Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-04-04


Read few sentences and you will not Pot down I'LL
you get to the end There only passage and that
in relation ourselves which calls for special notice
We could have wished that the writer had passed by
We ask no defence against the nsnuaton Of air Rves.
The scripturai allusion 10 Joab cannot apply to If
we have struck at oil, we have struck with reluctance,
and after giving notice enough At oil events, if ne
have not pleased Others have satisfied ourselves
As for the coarse contrast drawn by the notorious Col
Webb, dismiss il with the remark, that il is worthy
Of it's author The assertion is gratuitous as it is
false
Mr.. RIVESS M4NIFESTO
Forgiveness O injured doth belong,
He ne'c Jan pardon, who hath done the wrong.
We have heard much lately Of Synpathisers. This
address is appeal TO the sympaies of the people of
Virginia. The leader of the "armed neutrality" the
"Sparlan Band, whose tone was erewe so bold whose
peteusops lofty stands in the market place. and
exhibits his bleeding wounds IN the plying spectator
We do not like this deprecaling standardization; it is
not in accordance with the character Of statesman Of
Virginia. II is something new in annals. Greater
men than Mr.. Ryes have suffered more and com plain
ed less rather not all They have vndicated their
principles defended their acts and appealed to the rea
son. but not to the compassion of their constituents
public should steel his breast against the missiles of
political warfare. They will then fall harmless at his
feet He should indeed, cultivate honorable regard
for public opinion, be calous TO popular reproach
but this elepsed sensbilly which is entirely consistent
with a manly pride, should never degenerate into the
querulousness Of eposm tie who is conscious oil the
purity Of his intentions, the rectitude of his designs
should throw himself naniuly upon his principles and
his acts and abide with camness The verdict OF reason
and of time So long as his private character, his per
sona honor not assaed proper pride, an honest
self reliance should forbid the indulgence Of amenla
ton which wounded va1y rather than offend
ed integrity. Such EFFORTS the respect even Of
enthusiastically, the opposite one does not augment
the esteem Of friends.
But there Is another thing in the Address Of Mr..
Rives whch is even Objectionable We allude to
the repeated poteslaons OF purify and dislnteresed'
ness with which aboundS In public, IN private trans.
actions ma gains confidence by such asseveraons:
they are rather calculated to diminish it, The most OF
men lavish Of professions and are ever wont 10
cover the most criminal designs under the Pretensions
Of pharissca sellrig hteousness. The truth OF this
observation is pioverbia MIR Rves like all other pub.
90 for nothing. Who ever betrayed his country, but
with proeS,aons OF Jealous devotion 10 her interests
Who ever deserted his party, without eIc!aming that
he made himself sacrifice for the public good II there
were any thing calculated more than another 10 shake
public confidence in the political integrity OF MIR Rves,
III is far from intention to question M II would be
these self accusing declarations Of purity sincerity apd
patriotism IL would be nobler aud wiser 10 scorn 10
plead to such indictment. Al all events, is Tor the
people Of Virginia TO decide upon the evidence Mr.
Rives cannot be judge in his own cause.
As to the circumstances against party, with when
this Address abounds are tou much accustomed 70
ouch language be affected by it. Our only surprise ~,
that man Of the ability and experience Of Mr.. Rves,
should adopt cant which is as as ABSURD
In representative government, nothing can De erected
BY disioned councils. isolated action: men must
suciate and tend together to common Objects they
become inefficient, mpraclicabe, or even mschievous.
This necessity imposed upon US by the very nature
of our institutions. hat would Mr.. Rlves have BEEN
what would lie have done-had he always refused to act
with party and that TOO, at times when the tension oil
party ties unusually strong: will not do for him.
at this late day, in the face Of the American people,
to exclam against party, Us OF thing abhorrent 10
his principles. Did not party send him 10 the Sc.
nnte Of he ReSO-
luton in his hand: Did not Difference 10 the mandates
of party induce him only TO vote, but 10 speak for
il with equal edrneslness and ability when, 1T 10
believe Mr. Wise or the columns of the MadIsonan, ne
was in heart opposed 10 the measure? We cite this
rare instance OF devotion 10 parya devotion, that goes
far beyond the fidelity which many Of thDse whom Mr..
Rives now reproaches would be willing to exhibit. But
MIR Rives is much party to-day, as he yes
terday. He cannot help himself. He has changed-not
severed his ties. After quitting the Republican party,
oiled in the attempt 10 build up Of his own, he is
now fast merging into that beautiful piece Of Mosaic, the
universal Wing party he is not to be reproached for
this catastrophe il was inevitable separate position,
dstinc. organization between the great parties which
divide this country, cannn, be maintained Men OF more
muscle and than MIR. Rives have tried it, without
success They have been rapidly drawn into or the
other of the main currents The fault OF Mr. Rves 49,
no, TO have foreseen the inevitable result We repeat,
if he has lost confidence in his party, we do not blame
him for leaving it aud joining another. He is like the
humblest citizen, entitled 10 his opinions his tastes and
his preferences But let him entertain charity Tor Others
nor orrogate TO himself exclusive integrity. Let him
not denounce his late friends for adhering assoca
ton, of which he but lately Jealous member and
active participant. Let him depart in peace, nor in
retreatng hurl vndicve missiles into the ranks OF
his recent associates We regret the more, that MIR
Rives should condescend to this cant against party
because it is the language invariably emp Dyed BY
those. who having resolved to 20 over 10 the enemy
resort to it for the purpose Of tranquzing their own
coAciences, and preparing the public mind for the
change. No, even well selected passage from the
writings of the distinguished Tory, Bolngbroke, (not
the best authority for on American laesman can re
concie US 10 s Shortly after the Inauguration OF
Mr. sfferson the late Mr.. Randolph invited to an
ainment where he met incongruous assembage
Of sinister faces In the course OF the evening" The o
lowing significant toast proposed"To The honest
men Of all parties" These ''honest men turned out
to he the willing instruments Of Aaron Burr! We cite
this snecdo,e with offensive application but simply
az appropriate 10 the idea which we wish to convey
The mo party men. the ''honest men OF all parlles
are precisely the 10 be trusted the least They are
dppTedaors upon both camps; mercenares, who serve
alternately both eides. They are amphioous phitI
Clans or rather they are in translllVe state They
are in the very act Of Soughng the old skn to emerge
with fresh and novel hue We do not, then, much
blame Mr.. Rives for having left his party as Tor not
having avowed the change.
The author Of this address, or manifesto, complains
bitterly of the Democratic press, and seems almost to
plead towards him. ample justification OF his
present hostile attitude 10 the Republican Administra-
ton Now We cannot help thinking, that Mr.. R"es
exhibits not little weakness when he expresses so
much indignation at newspaper nnimadversions which
a, most are purely political. In this country, the man
who is ambitious TO play conspicuous part in the public
DRAMA must make up his mind 10 endure such attacks
with resignation, if not philosophy He must not hold up
himself to The people martyr because, foreootn, MS
political course may have been criticized in the Globe
or Enquirer, with more less acrimony II is the Pc
na;y attached political distinction On this topic,
MIR Rves' indignation seems TO know no boundsg To
assa him be guilty of sacrege. His wrath carries
him so far that he denounces The Government organ
as the "Robespier pressat Washington! We doubt,
less owe this choice eplhet 10 his French mission But
when did he make this discovery'-A few years ago,
when the shafts of the Globe were hurled with far great
er ferceness at Messrs Calhoun, Leigh Tazewel, and
others quite distinguished 10 say The lessD as Mr.
Rives, did he then lift up finger of remonsrance:-
Was he no, then on cordial terms with the Editor