Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-09-06

W The following extract from letter published
in the New York Herald by COL John P. Heiss, now
of New Orleans, contains facts in the career Of Mr.
Richie which illustrate his unselfishness and patri-
otism, and at the same time show the unkindness
with which he was treated by "a set of unprincped
demagogues" even in his old age. Mr.. Ritchie's
reer was conspicuous and brilliant one; but it
was the result of unceasing watchfulness and toll
and was chequered, here and there by the opposi-
ton and by the injuries attempted to be heaped up
on him by many of the very men whom he had
his pen In his case, it may emphatically be said,
"the pen was mightier than the sword" yet his la
bors and the exertons of his great powers contribu
ted to the exataton of Others leaving to him only the
consciousness of having endeavored to serve his
country with fidelity and honesty to the last This
consciousness, we doubt not, cheered him he en-
tered the clark valley; and coupled with sincere
Christian faith went with him to the portals Of alof
tier and purer realm.
The business of politics and the pursuit of polti-
cal honors are calculated, perhaps, more than any
thing else to produce codness of disposition, selfish
ness, and disregard ofpersonal friendships. The as
prant sees the prize gitterng before him in the dis
tance, and, like the boy, eager in the pursuit of
flower or a butterfly, he dashes onward over every
thing in the hope of reaching Or when the prize is
played for the game progresses step by step alb
serbs every faculty until the spell is broken and then,
in many instances comes the iron which enters the
SOUL and to but few the laures ola worthy triumph
Happy, therefore, is that man who performs his du
ties in the arena of politics with an eye single to his
country's good and without reference to his own ad
vancement or aggrandizement; and fortunate may
any people esteem themselves who can point to and
claim such man as their servant and friend. The
people!-aye, the people!-the universally invoked,
and complimented, and flattered, but too often for
gotten peoplel
"Mr. Ritchies connection with Mr.. Folks admins
tration most pleasant to him in every respect but
subsequently, doubt if a residence in Washington
brought him many happy days His contract to do
the public public, which some of his friends advised
him to engage in, proved Improbable, and he had to
combat with set of unprincpled demagogues, whom
had been elevated to prominent positions by preten
ding to advocate the doctrine which he Cr. R) had
made popular with the people. The very men who
he had been instrumental in elevating to power,
joined his political enemies to crush him. They
strued the meaning of profitable contract to make
it tunprotabe notwithstanding the best legal talent
in the country had given it their favorable opinion
keep Mr. Richie from his just rights, and they did
it. His subsequent difficulties were embarrassing,
and made more so by the acts of some men who
we're recognized as his political friends Shame rest
upon their heads for striving to njure man who had
done more for his country and the democratic party
than any other member of that party living, and
whose name will live thousand years after theirs
are forgotten.
These latter difficulties would not have occurred
with Mr. Richie, if it had been his good fortune to
have had some knowledge of business. With his
long connection with the press, he probably knew as
little about the details of printing Office boy of
ten years ofage, and about financial matters he was
equally ignorant. There was one thing in Mr.. Ritch-
les character that untitled him for the locality of
Washington-he was decidedly an honest man. He
had been raised among statesmen and gentlemen !;
therefore not educated for the society of dema-
gogues and political tricksters, who make politics
trade-offce and the fowings of the Treasury their
traffic. Such men often imposed upon him; they
came to him in the garb of gentlemen, WITH perhaps,
an NJ c. U. S. S. attached to their names, received
his confidence, and abused it. He was never up to
all of their tricks; he lost the support of some be-
cause he would not manufacture q very great man
out of insignificant material and of others on ac-
count of his not aiding them in getting somebody
put out of Office so that themselves or some other
idler could get in He always had horror for this
Office seeking and to his honor be it said, that du-
ring the whole of Mr.. Folks administration he did
not raise mis- voice to have person removed !;
and if he spoke in favor of any person it to fill
place already vacated. Let what may be said of
him by his enemies his friends will bless his
memory. nobler soul never filled the breast OF
man, and words cannot do justice to his memory"
Personally, we have no. acquaintance with Mr..