The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-08
MR. RIYEs.

equal TO its malice, the Senator iroh VIZ
qinia would have long since suffered the os-
tracism, and been banished from Rome"
The Tarquinian tyranny Of official arrogance
and party discipline, as confidently as II
counts on the easy destruction OF lis victims
will, however, in this age Of common sense,
fail of its purpose, even though sustained by
the aid Of the Enyious.
After the glorious effort made by Mr.. RIvEs,
in the United States Senate, on Monday and
Tuesday, the poisoned shafts Of his enemies,
hurled from every quarter with so much bit
terness and violence, will fall far short of the
proud eminence to which he has arisen. He
might pray like Aristides that the people OF
Athens might never be forced to remember
him, but Senators and auditors, of whatever
description or party, may pray in vain 10 for
get the impressions which the soul stirring
eloquence Of his patriotic speech inevitably
forced upon them.
The miserable and vain attempts OF the or
gan OF the administration. TO excite the preju-
dice Of the people against the Deposite Bill
as "rallying ground Of the Federal Party
merely because some Of its leading features.
caught up from floating rumors, happened first
TO appear in the columns Of an " Opposition
Journal sink beneath the notice Of the most
contemplate mind.
Another quarter may discharge its spleen
and strive to crafty its i'll concealed jealousy,
l,,.. IL II he Jor's ctIn vii
itself upon the air. The impotent efforts Of
a nullifer cannot sully the character he en-
vies, but cannot emulate, nor avert the desti-
MES of a cause he fears, but cannot resist.
the Just, and while Mr. RIvEs,
"Like Hampden struggling in his couNTRY's cause,
The first and foremost to obey the laws"
is exerting the whole weight Of his cha
racter and influence in behalf Of the great
interests Of the people, and in vindication of
those doctrines of the republican church,
which have been hitherto 1.-THE sheet anchor
of our hopes at home and safety abroad" he is
selected as the victim of party ostracism, and
the target for the shafts Of envy and malice.
But, thank God, we do not live in barbarous
society, nor in Sylan times. The progress
of civilization has renewed the course of the
ostracism, and the Just shall banish Prejudice
and Envy
There is moral sublimity in the position
of Mr.. RIvEs, that commands admiration,
while it sinks his enemies into grovelling in
significance.
Reared and educated in the society and
friendship, and under the tutelage, of .Jeffer-
son and Madison, the eleUe" of the former
and the intimate friend Of the latter, he i'm
bbed continually from youth TO manhood,
those cherished doctrines in the theory and
practice of republican government, which
have ever formed the political religion of the
mass of the American people. With the po-
litical faith derived directly from those exalted
sources, firmly instilled in his mind, if not
incorporated with his nature, he has discharg-
ed the public duties he has been called upon
to perform, with infexible frmness and rigid
adherence to that early standard which has
always directed his course Through what
ever vicissitudes he may have passed, no
temptation could induce him, for moment,
to compromise his principles or swerve him
from his consistency. His public career, dis
tinguished as il has been, for its brilliancy as
well as usefulness, especially that portion of
it connected with the French Treaty, the re-
suit of one of the most splendid negotiations
ever made by an American minister at a TO-
reign court, is generally known to the country.
The late administration was not little in
debted to the liberal support which Mr.. Rives
gave it, and notification will never forget or
forgive his distinguished exertons in putting
down that most odious heresy. Whatever
effect the course of recent events may have
had upon the friendship and confidence hith-
erto existing between thepresent Chief Mags-
trate and Mr.. RIvEs, we, are certain that Mr..
Van Buren, expected no other course from
him, and that he regards his present position
as the evidence, at least, Of has consistency
With that watchfulness, which he was
early taught to exercise, in regard to the con-
solidation of strength either in the hands Of the
Federal Executive or an overshadowing mo-
eyed association, Mr.. RIvEs stands on the
present occasion the unalnching antagonist of
accumulated power. His present position,
therefore, is, in opposition to National Bank
and Mr.. WRIeHT's bill, which he has shown
by analysis to be Government Bank. as
clearly as if it carried the direct and positive
avowal upon its face.
I. u