Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-16

rested apparently where it does in fact upon Inc small
band 81 Conservatives who protesting TO occupy heu
trail position had voluntarily assumed sort OF umPrage
between those with whom they could neither agree nor
act on this occasion. The course of portion OF our
own party has conferred on The Conservatives more than
they had RICH: to demand-he privilege o: control
linz both the other parties 1t has relieved the Conser-
vayes from the duty and tie responsibility c choice,
which their position before the country naturally ana
properly devo!ved on them, and compelled US WIN
few others either TO do villa. our sense OF dn'y conIa
not approve stand in very small minority on The
principles which had avowed before the constituents
who elected US. We did not hesitate
Candidates were presented by each Of The three par
ties, but it proclaimed IN advance that the eighty
one Wings must yield to the seventeen C"ns'rVaH'es'
who could mol expected induced to co operate "!i
the Wings Mr.. Rves was the candidate oil Inc t"h-
seyvaves, who denied that he was or ever won'! ue
a Wing, who affirmed that he had changed no opinion,
abandoned TO principle that he differed only on The pre-
SAINT financial question from the Administration hf'
Rvcs has been identified with the fortunes and poicy
of the last and present Administrations lie mas never
discaimed any one Of those obnoxious principles which
the Wing party have loudly, SO unanimously, ana
1--WE had hoped sincerely condemned lie s'i!i so
far informed maintains The principles OF the
Procamalion the Force Bill, the Removal OF The De.
posiies, the Protest and the Expunge. we shood
be pleased to know that he had repudated all or any
Of these Objectionable measures and as ci'zehS,
should be happy 10 see him cooperating win 'le
Wings of Virginia restoring the principles OF The OLD
Republican party and re.capurng the Constitution from
the violent hands that have seized upon it, He Con
servatYe-nn armed notwithstanding nothing OF Inc
past-proessBg nothing for the future. Nhiie ne
agreed only point with the large majority OF NE
Wing party yet that was the only point on when he On
tered from the Administration. 1t seemed to US that
there much, if not more reason, IN Mr.. INV"
being supported by those from whom he dssen'eu on
iy on one point, than by the Wing party, w''h "h"m
Tor with a portion of whom) he agreed only on one
point The system of finance which Mr.. Rivfs ana mo
snhvO is a
the unqualified disupprobatnn OF the whole Mig party
when il first introduced on Executive responsibility
by Gen. Jackson. II is, what has been hnc Us TIC
net Bank scheme: which can have 10 more virtue "ne"
pronosed now by Mr.. Rves, than when 1t was mag
uan,Iy rejected by The Wings in le:}3 Inc ony oPPa
rent point Of antylen, which seems 10 exist between
Mr.. Rives and the present wing ph,'y Is MS
to an exploded Of the last Administration; nea-
sure heretofore denounced by all the Wings, and when
is now tolerated only an alternative BY very small
portion Of them His election under these circumstances
by the Wing party would seem TO u.s. TO imply that we
ourselves that he had been nsncere in our public
course Mr. Rves must be judged all other pubic men
ale Judged by his past conduct or his present pro-
fessons The past furnishes warrant Tor Us 10 iher
that he will hereafter be the advocate OF those great
principles of reform, which have urged, and which
he has pers yerngy resisted. When INTERCEPTED as 10
his future course, his friends have publicly declared either
their inability 10 answer or that II was nEOscoiiHg IN
a candidate for public confidence, 10 give pledges me
time has been when Mr. Rives and those who supported
him rr This high station did not think 1t unoccGGing
in them ASH for him 10 give specific pledges as TO
his public course. While We acknowledge tue right oi
The people exact pledges from us, We canuo as lhe
representatives, admit that any who seeks poI'ica
trust from us, Should exempt himself or his opinions
from scrutiny
The ell. elton Of Mr.. Rivcs by The Wings under these
circumstances. seemed 10 TO Involve not only an
abandonment of The principles which party had so
long procaimGd but its very existence. We hod IL !"
