Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-18
LEGIsLATURE OF VIRGINIA
HOUSE OF


The House met at - o'clock, pursuant to adjourn
ment. -.
Prayer by Rev. George Woodbridge, of the Epis.
copal Church.
The SPEAKER announced that the first business
in order would be the election of Penitentiary Store
Keeper, and Auditor of Public Accounts TO supply
the vacancies caused by death, aud of Public Printer
for the term of services succeeding the expiration OF
the term of the present
Mr.. SEDDos said that he had been apprized for the
frat time, to day, that the election OF Public Printer
had been agreed 10, and being unprepared Tor one, 10
90 into the election at this tune, he would move that
90 much Of the joint order Of the day az provided Tor
the election OF d Printer De postponed until Monuay
next.
Mr.. NELsoH expressed regret that this motion
should be submitted. lie thought that, with a view
to the despatch Of business, there should be no de-
Mr.. CLAYBRooK stated that the resolution provi.
ding for the election of Penitentiary Store Keeper,
etc, had been amended in the Senate, by the addition
Of the Office of Printer, and the House, as a matter
of courtesy, had assented to the amendment. The
records Of the House, and the published reports Of the
proceedings, would show that the House did agree TO
proceed, this day, to the election OF Printer. 1t was.
therefore, asking too much 10 DEERE a postponement
of an election deliberately agreed upon, without the
assignment Of any reason, but simply nj the sugges-
I ton of the member moving the posiponement. lie
| would listen TO any reason that might Do assigned,
| and, unless there was q sufficient reason given, he
must De excused lEOIu NOlluR It iuo IippVouiop.-
| What conceivable reason can there be for the desire
to postpone this election1 We must have a Public
| Printer, and unless, lsaid MIR. Z The gentleman
means to strike at the present Public Printer, he pre-
sumed there would be no contest. The present IN
cumbent of that Office has discharged it's duties satis'
factorily. 60 far 90 he knew, and he hoped, therefore
that the House, without ZONE cogent reason was Civ.
On for a contrary course, would proceed 10 the cleo
ton of a Public Printer.
MI. seldom said that he had not deemed II neces.
$500, e. a,.iop ha raaaOna for tha DrODO9itlOn sub
mitted. He did not know, until this morning, that
the election of Printer was fixed for to-day, and
hence it was, that, being unprepsred for the election,
he had moved for a postponement; But inc gen1e
man asks for reasons, and he shall have them. he
| might preiudge those reasons. and say they are not
sufficient, but they shall be offered. First, he was
not prepared 10 say whether he would go Tor any
Printer. He was tired of the system of partisan re-.
ward, and did not believe that the bounty Of the
Commonwealth should be accorded to any man as a
reward for party services. He was not prepared to
vote for q Public Printer. nor was he prepared 10 de-
eide upon the Democratic paper to which the re-
ward for services to the party should be given, if the
printing 10 to be 30 awarded. He might wish to de,
eide If they had been equally faithful to the Demo.
CRATIC party, and to the South, and to inquire it there
we're not other Democratic presses IN the State equal
tleman give him time to consider If it was necessary
to have q Printerl u.
As another reason for postponement, he had heard
that the present incumbent of the office was a candi.
Odt0 LOr q l6Q6Tdl OuCc, " u Woo SohuoCaey %
pected by his friends that he would be appointed
Minister 10 Naples. If he should be elected Printer,
aud thus 20 abroad, would not the office be vacated,
and the Executive appoint his successor with law or
without law1 He was not willing to leave the office
to this ~exigency, and desped to know from the friends
of the IL il was true that Mr.. K. ives to
be appointed Minister to Naplesl
Mr.. 8. then proceeded to give his last reason. He
did not wish by the election Of Mr.. Richie, to be
considered as endorsing in any form or manner the
recent course of the Richmond Enquirer" and be
would maintain this position were he the only man in
the house. Never would be endorse the doctrines
that had given a fatal blow TO every principle that be
bad been taught to uphold and hold dear TO bis heart.
Never, by his vote, would be cay that the South is to
kueel to down at the feet of Northern Democracy;
and never would be consent that it should go forth
that Virginia had departed from her loyalty and se.
vered her sister States Of the South, by reason OF the
sophistriss Of the Enquirer" as il would 60 forth,
il that journal was endorsed by the reelection OF mr..
Ritchie to the office Of Printer. This was Q suti
cieut reason for him why the election should be post
poned.
Mr.. CLAYRRooK regretted exceedingly to be drawn
into this Discussion, sprung upon the House. on the
motion submitted by the gentleman from Stafford
tAr. SEDDoS.) The inquiry which he had made was
based upon cthe most reasonable lsupposition that
when tho House was asked to undo what it had done,
some reasons should DO assigned for the request. The