Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-08-09
The late Thomas Richie.

The Richmond Enquirer Of q recent date contains
Memoir of Thomas Ritchie, prepared at the in
stance of that paper, "by gentleman who, from
long and intimate association with Mr. Richie, is
peculiarly competent to the task of pourtraying the
character and career of that distinguished man."
We have read this Memoir with interest 1t occu-
pies nine columns of the Enquirer and full justice is
done to the illnstrious deceased. There are many
persons who would be gratifed to have it in PAM
phlet form, to be bound up and preserved, and
handed down to other times.
The Memoir concludes as follow:
''Thus died the whte-haired Nestor of the Amer
ican press thus departed the husband father friend
and Though the voice of sadness will be heard yet
its paintive sounds will be mingled with strains Of
consolation for he that hath passed away died in the
fulness of years. cheered by the clustering memories
of long, eventful and well spent life, and by the
hopes of joyful existence beyond the grave"
suitable epitaph for his tomb would be that which,
on the 25th of June, 1850, he said would be appl-
cable to himself:
"Here lies man who never turned his back upon
his country, who always devoted to his friends
and never dreaded his enemies"
We conclude this sketch from the last clause
from his will, exhibiting still even, when preparing
for his encounter with the stern destroyer that his
thoughts were upon his country, her glory and
welfare
81 cannot repeat the advice, which the illusrious
and patriotic George Mason has inscribed upon his
WILL He enjons upon his sons not to dedicate their
lives to the public service. On the contrary, hold
it to be the duty of every citizen to watch the
interests of country of which he is members and
such free and glorious country as thisis Who is
not proud of her destiny? Who is not willing to
give his services and his life for the mainte-
nance of the great principles which her free and
federal institutions are based? America has made
one of the greatest political discoveries which the
world has ever witnessed; form of organization
which reserves to the States and their people the
power of regulating most of the functions which ap-
pertain to governments, leaving but very few pow
ers, and they only ofthe most general and yet i'm
portant character to the jurisdiction of the federal
authorities. Hence the specification which is made
in the constitution of those powers which the United
States to exercise in their legitimate sphere; and
hence the necessity of watching the operations
of their machinery and repressing its excesses when
it threatens the rights of the States We already
the greatest power among the nations Weare des-
tined to be greater still but let not be too anbi
tous of inordinate acquisitions, too rapid in
advances. Let fill up the immense territory
which own. Let US not be too anxious to step
our foot from the main land to the islands, unless
indeed, as in the Case of Cuba, threatened by
the barbalization of that beautiful neighborhood.-
Let us not deny to the inhabitants of other lands
free asylum into our own shores; but let contine
ourselves to the operation of natural causes In this
way may best acclinate the emigrant to our free
institutions Preserve both the rights of the States
and the union Of the States These the two great
pillars of American prosperity and glory"