The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-30
an Wiling ,h.. en- enlightened and impartial publI.

am wiling that an enlightened and impartial public
shall decide. The Wings have in like manner, been
opposed 10 them We have. therefore. OF necessity
acted together 10 carrying out our respective opinions
But does this corporation OF ancs,ug measures which
we both believed 10 he Of the most fatal tendency 10
the liberties and Welfare Of the country prove the exist
ence Of corrupt aud dishonorable eoaiiioa ID was
Inc result oil no compact or arrangement. but the ne
cessay consequence OF coincidence Of opinion the
measures involved; and so far from being criminal
or reproachiu act IN eiey party, il high duty OF
patriotism in both Was to abandon apd renounce my
opinions. because the Wings happened TO concur in
them. Does truth become iasehood, because the wings
embrace i'll Who, then, these wings. thus held up
10 supersous horror . sort Of political lepers.
whose touch. however slight, Is pollution and DEATH
know they have been recently, spoken Of with great
gravity, as foreign enemies" with whom any com.
munic cation whatever ncurs the penalties Of treason
under the definition OF that offence in the constitution
But are they NOT fact, fellow-citizens of common
county. having equal stake in the general welfare
with other men, many Of them distinguished by tho con-
dence aud respect Of their counrymen in public
Of every grade Of importance from the highest to the
lowest, and whose patriotism. intelligence and virtue
cannot be questioned, whatever differences OF opinion,
other matters, may prevail Is not then to disho-
the spirit Of the age Is it not to insult the under
standings Of the republican portion Of our felow-c-
zens attempt invoke their preudices against
individual because his opinions his acts have been
wrong in themselves, but because in the maintenance
Of those opinions he aud the wings have acted together
they must Of necessity have DONE IL they acted at ALL
in resisting which both Of them believed be
fatally injurious the best interests OF the people For
one shall never be deferred by the bruipm uimen Of
any such denunciaons from treadng. firmly and fear
lessy, the path Of principle whhcrsoever il may lead
in the honest and faithful discharge Of my duty to
the country.
Sill, another charge alleged against me Is, that
have entered into new combinations and engage
in h. .1.xlt al oIa nj
lSi0 This, like all the other insinuations and ac-
cusatinns brought against me, is wholly destitute Of
foundation. have nothing TO do with the next pre-
sdential election. l have had higher and more
appropriate duty, in my estimation, 10 perform-to
wit: to give my aid, In the situation in which your
confidence has placed me, toward taking care OF the
great interests of the country they should be af-
feced, for good or for evil, BY the policy and mea-
sures OF the existing administration. That duty
have sought honestly and fearlcssly TO perform. In
what manner il has been done, is now before you,
for your deliberate and enlightened judgment The
presidential election have considered matter
belonging exclusively to the people, in their own
high sovereign capacity In their hands, and 10 their
unbiased decision, have been willing to leave il.
In no possible contingency under the provisions Of
the constitution, could as one OF the Senators Of
the State, have any thing to do with IT, On the con-
trary, the constitution expressly excludes any Sc
major or Representative from being an elector" Of
President have, therefore, abstained from taking
any part in its discussion, or In the arrangements
connected with 1t. As one of the people, shall be
prepared when the proper time arrives for decision,
to take that course which, according TO all the lights
then before ms, / shall conscientiously believe the
best interests, and the permanent freedom and hap
piness of the country demand. In the mean while,
am GRcommitted 10 any Of the candidates And II
Is precisely because l am so uncommitied, and have
refused 10 commit myself that all this storm of de-
nurciation by which your good opinion OF me has
been sought to be shaken, has been raised against
me. ,
IL had been willing TO give an unconditional
pledge TO vote for Mr.. Van Rnren's reelection to
the Presidency, TO sink swim" with him, and to
support his administration, right or wrong, might
have been reelected, without difficulty (according 10
the authoritative exponent Of the views OF his party
in Virginia. ~ 10 the Senate Of The U. s. But
could give no such pledge, telow-ciizens, without
betraying and dishonoring you, well as degrading
myself. A Representative OF the sovereignty OF
Virginia. in the highest council of the nation, il
seems TO me, should be free and unrammelled TO as
ser under all circumstances, the sacred tenets OF
her political faith. He should be there the vigilant
sentinel OF her rights the faithful guardian of her
interests the fearless champion of her principles and
not manacled before hand by pledges, or bound By
indsntatyes to do the bidding Of Executive power.
have always been willing TO render and have render
ed candid and honest support to such Of the mea-
sures of the administration as appeared TO me con-
Sistent with Republican principles and the true in
tereSts Of the country but those of an opposite cha
racter, have felt myself called on, by every con-
VI hoHol FdHiot'Sui, W ISsiSt " lHC
utmost of my ability. Every rejecting mind must
have observed, with painful anxiety the rapid growth
of Executive influence, within the last few years,
sustained BY system OF party discipline, and OF
organized denuneiation Mrough the Press, such as
has never existed in any other country, pretending
10 freedom, under the II II shall be permitted
to continue, II must brn1every other department of
the government and the people and the States them
selves, TO the feet OF Executive power and finally
,exingush every sentiment Of independence and
public virtue in the land. II is for the people them
selves to say whether this shall be- II Is much more
their cause than that of any individual who may
have been singled out the victim, whose blood is
to cement this gloomy fabric of party depo,ism and
tyranny For myself, humble as aua, feel that
my own fate is in this instance indissoluby bound TO
that Of the free institutions Of my counry and il
am to fall victim TO power, the cause of liberty
and truth will fall with me, and he, who is buried in
their ruins, ishappier far than he whosurvves him."
VIC RIVES.
Castle HILL Albemarle Co., March 18th, 80.
Richmond Enquirer Of 10th inst