be true, that no political party can long cSlsi-ih4l II
ought not long 10 eziswlthou, some principle OF adhe
son stronger and more enduring than the mere love OF
power sc have mistaken tie intelligence, the viz
tue of the people-we have mistaken the great Objects
q, that party with which have atoscd through all It's
PERIODS OF adversely, If il is the duty OF the wings |"
acquire power or 10 abuse il when acquired, BY p!ac
Using ourselves what denounce ia others. We
not the advocates Of an Imp!aca5!e, unreenting
rule of political prescription. " Acknowledging our
own tailibny, we are wiling TO extend 10 oilers
that forgiveness for political raSgrrssons, when
have much reGscb 10 claim !Or ourselves Eut no
public ask expect To- be forgiven for that OF
which he does repent, for that which ne estsems
political virtue; and Mr. Rves' adoption by the Wing
party before he has confessed cx;euuaed ore Of these
political errors which We have denounced as vital, or
before he hos established his claims despite these
errors, by some one coincidence or some signal act oil
public service is 10 cnlsss cur own ins;nceH'y 10 the
world, and To reward him for that mich %e condemned
We have looked with feelings OF painful regret on many
paris Of Nr Rvcs pubic course, and It has niorG Us
pleasure 10 be constrained 10y sense OF duty to cp
pcse his reelection, under tiese circumstances.
1t is said by some, though il is srcnuousy denied By
others lha, Mr. Rivcs opposed The election of
Mr.. Van Buren,. II this were so, while 1t would bs
good and sufficient reason why Mr. RIves should vote
for other candidate for the Presidency. L. could
not he reason why he should be preferred 10 every
ohsr Why il the Commonwealth. OuS object in "p-
posing Mr. Van Buren, has been establish sound pr:n-
cpes OF economy, pubic virtue, constitutional! ll" 10
bring the Executive of the United States within the
safe, and legitimate sp here Of his duty, ard unless the
principles OF those required TO vote or are ascer
kDf,ty tn ha hpitp han Mr. u
should gain every little for the o; public liberty. by
merely turning one man out ana putting another IN MI
K ard Mr. Y. B. have been hitherto identified, and If
there is no difference IN Their principles, EeEe IL as
much eason for voting for Mr. g. il lac should be ofros
ed to Mr. Rres for SIR Rves II e opposed 10 MIR '.
Buren,. Public Offices should never be c"nerred ty the
people or thclr representatives, merely TO Crafty per-
sonal ambition Tie people have 10 ot;er interest
r any party, than honestly TO repudaie something that
is dangerous 10 establish something that beneficial
to their country. Public men should he sustained or op
posed Tor their sakes, but as their opinions aud
principles tend 10 rrCmoie good or evil. But IS MIR.
nives opposed TO MIR Van Buren,; One Of his Cunscr.
vaiive friends from Virginia, has recently declared IN the
House Of Representatives.. that the Virginia C"nseIva-
ves are not opposed TO Mr.. Van Burens re election
This DECLARATION has not been denied or qualified by Mr.
Rives any of his friends In c debates this c!cc
tion repeatedly asserted and by those who had
The best right 10 know MIR. Rsvess opiuonsO that lie
was still a friend 10 the Administration
Wha, a strange position, then, does the Wig party
ciousy the election ut Mr. r. ali The Wings of
the Commonwealth The events which transprCd in
the attempts 10 elect Senator, demonstrate the reck
essness Of this policy, as 1t IS termed by lis Whlg
advocates and the determination Of the Conservatives
not to operate with the Wings any terms or to any
extent. This policy (as is calrd might lead to the
dsper of The Wing party, 10 its absorption by the
Conservatives, 10 a Conservative triumph; but we do
not perceive how it could possibly enurc TO the benefit
of the Wing cause, or Of the principles OF the Wing
party.
We do not attach the least ccnsurc 10 the course OF
the Conservatives They free 10 take H. and we
will do them the justice to add, that II has Sern main
tanned with consistency and dignity worthy of being
initiated by the Wigs. Some Of the Conservatives have
been heard TO declare, that they desired 10 destroy the
Wing party and to build up their on lis ruins
They have n without exception, secuted the idea oary