Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-09-06

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perhaps turn the elections in the fall
against the democracy. But Mr. Ritchie
would not submit to the alteration of
word or sentence. and the prospectus
stood asit was originally framed by him.
During Mr.. Ritchie's connection with
the Union, he was without doubt. the
most laborious man in the profession.
Not an article could appear in the paper
without his strict scrutiny. and if a word
or sentence did not suit him it had to be
stricken out, or the article left out alto
gether Every thing had to pass through
his hands, even to the most insignificant
extract from an exchange. To superin-
tend the entire editorial department of a
daily paper like the Union, any person,
having experience in such matters would
say it required the labor Of at least three
persons yet for weeks and months after
Mr.. R. took charge Of the Union, he per-
formed the whole labor of editing that
paper and made all the selections from
the exchanges besides. lie could always
be found at his post in the morning at 8
o'clock, and very seldom would leave it
or rest or recreation, before two, three,
and often as late as four in the morning,
the following day. l once suggested, for
the purpose of relieving him Of part of his
unnecessary labors. that he should exam
inc only the leading exchanges, and leave
the others to me. promising him that |
would examine every one faithfully, mark
everything thought worthy of his notice,
and send them to him. This he consent
ed to, and the project went on very we'll
for few days, when he sent me word to
send him back all the exchanges each
day after Undetermined them-in fact
insisted upon it, | soon became satisfied
that he either had very little confidence
in my examinations. or that it gave him
too much leisure time !; and believing it
was useless TO waste the time of two per-
sous on such prohlless labor, l abandoned
the exchanges altogether. Mr.. Ritchie
would spend hour after hour over them.
aud never over looked One-even the
most insi- nifficant and obs cure. He would
clip paragraphs enough to fill three such
daily papers as the Union. and that would
be the last Of them large ma jority of
them womid never appear in the p"Per,
and Mr.. r. would be none tho wiser. for
he seldom read the paper after II came
from the press. In fact, there was little
room for anything but his editorials and |
the communications (which met with his |
approval.
His connection with Mr.. PoIk's admin
istrallon was most pleasant to him in cv
cry respect but subsequently. l doubt ii
IL residence in Washington brought him
many happy days. His contract to do
the public printing, which several of his
friends advised him to engage in. proved
Improbable, and he had 10 combat with !
set of unprincipled demagOyucs, who
had been elevated to prominent positions
by pretending to advocate the doctrines
which Mr. r. had ma!e popular with
the people. The very men whom he
had been instrumental in elevatinI 10
power, iOined his political cnmics to crush
him. They construed the meaning Of ~
profitable contract to make it Improbable,
notwithstanding the best legal talent in
the country had given it their favorable
Opinion-but these gentlemen in their Of
fetal capacity could keep Mr.. Richie from
his ust rights, and they dldi it. His sub
seQuent difficulties were embarrassing.
and made more SO by the acts Of some
men who were recognized as his political
friends. Shame rest upon their heads for
striving to lnJure man who had done
more tor his country and the democratic
party, than any other member of that
party living, and whose name will live
thousand years after theirs are forgotten.
These later difficulties would not have
occurred with MIR. Richie, if it had been
his good fortune 10 have had some know
ledge Of business. With his long conncc-
ton with the press. he proabIy knew as
little about the details of Il printing office
us a boy ten years Ofage, and about tinan-
cial matters he was equally ignorant
There was one thing IN Mr.. Riches
character that united him for the local
Ly oil WashingtOn-he was decidedly an
honest man. He had been raised among
statesmen and gentleman ; therefore was
not educated for the society Of demagorues
and political tricksLers. who make politics
traLe-office and the fowinys of the
Treasury their Traffic. Such men often
imposed upon him ; they came to him in
the garb of gentleman, with, perhaps, an
NJ. T.. or U. s. s. attached to their names,
received his confidence, and abuse it,
He was never up to their tricks he lost
the support Of some because he would
not manufacture very great man out Of
an insignificant material, and of others on
account Of his not aiding them in getting
somebody put out OF office. SO that them
selves or other idler could get in. He
always had a horror for this office seeking;
and to his honor be it said. that during
the whole of Mr.. Folks administration he
did not once raise his voice to have per-
son removed ;and if he spoke in favor Ofany
person it was to Till Il place already vaca-
ted. Let what may be said of him by his
enemies, his friends will ever bless his
memory. a nobler soul never filled the
breast of man, and words cannot do justice
to his memory. JOHN p HElSS. 4