Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-11-25
From the N. Y. Evening Post
MIR. EiGH'S LATE SPEECH

MIR. lEiGH'S LATE SPEECH
On The l5.h ul'mo, dinner given the Honorable
Benjamin watkins Leigh, by his personal and political
iiends at Petersburg, Virginia, where, his health be-
ing proposed as"The fearless able. eeqnen, defend
er ei the Constitution he delivered a speech This
speech, as copied by the Richmond Enquirer from the
corrected version OF the Petersburg nellg shall
here briefly onelyse.
Mr. Leigh out with an explanation Of his motives
Tor accepting the hrh station OF Senator from the noble
aud patriotic State oil Virginia, which il he did
unwililngiy aud from imperative OF public duty.
lie next proceeds 10 complain that since that time
the malignant spirit OF party has been pouring its
TO attribute this 10 the influence and feelings OF MIR Van
Buren, who views s preensons the Presidency
with Jealousy and alarm lie then speaks these preen
Sons with degree OF modesty which, If sincere cvinces
just estimation OF himself and his high
station, aud declares that il single step would bring him to
the chair oil he would be apt 10 re-
cede ian advance He follows up by
irseied shm, remarkable Tor its spieul Than
us severity in which he charges Mr.. Van Buren, with in
rgung Tor the Presidency for which he has Just pre-
tensions; with having been efficient supporter Of the
srf aud internal improvements; OF the erosion Of toll
gates on the Cumberland road OF all the pru-
cipal which supposed TO infringe the ptnci
Piles OF the Constitution and the rights oil the States He
ahns MAT Mr. Van Buren, materially aided in the
ton oil General Jackson TO the Presder cy and that he
was rewarded Tor his services by the high Office Secre
taiy OF State, in which, according Mr. Leigh all he
lid was TO advise the President appoint diplomatic
agent 10 Turkey in the very teeth Of the Opposition he
had lille while before made Senate to similar an
poinmeni by Mr. Adams TO Panama; and s'delibcrseiy
(to instruct minister London exhibit our party
contests, recently terminated, the British ministry as
motive 10 induce the TO favour in the then peutng
negotiation"
The orator proceeds in the candid manner 10 de-
clare solemny that he nothing and know nothing
in the previous life and actions OF Mr. Van Buren, which
entities him TO the character OF great Statesman in all
which we firmly believe he is sincere. Rival beauties
AMI rival Statesmen seldom very oear-sighied with
regard 10 the charms the talents OF each other Mr.
Leigh then TO explain the the course
OF his poll ca condnct since h, late to public
me; anI here we confess that we entirely lose sight OF
clue 10 analysis in the nshcaions of ''conng encies
probabilities and "chocc o evils" We confess our
solves unable TO iahom these obscuries and are COM
PEELED 10 that either Mr. Leigh has opinions
or that they are utterly beyond comprehe He
cautiously ahs,sns from saying what lie will do; his OPT
all hypohecaons; his course will be governed
by contingencies" "probabies; he is theoretically
opposed TO the Bank OF the United States yet may be
practically brought 10 for the renewal of charter
aud will be quite willing violate his scru
Piles to be with the President for violating the Con-
siiIuOu. II this is not what MIR. Leigh means we con-
Tess ourselves in The piedicament described in tho old
There a body mot a body in a bag of beans,
Can body tell body what body mosas9'
Mr.. Leigh proceeds o skirmsh with the ou;poss
OF General Jackson's policy relation the currency
He doubts who'her the State Banks will DE found ade-
quaie 10 the purposes Of collecting and Disturbing the pub
lac revenue; doHbs the praciesbiy Of restoring metal
lie currency, by indacng the State Legislatures gradua
~ issue. of SINAI oe.: and throo
Tie Whole progress oil the system until he the
logical oonclnssn founded she premises Of this tissue
OF doubts, that Bank is nnavodabIe-hat and
VIII nave Bank his monslrous whale, thus conjured
mp from an OF doubts, followed by the usual mis-
Gicaons OF MIR. Leig's explanations we are once
lrlt IN uoubt whether That being
10 his ayore choice of evils will support the Bank OF q
Bank. The honorable cosuist in doubts concludes by
short defence OF the conduct OF majority oil the Senate
IN ITS again The Executive, alike destitute oil facts or
arguments drawn from practice analogy.
