Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-11-15
For THE ENQUIRER.
WNI q RIXES ECO

Confidence where paren, fec
sSS sa s%a
which every opposition to .ues.. mi
' % S be nSS lie still
e e new IL you accused of provoking m
gsJs rgn a. Least criterion IF
The Enquirer Of the 25th uit, contains an essay Of
nearly four columns, from the pen of "Germanicu.
nave 10 regret mat In answering him. Unnecessary that
should repeat and enforce the positions which took in
tho outset My apology for doing be found in the
course which "Germanicus has thought proper 10 pur.
sue In the commencement Of this newspaper discussion
had charged Mr. Rives with a culpable omission OF
public duty, in declining TO communicate his consfif
HOnai opinions TO the Legislature, at a time when AR
Rves knew, that his friends intended nominating him for
the office OF Senator Of the United States The journal,
OF that day prove incontestby, that the day of his cleo
raj Assembly. Why were they not disclosed? MIR Rives
knew WELL that he would be nominated as
10 Mr. IazewcIl Previous TO his election. Mr. Rves re-
cei'eh letters from his friends in the Lcgsaiure--from
those who anxious to ascertain his sentiments will
view OF supporting him, should his political creed be
considered orthodox Instead Of expressing his conf
tiondl opinions, with candour per.yieni,y Mr. Ri.
replied 10 the enquiries of his friends, in very Iacomc
manner and avoided any reference The constituonalty
Of the subjects upon which lie had been
" An,Tarif Anti Bank" &c. Could Talleyrand have
used language more ambiguous and diplomatic! In De-
cember 49, Mr. Rves thought that not ne cesssry 10
make JuH Development OF his views. What thought
MIR. Rves in February '33? Hear him. ave live in
times (said ar. when il is solemn dutu which ere
ry man owes his country to make known his opinions
without disguise or equiuoeation." II, in February
3S, Mr. Rives thought that it his "sOemn duiy" 10
make known his opinions without '.Jsguise why was il
not his "Soien duty" TO dvulge them previous TO his
election, to with December, '32? viii "Germanicus"
be good enough TO answer this query without
special pfedding3 Does he not think, that that which
"s0iemn duty in February, is equally 'solemn d,fy"
in Decembei does he believe, that this sublime truth
had not dawncd upon the mind 81 The Hon Senator until
The month ofFcbruaIy, when the election had
and MIR. Rves snugiy seated in bis chair
the honors and privileges OF officer "Gemancus attempts
todeiend Mr. Rives, by asserting that he not erprtss
w coHsduPon Tor his constitutional opinions and was there.
fore jrslitable in conceang them from the Legislature
Suppose that "Germancus" Mr. Riyes deb, If nm.
thousand dollars, for which bond PAYABLE ON demand la
been gven is hot the former under moral obligation to
pay the debt, without waiting TO be sued? The obIiea.
lion 10 discharge debt is not created by suit instituted
for lis recovery neither was the obligation of Mr. Rives
to communicate his sentiments contingent upon cali for
their disclosure. Germ3nicns" does not deny the obi
CATION OF candidate to dvulgo his creed he acknow-
ledge that MIR Rves had been Intercepted concerning
his views and yet justes the of his cOnsf
ftOndt opinions, becaSsc lie had not been specially
I" called upon" 10 disclose them. If the arrumeut al
Germancus" be valid, then every candidate ought to
observe profound silence and conceal his sentiments with
masonic fidelity until they are " expressly" demanded
IL remains Tor the people 10 decide, whether the conduct
Of Mr.. Rves characterised by tha frahkness and i'm.
dependence, which should enIe him 10 their confidence
and respect The spirit Of party is not apt TO mi lead
enlightened and virluoms people. While with an eagles
eye they scan the conduct OF public men, there limits
to their credulity, well as their conGdcnce Happily
Tor themselves, the people regard honesty the best DO.
icy, and very discrcety judge the motives OF public men
~ their practcenot by their professions in the abstract
-, NcThidhcus mas enlarged upon lbe necessity oil
faithful Observance Of the laws OF The United States lie
yndca;es MIR Rives's support Of the Force bill OH The
ground, that if Modification wrong, the Force Bill
Wds right Tho same argument used by The Hon.
Senolor in his speech at Lewisburg. Let briefly eva
mine IL.
The Convention OF South Caroline passed Ordnance
dcclIng the Taf Acts OF The United States null aud
void $. Carolina did not TO The world that she
would submit TO TUiG tchGfcger. Through her Or
dnance, she abrogated The then existing TSrin laws and
her Legislature subsequently provided for lie enlorce
mcnt The Ordinance coull have been cOunervaiied by
repeal Of the Tariff laws which had been nuifed and
Ihe passage Of Tariff IT, in that event South Ca
Ordinance. So Gar notification concerned il would
have been immaieral whether the Tariff augmented
or diminished The duties The argument, that il multi
6caion was wrong, the Force Bill right" predi.
Gated upon The unauthorized assumptions that South Ca
ona hdd showed her determination TO dsObey any and