Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-07-18

From the New Orleans ~rir"yum-
THOMAS RlTCIllE.-The telegraph announces
Tic death. Oh Monday, 1T Washington lIiy, "t iHe
veteran Thomas RitcIic nj virginia, =" long Ia" U.s.
,iu.uiehrd editor al the Richmond Enquirer ana SUI
.cuu-nrlv ni The Washington mon.
Mr. Kltchic has hai II luny, laborlois, conspicuous,
hut. not, we believe, All cvcltiu! career. InhlI"t'cu
ior ncnr half II century with nearly all the puDU" men
ni the country. and having taken nn iIi!iGtnl'a! PaFt
in MI th, bubble Questions at that time, he has been
sinuIv nm editor. Neither seeking or accepting any
office or public employment, although, tor u greater
part nf that time, he had only 10 ask III ORDER L" re-
ccive stations oi honor. In very early NE ne entered
upon lie editorial profession, and h" adhered 10 "
with Intense devotion and unila.ginS industry. IN
der Iii, charge, the Richmond Enquirer became NJ
most n hover in the STATE. Nir.iiila, III HIS Youth
and priino. was the home OF II" greatest Statesmen oi
the Union. and gave tone and direction Ia uc p"i!i''N
and the policy oi the whole country Living ~
terms of familiar Intercourse with i!l"=r men anu
SHARING tlr.ir full confidence. often a!t:cii ~ 'll'r "''
rect contributions. Il" mui" i> paper iii"iF ;FH>!""
organ. rejecting their sentiments. aud pr"LA"'-H''iS
unl defending their doctrines ana P"I!':' '""' ~
he received a. an authority on constitutional am i''-
;i;rul questions: and cnirvcd, throughout iir"""l;Itr!E'
aml especially in Virginia. and III the south S''"!hi-
Is. y v,i,ht of influence which few can appreciate
now. when new spapc.s i.n.G L,c"i 80 iiu!'i'Hc"' III"
in their multiplication. and their cliahs'd r:,'i';'!I''
and The change uf times, have so cirtuiii-cT!oel me
possible range of influence which any ainTI" paper
| can monupolizc over the public mimi.
AZ on, TIM" tie National Iutclig"n"er an! the
Richmond EnquIrrr nrih without 'tN"H u! ~"
powcr over the opinions Gai action al al! iIl'Hr'.-,
number of the most intellectual ahd bet "'l.ca'r!
m.n-.lcmsrlvrs the confessed lenders at puhilc III
fair- ir their several sections. This position satisfied
the ]un.i,iiiqr Of Dir. kitclic. IL cnHc Inn employ
| mcut ,Gupicl To Lilo tii-tG., A:.I . 'ulLhlril>llritc
weight IN the public cuIusrls oI tl,ose wl"sc csp"neni
he wn-. Ii brought him into immediate ana familiar
intercourse viii! the most brilliant minds Of Virginia
u society rs refined a. any {" be found within the
- al NJ prtnht. ltth,l.lI IT ua
in ls manners, his address and his habits, To the last,
II fine specimen OF the old school gcntlcinnn, ana
even amidst the must severe conflicts "t party, III
which he came in his latter dnyr To b" invuly"i' ic
| preserved the high courtesy ut mamie! winch Drht
the character. With thee GG; an'n"ry u! nHsltion AMI
his discreet management, indt!a.;sniic lr!iiat.. and
ready tact. aui Il certain agreeable Nuoncy OF style,
the Ricinm' nd Enquirer was the acknowledges F",r.-
sentative Of Virginia, when Virginia WIS Tie leading
State in the Union.
Mr.. Ri,chie's transfer to Washington City, n the
editor Of the official organ. under the administration
III Mr.. Polk, did rot increase his professional repu-
,nrirm. il michi have re-. c,tlbliaiic.. Ea ''ri''i's,
which had been 5ad!y IMPAIRED " inattri.tioa 10 ms
private affairs. aud ovcr-c"uiiirlirc in others. Bu,
iluriug the latter portion OF his service the same want
Of clnsr business habits led him into improrident con
rrart.. which took him Il petitioner Ia Congress Tor
relief. IL!- zeal: 81 that application we do not recall
exactly, We hope, ho,rYtri tint i has ;,!"ii "E To
provide for Iii, drclinin. years III" "gvt, wl.icli Il life
w i'i- fN''' N'"
lGCritcI.
His aye must have been about seventy tvr-a year
or two more or less. The estimate Of his extreme old
noe, which was common q good many years ago,
when he was still II hall" and hearty man, arose from
tl,. fnrt ui his long prominence before the pubic III
an editor aud in conncyipn with public at!nirr, but he
commenced that career very early. He was hardly
OF, Of lis teens, when his conneXIOu with the ErliI-
r.r commenced, and j.. hn- been tnli;c'! OF ever sincc,
until bis retirement two ~ tire. ;rhfs tGH,
Suitable tributes 10 his memory Will nf coarse b'
paid by his old associates and contemporaries .; III"
press, and their succc-surs, amous whom he has been
iuns rcyrrrnccdl as the survivor aud almost the sole
survivor oftlle editorial corps of,hc early years Of the
century. Mr.. Gales, Of the Natlonnl lntcllgciiccr.
remains, we believe, the last veteran oi the corps, and
lnav he long survive to receive the proofs oi tie cs-
,ccln in which his cuuntrym-n hold hun. They will,
we are s,lrr forget all the little differences oi opinion
and conflict Of parti2auslIip. and record u feeling
tribute oi respect 10 tlie memory Of the veteran
Richie.
From toe Montgomery, Alabama, Advcr;Is"!
DEATH OF THOMAS RlTCiilE, ESQ.-Wc
have copied elsewhere o notice Of the serious il!ncss"f
this ycEurnb.c and much respected gentleman, aud
nov, bv later news, We l!2.c tho lDnulEccnIcnt of
his denth. lie died in Washington City oil Monday
Inst, nj noon. No man since the foundation ~ uU:
Government la- exercised greater weight III Ahapin.
and controlling the public sentiment "i the country
tinn Mr.. Ritcllic. Contemporary of all the great
men of virrinia since Washington, enjoying their
confidence and support, he welded power ~ an c!i-
tor that was not surpassed by that exercised by the
trent men of the country who sought distinction and
influence through other channels. In publishing his
death, VIC may well sny another great man has fallen.
pEI'DJ I-TTON N Eicrrn.