Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-07-24
The Richie Claim.

The Statesman, as might be expected; contains very
severe article in relation the Ritchc claim. The
resolution for the relief Of Mr. Rtche received the vote
of every member from the State, except Julian and
McGaughey and had the sanction of both the Senators.
more just claim for damages was never presented
to Congress. 1t thoroughly investigated by COM
mittee composed Of both wings and democrats, who
unanimously reported the joint resolution which passed
the House of Representatives but defeated in the
Senate for want Of time. Mr. Richie the origl-
nal contractors but the surety for Trenham Belt AT
great expense he prepared to execute the work Con-
sress more than 80 days engaged organizing the
House. During all this time his presses were standing
idle at cost of hundreds Of dollars day his workmen
who had to be paid. The printing which he
entitled to- and which Blair s Rives made than
one hundred thotsand dollars profit had been taken
from him by the Secretary of the Interior The balance
Of the printing such rhinous prices that it did
pay journeynan's wages. The EMBELLISHMENTS caused
by the execution of his Contract, compelled him sell
the Union Office and unless relief Is granted, he
will in his old age be stripped of every cent of his prop
erty, and the man whom Senator Benton ieelingly
and eloquenty described having been the champion
of democracy for fifty yearsthe friend and companion
Of Jefferson Madison and Monroe will die in poverty
and want. The resolution proposed to give him
half the price for printing fixed by the resolutions of
lS19-the prices paid to Gales & seaton; Allen Co.,
Blair Rves except the last Congress of which they
were elected printers which twenty per cent. less.
BY this allowance he would have been paid the
incurred-not cent of profit. For this resolution
many wings voted. Every democratic member from
Indiana voted for it, Every free soil abolition Senator
and Representative voted against it, Every free soil
paper denounced it, because they hated Rtcie and the
Union and DR. Ellis. the democratic ~ Auditor
of State, calls it Galphn" enable the wings
eecually it against Messrs Dunham, Robinson,
and Fitch, who supported it. By way Of excuse, how
ever; the editor says:
"We charge 70 man with dishonesty who voted for
the Rche claims, but doubt the of their
judgment 1t looks too much like an attempt to reward
the old gentleman for his agency getting up the silly
humbug about the dissolution Of the Union."
Mr.. Ritchie favored the compromise measures. 1t
was that and not the injustice of the clam which
ated the opposition. 1t violently and bitterly op-
posed by the South Carolina disunonists and by every
free soil member in Congress and every free soil paper
in the Union has continued to denounce the claim and
those who supported it,
"Sily humbug about the dissolution of the Union,
says the editor OF the " Statesman but snch national
statesmen Mr.. Cass, Mr.. Clay MIR. Dickinson, Mr..
Buchanan, Mr. Webster, Mr. Fillmore, Mr. Downs. Mr.
patriots, thought Mr.. Rtche did; but Seward and
Chase and Hale, and Julian, and Gddngs and Lloyd
Garrison and the whole abolition crew. thought differ
entity and did Dir. E. w. H. Ellis Auditor Of the
State Of Indiana.