The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-06-06
SPEECH OF Mr.. RIvES,


SPEECH OF MR.. RIvES,
Deliuercd at a Public Dinner gipcn him By
his fellosO-citisens Of Charlottesville, Va.
After the cloth was removed, a number
Of Regular Toasts were drank, amongst
which was the following:
Our Distinguished guest and tcllow-ctizcn,
WILLIAM c. RlvEs-We respect him for his
virtues, admire him for his talents, and hon.
or him for his public services. "Let him
continue as he has done to take principle for
his guide, and public good the end, and a vir-
tuous and patriotic people will never forsake
him."
After the repeated and hearty cheers with
which this toast was received, Mr.. Rives
rose and addressed the company for more
than two hours in a strain of fervid elo-
quence, worthy of his talents, and that told
on the hearts and judgments of his audience.
The occasion and his position were calcu-
lated to call forth remarks on the past and
present policy Of the administration, espec-
iully in relation to the subject of Finance;
on the position which the so-called Conser-
vative party occupy; and on the causes
which have made necessary the one and in
fuenced the other, and these were the topics
on which Mr. r. dwelt at some length and
with equal clearness and force. The brief
and imperfect notes which we took will ena-
BILE Us to do no more than present an imPer-
feet outline of the speech, without pretend
ing to retain the chaste and elegant language
of the orator.
Mr.. Rives commenced by returning his
60 e. A. AL
for the honor they had done him. He said
thoy we're his neighbors and countrymen-
that "jury of the vicinage" which the Con-
stitution and Laws accorded to every citizen,
when put in jeopardy for his life or liberty,
his property or his reputation; and now that
he was arraigned by the spirit of party in-
tolerance for high "crimes and misdemean-
ors" in daring to resist its imperial man
dates, he was proud and happy to have them
for his triers, and prouder still to receive
their approving verdict. If there had been
if he had ever abandoned the principles he
protested or betrayed the interests commit
ted TO his charge, they must have observed
and detected it.
He referred to the occasion five years ago,
on his resignation Of his seat in the Senate,
when his countrymen had offered him the
same proud testimony Of their appreciation,
with which they we're now honoring him.
He said the Government of the Union, and
a strong and powerful party we're then with
them. Nop the Government of the Union
was against them, and although they were
themselves maintaining precisely the same
principles they did then, large portion of
the party with which they had formerly &C
ted, had gone off from them also, and We're
sustaining the Government in its new posi-
ton. And yet, Notwithstanding this change
of circumstances, his countrymen here pre-.
sent, who had been the warm friends of the
President, we're as ready, and aye, more
ready, as the crowded scene before him gave
assurance, to come forward now, in face Of
power and party violence to do honor to wha
they believed conscientious adherence t.
principle on his part, than they were rhe,
backed by the Government and numerou.
and powerful party. In this noble procedur.
on their part, he saw spirit Of lofty indie
|pendence, fearless devotion to principle,
stern defiance Of power when in the wrong
which if nourished and kept alive in tn,
hearts of our fellow citizens, would rende
the liberties of our country immortal -
Loud oh eers.) He was not weak or van
enough to suppose that it was any persona
merit of his, which his friends designed t
honor on this occasion. Far, very far iron
it. They saw vital principle of represen
tative Government fidelity and indie
pendence of the representative character
/, involved in the ruthless war which was no,
prosecuted to destroy him for refusing I
!; surrender the interests and opinions Of hi
constituents and the solemn convictions {
his own understanding to the arbitrary be
hests Of party and of power; and it was I
this great principle of American freedom
they designed this day to tender the homag
Of their hearts.
He then adverted to the extraordinar
change of position which had taken plac,
s on the part Of the Administration and tn
I'll great body of its supporters since 1873!
when, with one voice, they rejected and d
nounced, in the strongest terms, the yer
fI scheme they were now urging upon Ii
! country. II, said Mr.. Rives, the Sub Tres
: sury scheme was corrupting, disorganizir
and revolutionary in its character then, is
not, in the nature Of things, the same nov
Why, then, have the views Il the Administr
ton changedi The Judges Convention
Richmond, have attempted to furnish an a
swer by referring it to the suspension
specie payments by the banks. But d
they not know when the Deposite syste
was adopted, that this is casualty to whit
every bank is exposed1 Mr.. Woodbury.