Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-07-18
A MONUMENT TO THOMAS EiTCiiIE.

1t has been suggested, and we conceive with grent
appropriateness, thut the Democracy "i virginia
should erect n monument Ia the memory 81 Mr.
iIr,nIF. In the sentiment which originated til" sl,g-
@cs;IniI. we most heartily concur. We cree: moiin.
ments Ia men, 10 commemorate great qualities ana
great achievements; We build c%cnutaphs to Gcts ana
thoughts. II Is not only the natural expression al
reverence for worth. but the recognition of the uni
versatility of the desire for fame, and in both aspects is
4 feeling 70 he cherished. He vino places q stone
over the grave of another, whether III honor OF grand
achievements, or. like the children Of Israel, Ia com.
mcln"ra;c some signal Judgment I'll Onnipotcncc on
wrniII. builds Il monument Ia his own llcnrt nnd
places III cndnrln. stone the expression uf hi, feeling.
Nay, more, il Is II tribute Ia that high incentive Ia no.
hlc deeds, 10 that tribunal Ia which disappointed
greatness OF soul has ~ ottcm appealed with the sccr's
eye, when dis.c.arlcl. spurned and laughed NJ by
tie w"rld-postcrity. We owe it to iho:e who come
after IL, That amid the curses and evils which our
habits, our opinions. our customs, and our legislation
will certainly entail on them, VT should leave item
ais" every record OF virtue. of noblcn"-> and w"rtl!
which IL may BE- Ill our power Ia transmit and thus
lie linz. We conceive that no more Instructive lesson
could be left I" the democracy Of Virginia ami the
country at large than such II tribute 10 the memory
uf THoNis RIrCIuE.
An active. able n.i influential politician for Il hal,
century, Mr.. RIrCHIE went down Ia the grave with
out ever huvin. filled Il politicHl station uf any drs
rririiun. With talents that wuUl,! have secured In
him in almost any other pursuit the coveted boon "i
wealth, he devoted his life Ia Il career which has ne
Ntl lllfl Iblllll III l'Wl w Ii'lI' W IVA" 49,.
H. Il man il Is scarcely necessary, III Virginia, Ia speak
III. position H. editor, for ~ long n period, oi the
lending Journal of the State. gave him an intimacy IN
every quarter of il, and from the Atlantic to the ONO
no county Of the Commonwealth is without many VII"
are pruul of having known and admired the m""-
Thomas RiTCHiE.
Let the Democrats Of Virginia take this work on
themselves, and let the iuiiia:"ry step he taken III
Petersburg. 4 laggard in nothing else, let not tic
I'nckadc city be brhind.hani in rendering honor IL
hi. iIustrioils man. Surely we have the will trgh'
,.r,c in the work arl the spiri; to lead Ill 1t. Inc
honor Of giving the first impulse II such M uh"'r'
taking is worth striving for.
Uniting with the democracy OF ali quarters "i .H'
rinin, let Us rear over the patriots grave tue hyiAS'
speaking marble, and spread thereon the simple re-,
cord of hi. virtues and HE deeds. Tell the world
how. for fifty Years, through good and evil report,
through honor und rrproact, through darNrrs' ana
through light, the -cvcrcd man who sleeps beneath II
chung 10 the altar that had been erected by JEfftk,
son and consccratcd by MADISON, JAcks"S anu
pnLk: and as poet, seek llelicon aud heroes lnrr'
mopvla. 80 republican patrio,s will seek with alice
ton aud return with inspiration from the tomb "i one
whose labors aud lie have richly entitled Inn /" ihe
proud name "f
I'M FATHER or DEMOCRACY ~ NiR"iHlA'
ISuyJJ- SHE UtmDrrOt.