The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-22
MR.. RIVEs.

the spider, Prejudice, has spun his web for
aye.
They are endowed with peculiar kind Of
discretion, TO which the party which they at
tempt to represent will feel one day indebted
for its increasing prosclytes, and final sue
cess.
The result Of the elections in Virginia has
given rise to various speculations relative TO
the seat in the U. S. Senate now occupied by
Mr.. Rives, whose term expires next March
The precise political character Of the Virgil
mia Legislature elect, on joint ballot, is still
doubtful The Wings at one time supposed
they should be able TO elect one of their own
number, who should be Gin principle, at
heart, and in practice, Whig,' with ease.
These expectations, we believe, are now a
little dashed. 1t is probable there will be a
tie in joint ballot. 1t is quite improbable
therefore, if Mr.. Rives is candidate, that a
"Whig" can be elected. In any event, whe-
Their the administration claim majority Of 2
or A, or whether there be tie, we agree with
the New York Journal Of Commerce that,
In either case it will be easy for the wings, in
connection with the conservatives, TO re-elect MIR.
Rves to The Y. s Senate, if they please to do SO"
If, however, the Wings are disposed to be
peculiar and over-fastidious, they will have it
in their power probably to provide for the de-
feat of both Conservatives and Wings, and
the election of Locofoco. If judicious
counsels obtain all will be well but if the
"rule or ruin" policy prevails, both Wings
and Conservatives will be involved in COM
mon ruin. The Boston (Mass.) Centinel we
believe one of the oldest Wing papers in Bos-
ton, has, on this head, the following sensible
remarks on the result Of the late election:
"This is of vast importance in moral point of
view, but more so, because the term of Mr.. Rives
expires next March, and Senator in Congress
will be chosen for SIX years from mat date.
Among the candidates for this high and respon-
sible station, Mr.. Rives himself will doubtless be
conspicuous We obserre that some Of nc Whtg pa
pers are redisposed 10 join IN crusade against ann
In this taeg c1hbit more zeal than discretion. They
90 on the narrow principle that no man who has
ever been opposed to us worthyof any favor such
a system would forever keep us in minority. How
is the minority TO become the majority without
accessions from the opposite side? What attraction
4 is there for new proselyes If we frown upon them
] and dcbar them from all promotion in our ranks3
\ The bad policy of such system is perfectly mani
4 fest.
q Il is not denied that Mr.. Rives has been Of the
1 Administration party, and that he was a personal
friend OF Gen. Jackson He was under strong per-
sona obligations TO The late Administration. But IL
is equally certain, that since he has been in the Sen
ate he has taken an independent course, and favor
ed the views Of the Administration SO far and SO far
only as he has deemed them conducive to the best
interests Of the country. Mean time, on most OF The
Laat, ,,VI ind Ire nf
the opposition sustaining them with all the force of
4 his re-emnent talents, and his influence as Vr-
ginia Senator. In particular Mr. Rives has strenu-
I ously opposed the odious Sub-Treasury system in
every shape. In this he has arrayed himself in the
mos; hostile opposition to the Administration
Through the trying period of the present and past
year. had he bent the knee to the Executive nod, and
! submitted to the dictation from the white House, THE
] HIGHEST OFFICIAL FhvoRs WOULD HAVE BEEN BEsTow-
ED UPON HIM. But his lofty spirit scorned to be made
a servile instrument Of party, or 10 lend aid to mea-
sures which were adverse to the public good he
has thus been proof against the influence OF patro.
| mage, and through the whole session ne has stood
fast BY the interests of the people, in opposition 10
corrupt Administrator.
/ "Nor is this all. The violent organs ofthe admin
tration have charged the result of the recent cleo
ton in Virginia, to the influence OF himself and his
| friends, and there is little doubt of the fact His
course in the Senate has heen perfectly well under
stood in the Old Dominion, as being opposed TO the
administration. The moral effect OF opposition from
i
is abused on this score the more he is worthy of the
confidence of the whole Wing party"
How different has been the course of seve-
raj papers in more southern latitude! The
Alexandria Gazette, for example, has given
currency to the following important gossip.
GA letter from Washington received Yesterday,
saws Mr. Rives has lately been gracious with the
Presdent-has dined with him, &c; Some says he
is on the stool OF repentance. We know nothing OF
4 these things, but inclined TO think that be-
| tween two stools he will come TO the ground"
To which the Richmond Wing added the
following commentary, and we hope both pa
ragraphs have answered the most sanguIne
expectations of their authors, and accomplish
ed al the good intended;
Mr. Rives may dine with Mr.. Van Buren, till this
| time next year, and be gracious as he maybe
may make whatever stipulations compromises, &c.
he pleascs but there are Conservative Delegates,
elected BY the people because of their hostility TO The
leading measure OF the Administration, whom, we
know, he can not transfer 10 Mr., Van Buren,. AT
least six of the Conservatives elect are as uncom-
promsingly hostile to the party" as any Wings in
the General Assemby.-Rtch, Wig. Ill.,
Mr.. Van Buren,, we believe, dispenscs his
bounty with liberal and hospitable hand, as
Mr.. Clay testified a short time since to the
Senate. We suspect there is scarcely mem
Der of either House Of Congress who has not
dined with the President. The whole Wing
party in Congress, therefore, according to the
Alexandrian logic, must be on the stool OF
repentance" and "betwocn two stools viii
come to the ground" Messrs. Clay, Web
ster, ct al, we suppose "may dine with Mr..