Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-07-25

'es vi cHcWoill Hhahiioou. laklnS curSory glance
over the papers uI The day, We fcund in the Virginia
Gazette, "Wednesday the lt Of February, 1857, the
| following:
married on Saturday night last, Mr.. Thomas
kchie Editor of the Enquirer, to Miss isabella Fuu.
Shec, daughter oiDr. VIM. FUuslee, all of this city"
! In this marriage, Mr.. Rtchie had every cause for
JOY and happiness. He was blessed with partner
t" par'ukc his bliss and his woe, possessing u the nc
compliShments and graccs of mind and person that he
could have desired, with whom, while hope was buoy
ant 'nd youth WAS guy, he cccriully and alc,onatc-
| ~ advanced through life, and TO whom, when the
sha'es of evening begun To of the close OF day.
he ns tendcrly and devotedly cung. In DIR. Foushee
Mr. Ei'che found father.in-law and friend worthy
of his highest esteem and rcvcrcncehe was cinphat
cn>y distinguished and popular physician, high
ly gifted and publicspiritcd citizen, and gentleman
| OF the old schoul.
From this marriage proceeded aargc und interesting
| family there being still living four daughters and
| three rs, of the i r.cr and two Of the latter
being Unmarried. To those children Mr.. Ritchlc
prEe q most exemplary father, dcvotins every
HpaN Iomcnt to their instruction, aiding them in
their st les aud directing them in the pursuit of
knowledge. 70 his daughters, who were really love-
ly, virtu"us and pu:c, he peculiarly tender and
nifcctionatc, and of them when speaking TO his
friends, his eyes would sparkle with pleasure, evin
cling satisfaction and pride. Surrounded by these
soci and domestic relations upon which friendship
delights to dwell, and from which such pure joy
springs Mr.. Ritche's hok made happy and Sc
rene. 1t was delightful ,c him, utter the toi, Of
the day, uubending in tllt%mily circle, and to medi-
tate upon his simple enjoyment; when in the country
| at the residence Of his daughter, We have seen him
on the carpet, or upon the green lawn under tile
trces, tossing and tumbling i'll the greatest glce with
his grand children, who were artlessy playing with
and around him. In his friendships he was urbane
cordial and polished With generous and liberal
hand he welcomed his friends To his ho-p.able abode
and with untiring bcncvolrncc ready to
sympu,hize with, and relieve the distressed.
Mr. Ritche not only personally brave, hut
I emincntly national in spirit. No matter whence the
difficulty came which involved the rights or ehonor
his country, he on the side Of has roamry--al-
ways and with his whole soul, nor could any man fail
| to perceive that he conscicntiou>y. From
1904 hs record is before us, md whether it refer 10
the bombnrdmcnt OF Tripoli, to the attack upon the
Chcsapcakc,' the Embargo, the aluir Of the 'Prcsi-
dent Orders in Council, or Berlin Milan De
crecs to the war with Great Britain with Algiors
| the Scmnoles, to the North Eastern boundary, or
Freuc or English spoliutons or to Naples or Mexico:
whenever the occasion arosc,-firm lc III his
principles of peace, he cxhoitcd his coun,rynen to
manly resistance, and encouraged them TO patriotic
effort.
The same spirit which animated hi. pen, stimulated
him in time OF need 10 draw his sword for his
try.
On the 22d of June, 1907, the Frgatc Chesapeake
of the Unitcd States Navy, trusting securely to a
state Of peace, and leaving her harborat Norfolk for
distant service surprised auI a.tat k"d by the
British ship Leopard of superior fnrr", "t squad
rom then in our waters ready to nil and supper; her.
With the firing Of single gun the Chesapeake struck
her colors having three men killed md thirteen
wounded, and the ship being utterly disabled This
enormity, without pr0vocaon, was committed with
the avowed purpose of taking by force. from ship
of war Of the United States, part of her crew,
claimed to be British subjects.
