The republic., 1851-02-17

last t~elvemonih as in some measure redeem
int the faults of his past life, and 70 look with
commiser1tion upon the circumstances ID which,
by most unaccoantable folly and fatiity; he
has suffered himself to be placed. While he
has done un0re than any other man In the coun
try In his day--excepting, perhaps, Mr.. DuEs
GREEN in his editorial career-to engender the
internal spirit of sectional discord and animosty,
we believe that during the last year or two he
has become sincerely alarmed at the conse-
quences of his own wickedness, and has been
disposed to render what amends he might to his
injured country.
For this reason, and this reason alone, we
have been rather disposed to hope that Con
gress would do something for his relief, be-
cause Congress has been in the habit of doing
such things, and because We cannot well see
why Congress which voted good many
thousand dollars 10 relieve Mr.. JOHN G. RIvEs
should be remarkably squeamish about doing
as much for Mr.. RIrcHIE. We do not know
but that the libeller and reviler of General
TAYLoa has just as strong claim upon WING
charity as the man who suffered General
HARRIsoN to be denounced in his columns as
the Certificate hero" the petticoat hero"
and Ms "Granny HARRISON" As far as that
goes, the lampoons and invectives that at one
time filled the Union against General TAY-
LoR were merely reproductions in temper
and spirit of the old articles Of the Globe.
which, in its less ''neutrap' days, was one
of the most profigate and unprincipled
journals that ever engaged in party warfare.
1t was able, we admit-but it was unscrupu-
lous, savage and desperate to the last degree;
without touch Of charity or reverence or be-
nevolence to mitigate its relentless and atrocious
spirit. How WING then could vote argesses
to help Mr.. RIvEs, and from any political mo-
tive withhold them from Mr.. RIrcHIE, we
cannot imagine.
But, for all this, we are not disposed to see
this matter placed upon any other than the
right grounds. 1t is nonsense to whimper about
sssheer justice"-and "common justice''-and
all that, in relation to Mr.. RrrcHIE's contract
He bid for the public printingat rates which he
must have known to be ruinous, or without
knowing any thing about them. In either case a
knowing appeal to sheer "justice" would
leave him to stand, as all other contractors do,
upon his contract. If he has lost by contingent
cies, other contractors lose in the same way.
If he has lost by the failure Of Congress to keep
its engagements, let him indicate the specific
injuries, and claim specific compensation. That
will be sheer justice and common justice. AS
for the s' honor and liberality" of the nation
being involved in this matter, it is the merest
stuff in the world. When Mr.. Polk vetoed the
French Spolation bill, we do not remember
that Mr.. RIrcHIE had word to say about the
/" honor and liberalty" ofthe nation.
This appeal on the part of Mr.. RIrcHIE is
simply to the magnanimity and generosity of
the WHIGs, to save him from being ruined by
a bad bargain, which he most improvidently and
unwisely made. That is the whole of it. The
Abolitionists and Fire-eaters in the Democratic
party have combined against him, and are will
ing to see him impoverished. The reasons
which have rendered him odious to these two
factions have very much assuaged our own po-
litical feelings in regard to him, and we are in
clined to see him benefit by the christian char
ity which wo are taught to extend towards all
repentant sinners.