Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-05-02


attemp. TO elect a Wing. 1t is not in good
taste usually to indulge in egotism, but II
tolerated it must be on an occasion so int.
resting as the present, when every lndl-
vidual is called upon to define his position
"a position connected with the views and
opinions of the representative, and the po-
litical character Of his constituency
Sir, when | first consented TO be a candl-
date at the last Springs election, ! did il
| reluctantly, and under influences which
no grateful heart could resist. then told
my constituents from the Hastings, that
{ elected | should be faithful to all their
local concerns, but must insist on being
unfettered and unpledged in regard to
a United States Senator. With this
declaration | was elected. 1t is true in
private conversations with a few friends,
confessed my purpose was TO vote for
William G. Rives, aud ingeniously, ! say,
this has been my purpose ever since, with
the reserved condition that he did not
throw himself back into the support ofthe
administration, especially upon that most
odious and ruinous measure, ifadopted, the
sub-Treassry scheme.-My support Of
Mr.. Rives implies nc desertion OF my po-
political friends. A Wing | have been,
and Wing | shall continue TO be. so long
as that party continue to act upon princi-
pies which | think right. No man on this
floor has made greater sacrifices than l.,
for maintaining with consistency, for ff-
teen years, my political opinions. care
not so much for the name Of Wing, but |
shall pertinaciously adhere TO the princi.
plies which that party supports. The first
is, in the present crisis, opposition TO Ex-
e%cutive misrule, especially in its fiscal ef-
fairs-and the support Of those men who
will honestly and independent stand up
for the integrity, honor, and Liberties of
the country. BY these tests, then, vio'
late no conslstency-I desert not my par.
ty by supporting Mr.. Rives. Gentlemen
say that we go for expediency in his sup
port and abandon principles. Not so.-
Nothing is expedien. which implies an a.
abandonment Of principle and | contend
that, in political life, as well as in our pri-
vate and social relations, that hone sty is
TIE best policy. But, it is wise and po-
litic for public as well as private men to
conform to circumstances, when such con-
formity is not morally wrong. Some OF
tho Wings here would prefer a genuine
and consistent Whig-all our private con-
situations have demonstrated such q one
cannot be elected. As an alternative, a
large majority prefer Mr.. Rives, while
sumo OF the party are for him as an orlgl-
nal choice. Mr.. Speaker, while feel a
greater interest now for Mr.. Rives than |
have done at any lime since my election,
on account OF his noble stand for the hon
or and principles ofthe Old Dominion, he
is not to me free from objections. He
voted for the Expunging resolution-on
act which reflects disgrace upon the Com.
monwealth. Those resolutions are now
condemned by n majority of all parties
The Expunging was an act which 'blurred
the record of the country, truth, and de-
cency; )" but let it be remembered in palli-
alton of Mr.. Rives, that he but carried
out the instructions of the Virginia Legis-
lature-that he never had any agency in
suggesting the E~xpunging process himself
NV ~ ~ iilcbld w iiiN V w kluk
atrocious Dissertation Of the Constitution,
He thought the net constitutional, but |
am persuaded, never expected the Virgin
10 instructions would be literally carried
out. But, sir, is not his competitor Judge
Mason, an Expungeri Is not Thomas
II. Benton the father Of the neiarIols act
and one who glories in the mfamy of the
paternity! Between Rives-who, all ad-
init, IS an able, pure, virtuous, honorable
and Gmiable mainland Benton, an issue
is made concerning the great currency
question, which agitates the whole Union,
and other important issues will be made
in the future history Of the country. We
are called upon, then, TO sustain Mr..
Rlves againstthat great moral ieper, whose
very touch is contamination. Can we,
as Nirginians, as honorable men-can we
sacrifice Rlves, TO afford q triumph to
Beaton-a man whose recorded distinction
in the halls o Chapel Hill College-a dis.
%tinction well known to forty gentlemen
on this floor, whose authorship ofthc east
room letter., and whose cruel frauds upon
the widow md orphan, give him high
claims upon the support of a virtuous, in
telllgent and patriotic people? | hope
not. | trust that Rives, whose moral
character is above reproach, acknowl.
edged by all; whose mind and attainments
are of the highest order, will never be put
down that Benton may rise upon his fall.
wish to notice the remarks Of the gen.
tleman from Albemarle, {Mr. Southall,)
whom | congratulate upon being in his
seat. The other day he was sick and de-.
pressed. felt all the sympathy | could
for a friend, whose powers Of mind are
only equalled by the excellence of his
heart and private virtues. The indispo-
sition under which | know he sincnrelu