Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-07-05
VAsHmeroN NKWs AND GOSSIP.


+ WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Death Of Thomas Ritehie.-The de-
mise Of fewpersons, indeed, could have created
the profound sensation in this community il
experienced Yesterday. on 1lsarning Of Che
death Of this venerable genslsn'an. Thoush
he came to this point, to reside, e late as Che
opening Of the administration Of Mr.. Poll, he
was personally a. we'll known by all here Of
all positions in life, as perhaps any other man.
1t was the fortune of the senior editor Of the
Sta, to have been connected with the Wash
ington Union from its establishment under
his Qdr. Ritchie D auspices, until he disposed
| of it. We therefore knew him we'll, being ia
miiiar- perhaps moro 20 than any other Per.
son-with all the incidents Of his private and
public life in that eventful time. zTvl
He came to Washington reluctantly, and
only under . solemn sense Of duty to the poll
tical principles of which he was 30 long en-
phstically the standard bearer. During the
session of Congress Immediately prior to the
Inauguration Of Mr. Polk, there was private
demonstration to that statesman, on the part
of some eighty Democratic members of both
Houses, to the effect that the then conductor
| Of the organ should give place to some one
whose course on tho Texas question particu-
larly had not been such las if contending un-
der his lead thereafter--would stultify the wing
Of the party whose principles and positions had
triumphed in Mr.. Folks election. We have
every reason to believe that the name of Mr.
gested by those in Congress Immediately iden-
titled with the fortunes Of Mr.. Van Buren,. At
any rate, it proved much more acceptable to
them than that of any one else. Mr.. Polk au-
thorised Cave johnson, and, we believe, Aaron
V. Brown, to endeavor, through friends of
Mr.. r. in the Virginia delegation, to negotiate
with him for his removal to Washington
Their original effort failed, so great was his
indisposition to seem to be willing to supplans
any one. .s ~ 'Ss IL -, -. 90 5..2i
We were then writing regularly for his pa
per (the Richmond Eaquirer) from this city,
and being appraised Of the progress of that ne.
gotiation, after its failure, ourself wrote him,
and induced Cave johnson, and if we renem-
Der correctly, General Thomas H. Bayly
again to do so also; which opened his eyes to
the fact that his failure to accede to the re-
quest Of thl hsident elect, would not and
could not in The existing condition Of things
nho ~, <ha 80 xhn
Of the Democratic party. This, second effort
ended in the extraction of promise from him
to visit Washington, then very rare occur
renee in the history of his life. He fulfilled
it after Mr.. Polk was installed, and his inter
views with that gentleman and Mr.. Blair
ment; still really greatly against his will, for
he mistrusted his abilities to mould his edito-
rial capacities in his declining years, to the
demands and necessities Of his new sphere
He was man of almost incredible industry
rising between 9 and 10 3. M, usually; it was
his habit to labor or study with intense avidity
until about 8 a. m, nj lightly taking very little
exercise and eating and drinking sparingly
and simply We need say nothing here of the
character Of his politics and writings, which
are familiar to all. Wemay, however, not in
appropriately write that his character as q
man was misunderstood to a remarkable de-
gree by those who did not know him personally.
In the whole course Of our almost hourly, in
innate and confidential association with him
for SO many years, We never heard Thomas
Richie open his lips against any m,n-even
by way of complaint against enemies who
were VIGOROUSLY hunting him with the ferooity
of blood hounds, because he had been in some
measure bar to the success of their schemes
to him at all tiues ana undo. oil clrcumstan-
ces read most of his private correspondence
much too, received by him from leading men
in earlier times knew all the details Of hi 8
business affairs, as well as the chickering's,
jealousies, &C., among his political friends, in
which he became so frequently involved as a
peace maker and matual adviser Yet we
never knew Thomas Richie to do thing or
utter sentiment of Thich either the Chris
tian or gentleman should in the least regret
The outside world think of him as a managing
politician, when in truth tho remarkable
trait of his public character was entire inca.
pacity for political management, of which he
was as ignorant as a child.
His success was owing, then, to the firmness
Of his adherence to fundamental principles
his industry, energy, integrity, his power and
versatility as writer, and to the total absence
of sel6shness and injustice from his character.
His remarkable personal influence among the
Democratic politicians of his day, grew out of
the fact that all Of them were we'll aware that
in dealing with them he was sure to do what
bis conscience oounselled to be rigid justice to
ALL To the best Of our knowledge, Mr.. Richie,
during the whole course of the Polk Admins
tration, refrained from recommending single
man for Office. We knew him to refuse great
many on the ground that, to do SO, would be to
violate principle and policy, to adherence to
which he attributed much Of his influence for
good in public sffairs. When not over whelmed