Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-07-11
Letter Of Benjamin Watkins Leigh.
D,cunnNn Nav I6 1890

lifted, inviting me to the public dinner 10 be given
dy Of the honorable William c. Rives, at Amhu
lge of court house, on the Goth has been delayed
II BE- the road; did not receive it till yest
IS The day.
ga" thank you for the polite terms in viii
doc. Won have No., ,,,;o,J a. ;;,o.; It
lem. siness which ro[,,,;.oo , o,,o,:
II nome, would have prevented ~ OF avaIing m
Gun sell Oft, lift had been received in time. b.
a" we candor compes me to add, that hat would n
mug have been the only, indqad, the principal rel
'on son which would have induced me TO decIir
tate it. NN0'''
for
ny have seen much in Mr.. Rives recent col
ion duct to respect and approve. | am most DIES
he rous to see every man sustained against tina
ev. despotlsm OF party, welded by the patronag
be OF The executive, which allows no independenc
the or thought or action, and which, after hayin
he destroyed SO many public men, is now leveIIe
las against Mr.. Rlves in his turn, with its usua
IA ruthiessneSs OF vengeance. And, after hayiD,
So. seen the senate OF the United State humblcd anS
degraded at the presidents feet, by the exp,n
Nv gIng resolution, and its influence, in manner
10 struck out OF our political system, it has afor
es ded me particular pleasure to see Mr.. Riyes rs.
m sertlng and maintaining in that BODY his own
IN independence OF executive control, and. at the
10 same time, the independence, the dignity, and
:" just authority oithe body itself Such con-
> auc' ought TO redeem him from the blame of
J., many former errors and faults. | am even
i Iu!SPosea 10 admit 1t as partial atoncment for
~ ,IiS concurrence IN the eXpunging resolution.
lie is now an object of persecution to the fac
Fl lloh whose baIelul power he has contributed toI
es'aolSh; and am really happy to see public
non 10! bestowed upon him by others who take
uiHereht view from mine oGthe present state
ol ponies: But so long as Mr.. Rives holds him.
sci whoIly uncommited on the subject of the
PioS'ucu'lal election, cannot in honor and con-
S p;e' commit myself to the support of Mr..
aNoS. al the same time am aware that nv
5upPoi' OF opposition is utterly Insignificant and
myself e''0 ou'
While the doctrine stands admitted, that the
president IS entitled by the constitution to the Ic
custody OF inc Puoc treasure, it is in NV hum. e
o.c oPIhoh, question Of comparative insiy- ID
nI"cahce' whetherth the system of sub.treasurers. a
u Tue select state bank system, with general s.
u SPeclal deposltes, or any other scheme for
.ecoP'ilg 'ne public treasure, which the wisdom o.
;. me legislature or the ingenuity of the exec &c
i'l'e can deVlse, shall be adopted; for in effect. Of
nc custody OF the public money will still be in
m t; Ptes'aont atone 1t is the doctrine itself h
'nIn 1t removes the people to explode and al
~ ,L as Tue most false, the most impudent, III
M the most dangerous ofal executive preten. m
IONS r ''0''' q,
regard the presidential election as in trutb AT
nc oL'y important uestion, the great question
=, n"olai interest, which involves and absorbs es
II others IN the present juncture Of affairs tn
'o.nl'ig' IN my sense Of things, can stop. or ne
'en cnecK' the transition of the federal govern arr
roh my .llere elective monarchy, and mon TIC
10y elective through the instrumentalitv of COZ
~ .'o'' ''a 9hant faction and the foulest cor aV
lPtlon, but the dismission of our nroeo,,, ~. ere
RS from The public councils and con6Jenoo of
rever; rulers, call them, for thew . re nnr ait
asterS IN fact, whatsoever thew ought IN No
theory; and hard masters too, who ma ntain the
~ pay inc army of partisans on which thew sen
, p"u 'oI power by openly and avowedly Us
allng out the honors and emoluments or o. has
uncut the least regard to any merit bnt artI, led
al ana party services. In one instance ~ ton
ast land believe in many more.l an ofEcor stat
Ter having received and Appropriated nnhI;n imp
ohey 10 his own use, has been knowinolv NOV imp
'ea 10 retain his office, and TO enjoy the spoiIs rice
oIoer 10 secure the continuance of his own L
u MS friends support Of the administrator. ry
. INC CABINET minister, who was president min
'NSoh instrument in this gross and indie emp
"ouSc Oh executive patronage, is still resi-
,s'ueh' van buren's secretary Of the trea. his
y. mar
corruption is raising her head with shame. VIII
hoat lear, and $50 far as the dominant fac. man
= and the reigning dynasty is concerned guio
hout reProach. The stimulous to the AGRA. Vieo
spirit administered by the government n, ciou
'shngton through all its organs-the crv Of lent !.
poor against the rich, which has been wiIrnI. aeri
nd successfully ralsed-the Glamour agains, 1, nhe
Independence in the administration of ns. me-
, winch is but the prelude to an assault, on VI
principal property-those dispusting nro' who
ions OF ultra-democracy, louder and louder me
'ys' IN proportion to their insincerity, and hF'
success oil these odious and dishonest arts It's 81
ese are symptoms of degeneration from aull
'ePubIlcan institutions, the nature and ten. IS &C
y OF which are not to be mistaken bv anv Succe
who has bestowed the least attention TO the verse
ry oil the progress and downfall of repub oouhS
governments And unless the practice of oe'ng
arts can be signally rebuked, by discar arm
from office the unhappy or the guilty. man 'hro"
wlItulIy or by compulsion, is the leader .'eu le
tool, of the faction which practices them 70 say
one shall cease to have any hone tho headIc
bic. In fine, must insist that Mr. R;vcs still Ut
very honest man, thinking as he thinks of up the
easures OF the administration, ought TO run.