.-" = -- ;popre un. r,.-
ccivcd in Richmond Of this outrage. oHuaUI inc
ENQUIRER WIS immediately published, continuing the
letters which had been written from Norfolk, prciaced
by brief but eloquent editorial, recommending
public meeting to express the sentiments of the pc"-
pie, and to pledge themselves 10 any e1teh against
such aggressiois go
Accordingly, on the first of July, one of the largest
and most excited meetings ever held III Rchuion'i,
was convened at the Cnptol, and the most patrotic
and enthusiastic resolutions were adopted. Spencer
Rnane urcsided and Thomas Ritche was the ScCrcta-
ry In these resolutions the meeting cnod upon the
government of the United States TO avcnge this ui-
| paralleled outrage as becomes the nation, ana
pledged sther lives, their fortunes, aud their sncrcd
honor in support of all measures directed to that end,
halinc with firm and joyous hearts the auspcious
omen connected with this well remembered holy
AL. III, 81 ul,t,.u
Of infancy, it will be strange if cannot repeat in
the viCor of manhood"
On the night of the 5h, an express arrived from
Norfolk bringing dispatches To the Governor. Among
them letter from the Mayor, enclos'ng copy OF one
which he had received from the Commander of the
British Squadron in Hampton Roads, threatening To
blockade Norfolk if the inhabitants did not imncdi-
aelv annu the resolutions adopted by them III consc-
uuencc OF the attack upon the Chesapeake.
On the MORNING OF the 9th, the Governor and Coun-
cil convened, unanimously declared that the Com
monwenlth invaded, and ordered detachment to
| march immediately t" Norfolk
A few days previous to the attack on the Chesa-
peake Mr.. Richie hud been elected al Ensign of
Soluntcer company then III this city, called the Re-
publican Blues, commanded by Pcyton Rnndolph.-
His commission bearing date the 10Th OF June, lSOI
| In consequence Of the action Of the Executive on
the S,h of july the following proceedings were pub
li,hed by tho officers Of the Republican Blues:
"The Richmond Republican Blues have heard with
indignation Of the iagrant and cowardly attack late
Is made INC frifae Chesapeake, by l'rltIsh snip
Of superior force, supported by squadron Regard
ing this attack deliberate and authorized net pro-
ceedng from the British government, and believing
that no alterlJ yc is left but war or dshonorabe
submissions, ty fe. ii their duty both us citizens
and soldiers express their readiness to support the
government. in furnishing the aggression ald rcpell-
;nr any future atack ut a similar nature therefore,
"Resoved, unanimously, That the Richmond Rcpub-
lican Blues are prepared To march at moment
warning, whenever they may be ordered by the gov
.rnmcnt, for the purpose Of defending the state OF
Virginia, or any of the United States from the lnva-
| sion Of any foreign power
Resolved, unanimously, That these resolutions be
forwarded TO the President Of the United States and
| printed in some public newspaper III this city
r'''''~ PEYTOS RANDOLPH, Capt.
THOMAS RTCIIIE, Ensign.
NEAL NELSON, Sec'y.'
On the same day thut these resolutions appeared in
prnt this company together with the Light lnflntry
Blues, Capt. William Richardson, and the troop of
| cavalry Capt. Benjamin Sheppard, both Of which
companies had published similar proceedings, took up
their line of march for Norfolk.
The Enquirer of the same day contains the lpiio"-
| ing EDITORIAL go
aAs the Editor is attached to the corps of Repubi.
can Blues he confidently trusts that his friends Will
excuse him from the discharge OF his professional d-
ties until his return, meanwhile he has requested
| very intelligent friend 10 superntend his paper
During the march, aud throughout the whole time
EMPLOYED in the expedition, Mr.. Ritche waS arduous
| ly engaged, besides performing military duties, III
writing letters to his paper giving details Of the trans
pirng events aud breathing the utmost tcrvor for M
encounter with the enemy. We give an extract from
one of these, to show the energy and the spirit of the
man and the feelings that animated the people:
awe arrived nt Portsmouth OH "Wednesday the 18th
ins after most sultry and tutigung march; But
mn obstacles however great could cxtnGuish the ar
dor of our troops. They bore heat and thirst, fusue
and .leeplessness, with much fortitnde and perse;
verance us the veteran legons Of Bonnparic could
have DONE The flesh might have been sometimes
weak, but the spirit was always strong They were
volunteers in the service of tler country; and they
were determined that ulurmurs or repininSs should
tarush the cnlse in which they were engaged the