The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-02
MIR. RIyEs.

which that engine Of iniquity, and organ Of the
administration, has vomited forth its venom
during the last twelve months in the most un-
warranted, unexampled and disgusting man
ner Whether Mr.. Van Buren, approves the
course that has been pursued by the Globe
we know not but this we know, that IL is his
official organ, and its revilings against MIR.
Rives have never been publicly rebuked.
How does the language 10 which we have
referred, that has been employed towards Mr..
Rives, correspond with that to be found in the
columns of Globe, hut few years ago!
The Globe, in 1885, in giving an account
of the proceedings of the Baltimore Conven-
ton, to nominate candidates for President
and Vice President, said, "the selection OF
the candidate for the Vice President, was
matter Of very deep solicitnde among the
members of the convention. Mr.. Rives was
presented by the numerous and most respect
able delegation from Virginia and his very
high qualifications and claims were urged
with great warmth and anxiety. There was
not, we believe, single member of the con
vention, who did not fully appreciate his great
worth Not one was unwilling TO admit his
qualifications for the Vice Presidency on the
contrary, all conceded that the elevation Of
his mind, his pure republican principles, and
his high attainments, rendered him every way
worthy Of the first honor Of the Republic. The
determination of the convention turned upon
the consideration Of the peculiar relation which
the two favorte individuals presented to the
convention at this moment bore to the coun-
try.
The principal circumstances which operated
on the majority in giving preference to Col.
Johnson over Mr.. Rives, were the follow
ing: ,..s. "
1t was urged that Mr.. Rives was compare
lively young man-that his career Of active
usefulness was but fairly commencing in the
Senate. when, in violation of the public will
OF Virginia, he was recalled by coalition of
malcon,cnts in the Legislature, who acted
without consulting their constituents that the
election of Mr.. Leigh, by subsequently
elected Legislature, in direct violation of
written instructions, which had made the is
sue between them, on which the late Virginia
elections turned, rendered it proper that Mr..
Rives should maintain his posture before his
own State, and enable the people to assert
their authority, and vindicate the right of
instruction in the person of the individual in
whose case it had been SO egregiously vi,at-
ed: that in reserving Mr.. Rives to achieve
this great victory Of principle in his native
State, higher honors awaited him than would
be conferred, by calling him to the honorary
dignity Of the Vice Presidency. 1t was in
sisted that when restored by the voice of Vir-
gina to the Senate, from which he had been
ostrac'sed by the foul and dishonest intrigues
OF the factlous Nullifiers and Nationals, his
admirable eloquence, and the moral acquired
from the persecution he had endured in the
cause OF rePub!canism, would put him at
once at the head of the Senate, from which he
had been eXiled, and enable him TO render
stillgreater services to the cause, and to endear
himself still more to the great democracy of
the Union, which would ultimately lead to the
distinction for which alone the Vice Presi-
dency could be held by his friends, an OBJ
jcct worthy his acceptance"
This was the language of the Globe to-
wards Mr.. Rives in May, 1885. Mr.. Van
Buren, was in Washington at the very time
this was written and published. Mr.. Riyes
was returned to the Senate, by the voice of
the people of his native State, Virginia. He
has, indeed, vindicated the right of instruc-
tion-he has asserted the rights and princi-
pies of his State, and maintains them at this
day by his "admirabe eloquence," and
through his moral courage, but to expert
ence new prosecutions. Will it be believed
that the very coalition of malcontents," of
Nullifers, and some of the Nationals, are all
uniting with the ultraiStS of the party with
with which he has heretofore acted and have
formed a new coalition to prosecute him!
Such is the fact
The official organ of the Government
(the Globe) is now the organ Of that coalition.
Mr.. Rives is denounced by that organ as a
" iederalist," and by its affiliated presses, as
an enemyt 10 The administration and an enemy
10 The people! At the same time, the " in
trigues Of the I" factious Nullfcrs' are over
looked, and the great leader, who, for seven
years, was stigmatized with every foul and