Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-05-09
DINNER TO MIR RIyEs.


account Of the proceedings, from which we
copy the following remarks made by MIR.
Rives on the occasion
The filth regular toast having been drank
with ropturous applause. MIR. Rives rose and
addressed the company, for mUre than two
hours, IN most happy and felicitous man.
ner. He ably indicated himself, and the
course which he had pursued in Congress.
from The asperslons which had been cast up
on him by many Of the partizans Of the ADJ
minIstratipn. He told us OF some of the
proceedings OF Congress, since the sub. Trea-
sury scheme had been preached, and the
means used 10 keep the party together.-and
said, he knew that many who were now The
ac'iVe and Jealous supporters of "lhe favor
lie measure" were, up TO the extra session
OF congress, opposed TO il, and that he could
nave confronted them with their own Ian.
guage, stronger than he had ever used agains,
| LITE showed how completely and effect.
ualiy party discipline had been exer,ed Ia
change the minds of those Who were opnosed
| 10 The sub-Treasury-fo some had onenIv
declared that they sustained il because il was
parry measure, and that, although they
were opposed 10 ii, they must sustain the
president. He read the following striking
| extract from The letter of Hugh S. Legave
TO Pierce Butler, Governor Of South Car
lima:
give II TO you az my deliberate conyic.
lion, that the balance Of the constitution 10
suDverted; that, through the external influ,
ence so constantly brought TO bear upon il .
The Federal Legislature is shorn of almost
all dignity and authority that The freedom
OIL mo and action, essential TO the very idea
OF representative assembly, charged with
the conduct OF limited Government, is as
sailed on all sides, and has been seriousIy
impaired and that our republic is begin.
| ning 10 take The shape of an elective monar.
chy, tempered in some degree by two Houses
oi armament, whose occasional opposition
10 The will OF the Executive is treated as a
revolt against the People in the person OF
their only true representative"
On the snbject of party discipline. he
read The following from the same letter.
81 speak OF what is the inevitable conse
qnence OF the discipline of party.' as il is 50
express'vely called here, by which all free.
ooih OF private Judgments sacrificed 10 the
imaginary VIII of the majority, and public o.
|. pinlon IS shaped, with view TO future elect.
IONS by leaders debating no one knows how TO
muititudes of dissenting, dissatisfied. and vet
complying followers-lhe " hole BODY doino
what almost every member OF il dsap-
proves"
he SPOKE OF Inc declarations OF Govern
menl ofhcers, the increased expenditures of
inc Government for the last ten years, and
Compared The course of the present Admin.
! Istralion with Jef1erson's, and asked If Mr.
Jefferson could correct abuses and prevent
the interference of Executive office>hoIders
IN elections, and reduce the expenditures. if
MT. Van Buren, could moi do The same? He
appealed, in strains of eloquence, 10 his au.
dience, TO know the result of Welding 10 The
VIII OF the Executive-showed the sn,i.re.
Puoilcanlsm OF such an acquiescence. and
me dangers threatening, our country il the
PEOPLE did not spurn II with ndisnity. He
alluded 10 The speech which he made when
ne offered substitute 10 Mr.. Cri,tenden's
Dih. lie had been accused of voting for Mr..
Us bill, but said he did not; but that was
Jar preferable TO the one introduced by Mr.
Wall, an old federalist, who now claimed 10
be OF the Democratic Republican school,
The speech which he made when he offered
his resolutions, 10 the very words of Mr..
Jefferson, he considered TO be the most re-
publican speech he ever made in his life a nd
Thai he was prepared to stand or fall by hat
he had said on that occasion.
Mr.. X. compared the conduct of MIR.
Richie and the Judges Convention (in ma
King the support Of Mr.. Van Buren, the
whole burden of their song in their appeals
10 The People, TO that OF Demetrius, the Sill
veFsmith, and his craftsmen, mentioned in
the 18th chapter ofthe Acts, constantly cry
ing out " Great is Diana of the Ephesians. -
when their craft was in danger of being set
at nought by the Apostle PauIs denouncing
! idolairy. He said, let the modern Deme,
riuses and their political craftsmen, il they
please TO DO so, repeat their cry of"GREAT
Is DIANA Of the Ephesians - but why
should The People, who have no craft TO DC
benefited by doing so, who have no interest
but The general good ard prosperity of the
country, why should they be called on TO
initiate the sense!ess folly of the Epbesians
~ echoing this clamor? Let the President
abJure The errors of his ways, conform his
conduct to the opinions Of The People, and
then, and not fttt then, can he expect the
support OF the People Greai applause.
lhe great issue now is, is the Presiden,
me servant or the master OF the People? Is
'ne t'es'dent The sovereign, or are the PEG.
PIE me sovereign Of the country? Is the
President TO conform his conduct TO the q.
p1nions Of The people, or are the People 10
be made, by party discipline, to conform
their conduct TO The opinions of the Presi.
dent! lie SAID the Judges Convention
were much puzzled 10 give a new name IN
'heir party-they bad at last chrjstened il
The "Oemocratic Republican State Ripbfs
fdrty. These changes, and especiallv
sengthentngs OF party names, were evidences
OF degeneracy and false combinations -
whenever member was taken into the
urn, The style of the firm was Ienptbered
WINE IT'S real strength and solid capi,aI oi
ruin and principle were diminished. The |
original true and orthodox name Of the marty |
ID us puTesi days, was simply Republican,