Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-06-13
MR.. LEIGH'S LETTER.
Richmond Mau l6. 1890.

court house on the Doth, has been DELAYED
on the road l did not receive it TIL yesier-
day.
thank you for the polite terms in which
YOU have Commune icated The invitation Blu.
sIness, which requires my constant aticni ion
at home, would have prevented me avail,rg
myself OF il, il il Ii I'd been received in time
But candor compeis me to add, that tha,
would not have been the only. or indeed the
principal reason which would have induced
me 10 decline il.
] have seen much in MIR. Rives' recent
conduct 10 respect and approve. ] am most
desirous TO see every man sustained aqains,
that dcspo,ism Of party, welded by the pat.
ronage Of the Executive, which allows no
independence Of thought or action, and
which after having destroyed so many pub.
lie men, is now levelled against MIR. Rives
IN his turn, with its usual ruihlessness of
vengeance. And after having seen The Sens
ate OF the United States humbied and degra.
ded at the Presidents feet by the Expung,
ing resolution, and lis influence ia a manner
struck out OF our political system, il has at.
forded me particular pleasure 10 see MIR.
Rives asserting and maintaining, in tina, DO.
dy, his own independence Of executive con.
troll, and at the same time, the independence,
the dignity aud the just authority OF the
nony itself. Such conduct ought to redeem
h'm from the blame Of many errors and
iaui,s. am even disposed TO admit il as a
partial a!onement for his concurrence in the
EXpunging Resolution. ile is now an OBJ
Ject oil persecution TO the faction whose bale
iui power he has contributed 10 establish
and am really happy to see public honors
bestowed upon him by others who take o
different view from mine OF the present state
OF politics But 50 long as Mr. Rives holds
himself wholly uncommiIted on the subject
OF The Presidential election, cannot, in hon.
or and conscience, Commit my sellto the sup
port OF MIR. Rives.-At the same time am
aware That my support or opposition is ut>
terly Insignificant aud inconsequential 10
him and every body else but myself
While the doctrine stands admitted, that
The President is entitled by the constitution
10 the custody Of the public treasure, 1t is,
IN my humble opinion, a question of COM
paraiive insignifcance, whether the system
OF sub>ireasuries, or the select state bank
system, with general or special deposites, or
any other scheme for keeping The public
treasure, which the wisdom of tho Legisla-
ture or the ingenuity of the Executive can
devise, shall he adopted; for, in effect, the
custody OF the public money will still he in
the President alone. Ii is the doctrine it.
self, which it behooves the people 10 explode
and condemn, as the most false, the most i'm
pudent, and the most dangerous, OF oil Ex-
ecutive pretensions.
i-regard the Presidential election as in
truth the only important question, the great
question OF national interest, which involves
and ahsorhs all others, in the present junc>
ture Of affairs. Nothing, in my sense of
things, Can stop, or even check, the iransi.
lion of the federal government into mere
elective monarchy, and a monarchy elective
through the fundamentally of the most ma
lignant faction and the foulest corruption,
but The dismissiDn of our rulers from the
public councils and confidence forever ru-
lers call them, for they are cur masters in
fact, whatsoever they ough, to be in theory;
and hard masters too, who maintain and pay
the army OF partizans on which they depend
Tor power, by openly and avowediy dealing
on: the honors and emoiumenis Of Office,
without the least regard TO any merit but
party zeal and party services. In one in ,
stance al least (and tel;eve in many more) |
an officer, tier having received and appro- !
p'iated public money to his own use, has
been knowingly permitted 20 retain his of
fice, and 10 enjoy The spoils, in order To Sc
cure the continuance of his own and his |
friends support OF the administration and |
The Cabinet Minister, who was President |
Jackson's instrument 10 this gross and indie,
cent abuse Of Executive patronage, is still |
President Van Buren's Secretary of The ,
Treasury. Corruption is raising her head |
without shame, without fear, and ESQ far as |
The dominant faction and the reigning dy-
nasty IL conceIned) without reproach. The !
TO the Agrarian spirit administered |
by the government at Washington, through |
all iIs organs-ihe cry of the poor agans |
the rich, which has been wiilully and sue
cessfuily raised-ihe olamor against all in |
dependence in The administration of justice, |
which is but the prelude 10 an assault on the |
principle OF property-lhose disgusting pro.
LESSONS of uiua.democgocy, louder and |
louder, always, in proportion TO their con.
'cIous insincsr:iy-and the success of these |
'dious and dishonest arts !; these are symp.
oms OF degeneration from our republican |
The nature end tendency of |
which are not 10. be mistaken by any man |
who has bestowed the least attention TO The !
history OF The progress and downfall of Ie> |
publican governments And unless the |
practice OF these arts can be sighaIly rebu> |
ked, by discarding from Office the unhappy !
Or the guilty man, w he, willingly, or by COM
puIsion, is the leader or the tool OF the fac.
lion which praclises them, for one shall |
cease to have any hope Of the Republic.
In fine, must insist, that Mr. Rives and |
every honest man, thinking az he thinks of
he measures of this adm iDjstration. ought
10 stand forth with Mr.. Tallmadge, and pro.
claim "uncompromisiog hostility to The e.
eciioD of Martin Van Buren,"
have written this letter, 10 avert The nos.
'ibility OF any misunderstanding of nv own
opinions by those who have thought proper
o honor me with the invitation which you
rave communicated TO me. Whether these