The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-13
THOMAS RICHIE.

We have been reading with sort of melancholy salts
faction the succession Of tributes paid by the newspapers
Of the day to this gallant leader Of the democratic press
wha at the ripe age of seyentysx years has just been
gathered to bis fathers in the metropolis of that Union
which he had 80 long and eloaneHty defended. This
universal acclaim of sentiment is evidently the unsudied
and spontaneous expression of sincere and feel
ing and alone from those who have been CO.
temporaneous with Mr. Rtche but from those who are in
spred by the example he has left postert and who
follow his teachings His former political oppoans have
contributed hr fill share Of deserved honors Ls
oily. The long and eventGll career of Mr.. Rithe-the
great age which he survived preserving his cul-
ties to the lasthe perfect herosm with which lie anci-
pated and received his final summons-depriye his depar-
ture from the upon which he had long been con-
spcuous character Of the gloom and the grief that would
have been awakened had he fallen in earlier manhood,
while he regarded the future fair field for worldly
ambition Not that such death is not always to be re-
gretedit would be unnatural if it were otherwisebut
that it is of the highest attributes as it is one of
the chiest blessings of intellectual superiority when
arae from his friends with the assured consciousness that
waRE and that he leaves behind him repu-
tation which his country must always contemplate with
died in London there vast amount Of prepared and
elaborated grief The obseques to his memory on
scale of almost gigantic grandeur and the rites regal
in their sombre and expensive Splendor These the
regal honors soldiers services They were however
cherries and formal compared to the unprompcd tributes
that paid to Thomas Richie free press cock
tensve with hemisphere, representing wenty-six mil
lions Of people, radiang from every point of the compass
pours down upon his tomb that sincere and unstinted
eoquence which speaks the honest feelings of the heart
Wellington the seryaa Of the Crown. He welded the
baton of Great Britain in more than desperate
paign lie fought to assert and seal the divine right of
kings. He too cold to for the great people,
but paid his court for more than half century to
hollow bauble which, in all practical virtue,
unworthy of homage the painted images which to this
day and secure the heathens devotion. Thomas
Richie was the soldier Of written constitution He was
the sentinel of the Union He fought net for the applause
of courts but for the rights of the people Weipgtons
will be written upon enduring brass and stately col
umns but Rches fame will survive long the creed
of on undauntcd democracy the confidence and
the gratitude of free country.
Mr. Richie at time the most powerful public
writer in America and to his last hour he preserved his
influence his political friends Apart from his skill
and his tact editor his indomabe spirit his rare
qualities for unceasng and constant toll his amazing
teectua resources his wide circle of acquaintance and
his great experience the secret of his his
rHuslAsM. lie sincere lie upright He loved his
party. He had mbbed democratic principles from the
democratic fathers He upon the stage Just many
of the republican stars of the last century fading
away but he knew Jefferson and Macon and their
peers and his soul filled with the spirit of their
full and vrtuous examples. He greatly upon al men
by the spontaneous ervor of his nature by the singular
simplicity of his character by his almost religious regard
for democratic principles and by bis zeal and sagacy in
anticipating and in meeting great issues His opponents
could not resist who beleped fully the right anc
his cause and his friends loved him because they knew
he ready yield all for them 1t is not going too fa
to say that Mr. Richie did much to the doe
trnes of Sate-rghts any who lived in his day HI
made the Richmond Enquirer repository thoughts
of the best men this subject The highest ncllecs
only Virginia and of the South but of all the country die
not hesitate to contribute his columns than one