The foregoing believe, for intend il as such is
brie and cursory recapulaon of The material points
OF Ibis speech which, coming from gentleman long ho-
noired by numerous class OF the citizens Of State
ich should he ny able estimate talents having pro-
hnced her uil share Of Industrious citizens had excited
peeIaiions OF something better, much better. We had
long bses accustomed TO hear MIR. Leigh spoken Of by
Firgaians whose opinions worthy oil notice as
man 81 high aiialnnents, generous principles and manly
Independence; but certainly this exhibition does sus-
tain these lefty pretenon There is nothing in The iis-
sue OF argumeptdive doubts indicative OF high attain
menls; there nothing in his peei sh attacks Mr. Van
Buren, allied 10 generous principles and the ongcOnnued
complaints he makes OF the nslgnily of party and the
malice OF his enemies still less ofmany iudepend-
ence They 10 not indicate either consciousness Of
recude, consciousness OF superior abiies they
the pulling ebulions OF vacilaing mind which, instead
OF pungrg boldly into the sea oi politics, either swim
ming With the breeze, heating the current with man
ly inrepiiy, has become involved in and eddes
sud in place OF proceeding straight onward per-
Peu' circles, ends where il began and begins where
ended.
is not intention upon the task Of replying
at lrng' TO the egoiism and nsncations Of this much
oveffaed To relue doubts is liit with shadows
aud by potecsed arguments can only be me, by M
pohecaed denias. Nor il it purpose attempt an
elaborate defence Of MIR. Van huren The naon has
ieierdsd and wldelend bin against tho attacks Of Senaes
harn hse migh tell Mr.. Leigh that Tie uniioim
democratic OF Ills gentleman recognized by bis
TIA Stale, WiitTe ne u best that VI Mr.
Leigh "csnnot understand The politics Of New York"
it IS not he only thug lac il unable TO comprehend,
At least TO explain That il tie people OF New York
incapable OF alpreciang the talents aud services
OF one OF her agourte sons, they will certainly lot re-
Tor assistance, 10 tho cannot sufficiently ex~
plain what lac himself has done do; aud lbat IL
hls OF honorsble, successful exerion the bar aud in
the Srnate willie out Of office, aid series Of successful
ncgorisons while engh,tn tie sianding
Mr.. Leigh To perception OF The tsenls OF Mr. Van
Buren,, e nsi be lett 10 s iayosNs Labyrinth doubGs
certainty shoi undertake the hopeless lax Of
eniig hlenmg lin.
There however, two points ia the spec eb cf
Mr.. Leigh which she'll dweil upon iiule more at
length tie accuses Mr.. Van Buren, Of being on adept
in political Intrigue, aud - insgang aud Encouraging
tie cruel malgny oF the pess stacks hs charac-
ter Onduri and motives, The OF lis having been
nominated candidate for the P.esidency IN oppo
{. io1 10 No Vln Bufen's presumed wishes
Success, li poll icisns always branded inlfgners
Ivy their unsuccessful iivas II is one Of the mcdss by
IS oil lie udoubed privileges OF misery 10 complain,
might be cOn,irred by kir Leigh bsesch OF tie con.
in;sfitro wbh his lame ATOMS. Hence we
always lind thai boiled weakness cries foul play
/ li is With boys and Nth " demand OF Mr..
Leigh proofs That MIR. Ya0 Buren, has used my
other msgc seluce the people hsn that Of sal erior
ainl, bending s energies great object, and seek
ng atisn by OF useful and honorable action.
We sp eiu out .pOufings Of spleen dsappoin
meni. proceeding foB mortified adyersdiieg and rivaIs.
Give tie iacts, Sfr Leighl give something
take hold 81 b. sssared your doubts your ked
sefons will not iasten Nj Van Buren, iiie character
Of utigUer, nCf provoke his friends 10 deience. The
nero inpuon ~ stale 20 merit further notice since
hitherto soS fact hos been abducted in iss sOp-
pOiL
Mr. Van Buren, istrue goes about his busioes quiet
~ 81 courts 10 public dinnefs, h,efc 70 indulge 10