Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-24

portant and responsible office of u S. SENATOR 1t is
thus that these base and unprincpled give the lie
to- and actually contradict their former assertions and
the bitter and unqualified charges which for years togo
Their they published against this selfsame individual.
If they thus easily acknowledge that they were
nsncere, and that they lied with regard to William c.
Rives how can any honest attach the least weight
to the ISLANDERS and faSehoods which they utter daily
against Mr. Van Buren, when the facts convict them OF
such gross Hypocrisy
But, you are gravely told to compromise" your
principles, to compromise your consistency and political
integrity, and to vote for William c. Rves, not us
matter of ssprincplc but of espedieaey and
means of overthrowing the Administration This may
be the policy of mercenares and cutthroats but it is
certainly policy which all honorable men will shun
1t this doctrine of trucking to s'expedency, that has
made the far greater portion of the Wing party, what
is at this day. set Of selfish dscredted and unprmc
pied politicians 1t is this doctrine which has allied to
every faction and party in the Republic, however dan
gerous Infamous these might be- 1t is this same doc
trne which in the North has clearly and undeniaby
formed coalition between Wings and Abolltionsts;
which contributed to elect rank Aboltionist as Lieu
tenant Governor of New York; and which elevated
Gov Seward himself to the Gubernatoria Chair, who
has recently outraged and nsuled the rights of Vir.
gina and the feelings and interests of every Southern
man Is it not high time, then, for the honest and
dsinterested portion Of the Wings to ponder well the
consequences of the servIle, selfish and degrading
doctrine of expcdiency, which is so popular with the
great body of their partly appeal especially, to those
among YOU who sincere and devoted advocates OF
State Rights. Can you be blind to what is passing
around vou' Is not this Wing doctrine of "eXpedency
aiming deadly blows at ali honesty patriotism and public
virtue Have not seen even Henry 4. HlSc, (who
arrogates himself all the patriotism in the landO in
his Louisa speech, endeavourng to paliate the con-
duct and defend the character of /" Slade, by cha
ractcrzing him as. ga deudcd but sincere fana-
tic, And the of this is because Slade Is ra-
bid Wing like himself! Oh! what gallant defender
4 p,,bt., how bcroI >Lnwa acily bn
can find honed phrases and assumed sincerity, to
soften down the demon-lke enormities of his Adolf
ZIONIST compeer Not less cunning and llbcra IS the
manner, i'll which he passes over Mr. Clays voting with
the Abotionsts against the suppression OF abolition
inccndary publications in the South nor did he give
Mr. Van Buren, any credit for having, by his cast
ING vote calamity defended the rights of the South
on this occasion. 1t is thus that real friends
are abused, while the course of the murderous Abo-
litionst is qualified and mitigated for the purpose
of insuring the cooperation of "Northern fanatics
with Southern knavcs" to Gust Mr.. Van Buren, from
the Presidency, that unprnciped men and mock
uChampapne Orators may obtain the object nearest
their hearts, viz. sPOWER and OFFICE" Such mo-
tires may be proper and patriotic with sueh They
miuht perhaps consent to elevate laGe" to the
Presidency provided ''Slade were to promise them an
office or send them on mission to South America
But YOU who honest men; you who really love your
country vou who never did ask office of Henry Clay
] O. Adams and intend to ask none; you whose pub
lie virtue and love of principle constrain even an oppo-
ncnt to admire and respect you, what, ASK nave you
in common with such men: Can you consent to follow
them in their unprncped course and obey Their selfish
nolicy Is not this most unnatural union: How can
vr,ne and vice amalgamatc: Whatever you may choose
to call yourselves, YOU have honesty and patriotism,
and YOU are an honor to your country
But TO return to Mr. Rives. have said that ''self-
ishness the most odious ingredient in his political
character and that this constitutes in fact the strongest
objection against him appeal TO the record for the
proof of this assertion Let any honest man peruse
his Louisa Speech and he will readily agree with me,
that il is the most strange mixture OF non-commtasm
and selfshncss ever put forth by any politician. How
can his friends speak his honesty and patriotism, after
the delivery of such speech? Or how can IFS author
reconcile the doctrines and charges which 1T contains,
with his present mysterious and doubtful position In
that document Mr.. Rves prefers the most serious and
damnjnp charges against Mr.. Van Buren,: charges
which, if they were true would be sufficient to destroy
any public man We there told, that he has been
athess TO his principles: that he has deserted every
pledge that he has preached the most dangerous dog
mas that he seeks TO concentrate sail power IN the
Executives" and in word, that the result of all this
will be rapidly 'transform our Government into
Monarchy = Now hold (and you will probably agree
with me) that any man who d'd 6atere one hall OF
these things to be true, would feel himself mperaveiy
bound BY his own conscience, and by every patriotic
consideration of duty to his country, to declare sun
compromising opposition to such an Administration
and such Il President. But has Mr. Rives ask pur-
sued such course: Has he thus evinced his sincerity
OF the truth Of his black and malignant charges He
has not And 'ehy has he not done this, IS The next
question which occurs: The answer is clear Because
It mir deprise him Of those Of his friends aeao sh pro-
rss attachment 10 the Administrations and aosout aohose
eooperatton he cannot be elected TO the u s. Senate
Thus, then, from the beginning to the end OF the
chapter we see nough but sclshness, seshness sell
fshness! May selfish and unprincipied politician
be forever excluded from our public councils!
You occupied proud and noble position at the last
session. and NAV you have the spirit and courage to
maintain that position this winter True, that party
hacks and political prostitutes threaten and whcedle
you by turns. But,
tiBeeve them not, they point the way TO shame,
And o blast the lonors of your name -
You have nobler task to perform; for your country
claims you her own. OLD DOMINION.