Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-04
ADDRESS
OF
WILLIAM G.. RIVES,
TO THE People OF VYRGIVIA.

| At the moment of passing from you
service in the honorable and responsible,
station in which your confidence ha
twice placed me, to the quiet aud no
unwelcome scenes Of private life, fint
myself pursued with violence of de
nunciation aud bitterness Of obloquy
! which allow me no choice butte appel
in defence of the character which party
prescription may still have left me. tt
the sober and candid judgment of my
countrymen. 1t is now twenty-five
years since first entered into the SER
vice OF the State which gave me birth,
as representative of the people, and
from that period 10 this, with hardly an
interval, my time and faculties such as
they are. have been devoted IL the pub
lie service. Humble as my exertiops
for the general veal, during the long Pc
Rod, may have been, and far short as
they have undoubtedly fallen of my own
wish, l have yet aattered myself that
the zeal and good intentions, which ac-
compahied them had earned for me some
small share Of the esteem and regard of
my fellow. citizens. have sought, and
u. i
have never coveted, but on the contra
ry, have often declined or reIinquished,
and hold as nothing when put in the
balance against an honest fame, and the
respect Of a virtuous aud enlightened
people. But to these, the most precious
possession of life spent in the public
service, confess | am not insensible :;
and cannot consent to surrender them to
the merciless prescription of party, with
out an effort, at least, TO disabu.e the
minds Of my fellow. citizens.
Ever since have felt it my duty to
the country under the solemn convic-
tions OF my understanding. to oppose
favorite measure of the administration,
which believed and still believe to be
fraught with the gravest dangers TO the
public liberty and happiness, I have
been the object OF deep political resent
ment, and occasionally OF fierce and Bit
ter denunciation. But within the las,
three or four months the storm OF de-
nunciation has gathered new force, and
been directed with unsparing fury a.
gainst me. During that period. the
Robespierrean Press at Washington,
under the immediate control of the ad.
ministration, has duly exeited all its di.
abolical resources of false hood and defa.
nation to blacken my character, assail
my motives, and misre present my con.
duct. 1t has culled from lis vocabulary
of abuse all its most hacknied terms OF
political vituperation, such as Federoiist,
renegade. deserter, Traitor, and BY at.
tachIng them to my name, has sought to
make 1T the object of general odium and
reprcbation. At the same time, The
partisans of the administration OF every
grade, in and out Of Congress, have
been taught thst they could render no
homage more acceptable to power, than
10 discharge, each one, his poisoned
shaft at me. The whole pack. 'the lit.
tie dogs and all, Tray Blanche and
Sweetheart" have all been let loose
and harked on in this general "hunt of
! obloquy" against me. And last though
| not least, the most ancient and powerful
Press Of our own State, lately agreeing
with me too, in my condemnation of the
leading and test measure OF the admins
tration, but determined, at all hazards 10
sink or swim" with the men oft, af-
| ter many salutations Of "art thou in
health my BROTHER accompanying the
point of its dagger, has, at length, o.
penny proclaimed the acar-cry Of its par
ty, in the coming elections, to be "Riyes.
or NO Rives." The whole pow er aud
influence oftbe Executive are thus com.
bined to pursue me, it would seem TO To-.
tai humiliation.
What crime have perpetrated, fell
low-citizeDs, what heinous offence have
| committed, to have drawn down upon
me all this fierce and unrelentins hos
tility Have | misrepresenied the sen.
tIments and opinions, or betrayed the
interests of my State? 1t will not be
pretended. 1t is notorious that a large
majority of the people of Virginia, as
well as Of heI representatives in the Lee
gislaiuIe Of the State, are firmly and de
cIdedly opposed to that measure Of The
administration, which I have felt il nv
duty TO resist, to the best Of my ability.
Have departed from any principle I
have heretofore held Have aban
doned any tenet of the political faith /
have protested, the old Republican creed
OF virginia. challenge the most search
ing and vindictive scrutiny to point out
solitary instance Of such departure or a.
baUdonment. On the contrary, the CON-
plain! against me is that have adhered
TOO sternly to my principles, which were
butEeeehtly the protested principles ofthe
entire party ftbe administration-;ha