Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-23
IS fctDsas ossD GasD6n
Friday Ecessi,sS, Oct. 10.
NO. L.
VAN BUREN, ADDRESS.

which, document more replete with malgnast
misrepresentation, bold and unsupported assertion
inconssquential reasoning, has never been ad.
dressed to tho People of Virginia. any other Peo-
pie 1t is plain indeed. that the writer whoever he
is, Daniel believe is considered the great gun,
and he is conjectured to be tho author. imag incs
that the gullibility of the Caucusites will swallow
any thing and the intemperance Of popular feeling
to coincide with the vndictive rancor of his own
When anonymous writer's and cssayists address
the public, although they and all others, ought TO
be bound by the obligations of truth, which it is
not lawful to violate, to accomplish good, a
cautious measurement Of language, and a scrupu-
lous accuracy in details and statements, not so
rgidly exactcd of them; but whom a committee SO.
letted to discharge grave duty to the public, ad.
dress that public the subject matter of their
trust, and sign their names to what is written,
truth is expected from them in such case, and they
themselves by the act of signing. affirm in the most
solemn manner the truth of what is declared.
With this reflection promised, the justice ofwhch
none will question, let proceed to examine the
document before
The Address commences with tissue Of assert
ions mnfounded in fact, singy and collectively 1t
is possible, that the addressers believe their own
statemcnt-since partizans at pinch, can believe
almost any thing; yet we do believe that not n.
other seven men of such reputed understanding a.
TO be placed upon a Central Committee, can be
found who do believe it, would say they did
We quote the first sentence ofthe Address:
-Four years since, common country was
suffering under all the abuses incident to a weak
and Prodigal administration of her government;
an administration formed upon foundation,
either of wisdom or patriotism, even upon the
principles of harmony Of opinion mutual coa-
hdcnce between its constituent members; but
alton, cemented only by an unworthy and inordi-
nate lust of power"
A promising beginning! Here 5 distinct
sertions. l. That four years ago, the country
suffering under all the abuses incident to
weak and prodieal administration of her govern
ment g That that administration formed on
mo foundation either Of wisdom patriotism. 3.
That it had no harmony of opinion mutual con-
hdence A. That it sprung exclusively from
immoral combination. S. That it's only cement
inordinate lust ofpowsr.
Pretty well, Peter, for beginning. Thou vert
undoubtedly in the pein. We certainly give you
credit for more fancy, than you were suspect
ed of before. If rewards apportioned at the
Palace, to thick and thin zeal in the service fthe
Greatest and Best, fame alledges, de-
to stand more prominent in the books for pro-
motion than thou and so you surely do.
there is not word of truth; syllable; not
hurdredth part eta scruple. You may have thought
differently; you violent partizan and have
good probably for being so, and your
perceptions may have imbibed the hue of your per-
sonal feelings; nevertheless assert there is no
truth in the sentence quoted; that its statements
for the most part historically untrue; and that those
which relate to tho personal characters of tho
gentlemen composing the late administration, are
yet more untrue.
l. Where is your evidence to prove that the
country four years ago suffering under all the
abuses incident to msrule7 1t is Numerically
opposed TO the truth, that you find one so
simple to believe it. The country was never
flourishing than at that exact period. We de-
fly you to select any all of the tests of flourish
ing country and apply them to the situation of the
United States in 1929 and to make it appear, that
by any one Of them, all of them together, the
country was not only Hourishing, but the most
furnishing that the shone upon in his daily a.
reer; aye, that he ever did shine upon. The Peo-
pie were dissatisfied we know. There amb-
tious spirits in the land, who desired depose those
in power. There were thousands of anxious place
hunters, who wished changes, hoping to find that
advancement in new world, which they had not
found, and it may be, had not deserved in the old
Whdt tuoso fesOrLel 10, TO NIL the popular
mind with suspicion, TO conjure up and inaame all
the passions which can be enlisted in a party con-
hict, thou most sage Daniel, know as we'll as any
man, and the success which crowned their efforts.
But their assertions of abuses their assertion of
corruption, did not prove those things, any more
than your assertions above prove themselves. You
remember doubt, the famous Retrenchmcnt
Committee. Where the three men most
conspicuous in that electioneering device
Messrs. Hamilton, Wickliffe and Rves7 Mr.. Rives
was the hrst to apply for, and the first to get the
most desirable mission abroad-the youngest Mi.
mister Plenipotentiary, and the least known in the
u. States, that ever crossed the Atlantic. He de
it that emboldened him to apply for the cmbas-
sly TO France, the first nation in the world-and
what was it that induced President jackson TO
grant i'll Think you, that the Retrenchment Com
Inttee was not at the bottom both of the applica-
ton and the concession! Surely, surely. Not for
his abilities, highly respectable they are--nor
for his private virtues, though they too are &c.
kno"ledged-was Mr.. Rivcs gratifcd in request
which under other circumstances, would have been
considered premature aud inadmissble- Sabstan-
tlal though his pretensions were, there were many
men in this country Of equal talent ind virtue and
of far more matured Judgment and experience who
were overlooked in his favor. And why were the,
overlooked7 because he had rendered nort;zor
service-because the sputter and exagperstions o
The Retrenchment Committee bad answered III,
end of its institution, and materially assisted tc