The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-06-27

wherever ordered for the defence, not
only OF the state. but with that broad
| patriotism which had distinguished Vir-
ginia In the attack on Boston at the outset
OF the Revolution. for the purpose OF de-
| Tending any OF the United States. The
Republican Blues were at once ordered TO
Norfolk, and Thomas Richie laid aside
the pen. took up the sword and marched
with them.
After having been there until about the
end OF July they were ordered back to
Richmond. He also engaged In a BRIEF
military service during the war OF lSl2.
ELECTED TO OFFICE.
In November. 1914. he was elected by
tho General Assembly OF the State. pub
lie printer. a post which he acceptably
filled for twenty years. All the Acts OF
Assembly OF that period. including the
Code of 1919. were printed by him. In
1894. after he had held this place for
twenty years he discomfort OF the Demo-
cratic party caused by the suferings fol-
lowing the removal of the public deposits
and the panic. caused Virginia TO change
her politics and threw the legislature in
10 the hands of the Wings. one OF their
earliest victims was Mr.. Richie. He was
removed as public printer and Samuel
Shepherd elected in his place. But their
triumph was short-livcd. His energy in
organizing tho Democratic party and the
powerful phillipics OF the Enquirer caused
a reversal of public sentiment. the Demo
Gratis carried the Legislature. and Samuel
Shepherd. after a brief service or a year
was dropped out and MIR. Richie was re-
elected. holding the place until 1879 when
he voluntarily resigned.
In 1920 Mr.. Richie had associated with
him Mr.. Claiborne w. Gooch In the En-
ouircr. Soon thereafter commenced the
agitation which led 10 the state ConVen-
ton Of 1899. and the questions at issue
and the proposed changes In the old Con-
s:itution were vigorously discussed I'm the
Enouircr by It's editors and correspon-
dents. On some of the most important
questions a radical difference OF opinion
developed between Mr.. Richie and Mr..
Gooch. and this was reflected in the edi-
foriais. The result was that in 1923 Mr..
Gooch retired from the management-Mr.
John J.. Cooke took his place. and Mr..
Richie again dictated the sole policy or
the paper.
In October the state Convention assem-
bled. 1t was chiefly noted for its galaxy
of famous men. Every Nireinian OF prom
inence. no matter how exalted a station
he may have filled, from the Presidency
down. was in this convention. Mr.. Rit-
chic was elected its printer. His re-
sources seemed ulbpullu't' li AZ III"
very time wien he was running the En-
ouirer as a political organ he was editing
tho Richmond Compiler. neutral in poll
tics and devoting itself mainly TO ques-
lions of Industrial development. so great
was his prominence i'm the community
that no public meeting in Richmond was
complete without him. and he was the
mower behind the throne that dictated
with almost absolute VIII the course oil
his party.
His social and literary attainments were
as pronounced as his political ones. Mr..
jefferson spoke of him as "culllng what
is good from every paper as the bee from
every flower"
When Mr.. Monroe's administrator CLOS
ed Mr.. Richie advocated Mr.. Crawford
for the Presidency. 1t will be
that in this election the candidates were
John Quincy Adams. William IL. cra"-
ford. Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson
General Jackson received tse largest vote
IN the Electoral College, but this was
short Of a majority. This threw the cleo
ton into the House. and the balloting
there resulted in the election of Mr..
Adams. due to a coalition by which
MIR. Clay cast his influence for Mr.. Adams
and appeared as Secretary of State In the
latter's Cabinet.
VIGOROUSLY DENOUNCED.
This combination was most vigorously
denounced at the time. and perhaps II
is not putting IL too strongly 10 say that
il followed Mr.. Clay TO his death ana
prevented him from ever having any
chance for the Presidency. Tn Enquirer
was specially vigorous in its denunciatioI
Of the measure and was actively hostile
to Mr.. Adams during his administration.
In the next Presidential campaign 1t
-. -. .I.t. --.s,I. l.. favor Af th.
election of General Jackson. though it
had not supported him in his first can
didacy. After his election it supported
him I'm nearly all of his measures, though
never falling TO express it's dissent at any
doctrine expressed by the President which
il could not conscientiously support.
Though Democratic and a firm believer
i'm the resolutions Of 1889. the Enquirer
had no sympathy with the South Carolina
doctrine of notification. and supported
jackson in his argument against IT. The
Enquirer did not endorse unreservedly the
action of the President I'm relation 10 the
removal of the deposits, though when the
issue was made and ii saw on the one
side the Bank and it's allies and on the
other the President, 1t supported the Pres
ident with all its power. 1t defended him
when the Senate passed the famous reso-
luton Of censure upon the President,
though limiting and defining more &C
c~urately the powers of the President as
to abstract questions than was done by
| President Jackson in his answer to this
vote OF censure. At the close of Jack
sons administration Mr.. Richie advocated
the election of Mr.. Van Buren, and the
electoral vote of Virginia was given to
him. During Mr.. Van Buren's admins
tration he established a weekly paper
which was called the Crisis. and his
energy was sufficient 10 conduct IT in ad-
diti0n TO the labors expended upon the
| Enquirer. He was intensely Nirginiam
In the approaching contest many of the
| Northern papers did not consider Virginia
"a pivotal State and tauntingly asked
"Who cares how Virginia votes?" This
was Mr.. Kitchie' answer: But who
cares? Look along your whole line. and
ask each of them. who cares? ASK Daniel
Webster why he came to Richmond? and
does he care? Ask John Sergeant why he
went 10 Yorktown, and does he care?
ASK your Hunting Shirt Leslie Combs
why he came TO Virginia. and does he
| care? ASK them all who came TO invade
his State and carry her by a storm Of
eloqucncc. whether they care? Ask the
great Wing Convention of the 18th of
October. who came with their professions
and their banners to carry the state,
whether they care? Ask the numerous
orators who have trampoOsed over the
land. whether they care? ASK w. G. Rives
whether he cares? Cares, Why there is
not a man of them who does not care.
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