Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-12-19
From the Richmond Enquirer.
A LETTER FROM SENATOR RIVES.

LETTER FROM SENATOR RIvES.
A communication addressed to me in
your paper Of the goth inst, by writer
who signs himself "a Republican of the
Old School," has just fallen under my
eye. 1t has been my misfortune, as you
are aware, MIR. Editor, for the last eigh-
teen months, especially (arsng from no
other cause of which | am sensible than
an independent and conscientious dis.
charge of my duty to the country accor-
ding to the best dictates ofmy understan-
ding) to be the object of much denuncia-
ton and misrepresentation, through the
medium of the political press. Under all
this injustice | have remained silent, well
knowing that honest intentions and integ.
rty ofpurpose have nothing to fear from
the calm and unbiased decision of the.
People, who Judge public men by the evil
dence of their acts, and not by the gratu-
itous assertions or discolored representa-
tons ofpersonal or party prejudice.
From this course | should not now de-
part, but for the peculiar circumstances of
the case. The accusatory queries OF
your correspondent refer to matter res
ting in the privacy of friendly epistolary
intercourse. The Public, therefore, is
possessed OF no materials on which to
found its judgment. | might well except,
indeed, to this attempt, engendeIed in the
reckless party intolerance of the times, TO
invade the scantity of private correspon-
dence. But | ask no protection Of that
sort. have never expressed "A senti-
ment under the hitherto respected sanctions
of private correspondence, which / am
not willing to avow in the face of the
world.
What, then, is the burden of your cor
respondents complaint? He cites from
Baltimore paper report, "that Sena-
tor Rives had written letter TO friend
in Philadelphia, in which he demonstrates
earnestly against any Conservative vo.
ting for Porter;" and, therefore, he full.
inmates against me the charge of " an
improper interference with the Pennsyl-
wanna election" and Of "throwing my
influence into the scale Of an Abolition
ist !"
The facts, which | suppose to have
given rise to this report, are briefly these I:
A worthy and intelligent friend in the city
of Philadelphia. agreeing with me in po-
litical sentiment, had written me a letter,
referring to the interesting political con-
test then pending in Pennsylvania, and to
the position, in regard to 1t, olthat portion
of the Republican party to which we both
belonged. In replying TO this letter, re-
sponded, without reserve, to his own feel.
ings ofpatriotic soicitude on the subject.
participated in the apprehension that the
election of the Administration candidate
for the office of Governor, unless some
! thing could be done to exclude that infer
once, would be claimed by the victorious
party, and be considered every where out
of Pennsylvania as the triumph Of the sub
! Treasury scheme--a scheme which we
both believed TO be lraught with fatal con-
sequences to the country-and that the
moral influence ola supposed decision in
its favor by so powerful and patriotic a
Commonwealth as that OF Pennsylvania
would be the almost certain means OF It's
success in other parts Of the Union. Be-
lieyng that majority Of the people of
Pennsylvania were opposed to this scheme,
had suggested whether it might not be