Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-04-22
Death OF John G. RIYer--IIis SelfRGIiant Char
ieteT--The Congressional be5ates.


Died, at his residence, near Washington, on the
10Th instant, JOIN G. RTVEs editor OF The Con-
gressional Globe, in the sixty-ninth year Of his
age
Mr. Rives was a self-1nade man. Without the
means to obtain education in schools, he became
wei vesSed in the business Of the worldly bis apt
ness for observation and readiness in applying his
faculties. Hewas skillful and successful in the
various pursuits towhieh he devoted his laborious
ly useful life.
In the conduct Of h;s affairs he was a perfect,
not q proiessed, nan OF honor. lie never forfeit
cd his word, never permitted eonYenlenceto stand
in tile way Of his duty. de has sacrificed thou
Irents .or Which ne eoInmittet hTnsetfor others,
but waspeveF knOwn to exact similar sacrifices
from those Indebted TO MIN. He took to himself
the .uie DO unto Others as you would theyshoUld
do unto you, and he bettered the instruction.
II 2 allowed none TO be rs generous to aim as be
Toa3d willingly he to them. lie expended more
charities than any VINO ever lived IN this city,
though he earned the means by lncegsaut well-di-
reeted labor, beginning at FIRST by turning tie
wheel that moved the 6lobe presses ky his own
strong arm, before steam wasapplied to them.
lie made no ostentation OF largeness, but his
hooks show that IN single year he pad OUT $lll,-
0J5 o support the wives OF soldiers enlisted in the
District, besides ihnumerable aids In smaller
amounts to individuals. lie was dcvotse in HIS
frienQships-gr itu3e was religion with him
in al the relations Of social life he INDUCED those
around him with thC most afactionate kindness.
everlasting no one but himself. and parting wlth
no one worn dowa m the service o. his establish
mcnt, but making them It's pensioners when no
longer suited to aTcGous exertIcn. lie would not
even dispose ofaa old horse iacapat&ted for use,
but has had as many as five st one time On his
hands kept In good condition asncsp&bles forwhat
they had done vher able. With q bosom full OF
tender affections, he was so ayerSe to pTetenslon
hat none but those IN nastntilaa.e relations with
nm coul3 see through the disguise his blunt man
ners and sturdy exterior put over them.
He came to Washington more than forty years
since and engaged FIRST as clerk in some printing
oilee, and afterwards IN some OF the Departments
finally ayiDG hold ofthe Globe, which he lifted out
Of embarrassment and supported ever after ike an
Atas. III. management was Un2xceptonabie aa
business partner. lie was never q partlzsn, ana
although on great rational questions agreeing y
the main tojackscn policy, he saw muchnesitIn
portions of that urged By his great antagonist.
(AIr. Cay,) whose patriotism IN maintaining the
country rights over the Union and It's foreign re-
lations, he always heidin profound homage. hls
partner, more vehement party men, was some
times held in check by his sound and temperate
Judgment.
It was on Mr. Rioyes's suggestion that the
scheme Of having al sides heard IN debate by pub
fishing impartial reports o<congressonal proceed
ncs was adopted. The editor combatted such
views OF the opponents of the Administration IN
Congress as he thought assail2ble but it was Mr.
RYes care to see tst should not do injustice 20
speaker Al 6-st but the outlines oi a discussion
were given In the Globe 1t WAS found that epi-
tones were unsatisfactory, and DIR Riyes, By de-
rrees brouct 6he reports to the peTtaetsate which
have rendered the debates of Congress for more
thana quarter OF a century an authentic record.
The plan IS sanctioned by Congress was design
ed to make political history OF the country rs
spoken by tie nation representatives, who, see
ing the impei1shable form 1t assumed Ill the on
cial report would each helncited to make his con-
trbution, especially where his section or hs po-
litical interests were concerned. The oVignalplan
provided that each member and each succession OF
members should have copy of the Official debates
aud proceedings to place IN the conuGry
clerk 5 Office or some public library or seminary,
shat ii anieht Ice consulted by his constituency, and
thus in effect. increase the responsibility OF mem
bers while it increased The means OF information
among the people. This multiplication Of copies
enabled Mr Eives to execute the work OF report
ing and printing for less than one third oithe price
for which similar work has ever been obtained IN
England or the United States. Changes have,
however, been made in respect 10 the number OF
the reports disseminated which, together with
the increased price of materials and labor have, 1t
is aseertained BY the Printing Committees, made
reporting losing business for the last few years,
TO such an extent as TO render Its continuance I'M
possible unless the original terms OF the contract
! should be restored, or some other provision made
! to MAINTAIN the establishment.
/ II was a matter Of pride as well as OF patriotism
| which induced Mr. Rives 20 make sacrifice from
Eeart to year to keep up his system IN the hope that
Congress would make it permanent he perfect
ed al the machinery OF his Office, and educated .
son 10 its management, 10 preserve what he had
originated and 20 long cherished lie has sallen