gideon g. Co., without
opposition; while, under exactly similar circumstan-
the facous opponents of the claim of the public
printer for SO per cent less than those prices, was
spoken to DEATH Is it not blot on the American
character, that the u s. Senate, which have been
Taught to regard the most digni6ed body earth
should contain such Senators we have described
blinded by party prejudice, and insensible to every
motive of justice and magnanimity "
We very readily imagine the sense of wrong
under which the Editor of the Enquirer speaks on
this subject. Mr.. Richie has no doubt lost largely
by his for the Public Prnng and it is the
duty of Congress, without respect to personal or par
~ feeling, to make good his losses and pay him, in
addition, fair prices for his labor. great Republic
like this ought to be above any course of action cal
culated or designed to ure any one, especially a
venerable man, like Mr.. Richie, who has devoted
The flower of his days to his country's cause. We
have differed with Mr.. Richie, during the past twelve
months, on the Slavery question; but that would
nrnish no reason why should refuse to pay him
for his honest labor The country will see him right
I'd. We can have doubt that the next Congress
will do him full justice.
1t is no business of ours but it strikes that the
better policy for him would have been have kept
himself aoof from the Public Printing, and 70 have
elied upon his ordinary patronage for support and
or competency. We see it stated, by Mr.. Senator
Foote that he has already exhausted his own means
ind that of his sons AMI borrowed thirty thousand dol
in addition, to enable him to go forward with the
work and complete his contract! This is absolutely
hese circumstances, any member could rise in his
,lace in the Senate and speak his claim for relief
: to death. -
The Enquirer maniests decided affection for Sen
ator Foote, while it denounces Mr.. Senator Turney
Is copperhead disunonist. - Both of them are
Democrats. The Union has pursued similar course
n regard to these gentlemen, though we believe 1t
not, at any time, employed as strong language to-
wards Mr.. Turney as the Enquirer does. Now, we
great admirer ourselves, either of Mr.. Turney
,r of the manner in which he was elected to the SEN
tie; but wei have doubt he is just sincere a
rend to the Union Mr.. Foo is, and feel con-
ident his the Slavery question is better cal
,uated than that of Mr. Foote preserve the Union,
md transmit it unimpared to posterity. The En-
1uirer will effect but little good either for the cause
If the Union for its party, by such 6enunciatons;
1ut as we stated in the outset the Editor writes un-