The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-04-24

Through the poli'eness Of friend at
charlottesville, we are enabled to lay before
our readers the suboned report Of the sub
stance Of the proceedings at the dinner given
10 Mr. Riyes at that place on Saturday LAST
The account is sufficient to impart something
Of the spirit Of the scene. and TO show the
prevailing sentiment Of the day in that quar-
ter Many noble an patriotic sentiments APP
pear TO have been uttered there, and the Sub
ireasuryites, will derive very little hope or
consolation from those we subjoin
Il Will be seen by the correspondence in
another column, that Mr.. Rives has accepted
the invitation Of citizens Of Amherst county,
to dine with them also. What q commentary
is this upon the "echo Of the Presidents
voice" here! While il is denouncing him and
endeavoring to blast his reputation, his con-
stituents. the honest FARMERS ofVirginia, are
taking him by the hand, and thanking and
praising him for his good and faithful conduct
| cHAmorrEsvILLr, April, q. 1882
z, Allen, Esq. Editor Of the MadisoniaH.
DeAR SiR: Presenting that you wish 10 learn
something respecting the dinner given 10 the Hon.
W. C. RIvEs in this place, on Saturday last, will
attempt to give you account OF some Of the pro-
ceedings.
Thos. w. Maury, Esq, presided, assisted by COL
Thos. Dune,t and Col. Geo. w. Kinsolving, as Vice
Presidents. Upwards of 100 psrsons sat down to the
dinner, many Of whom were old farmers Of the
county, who were republicans in the days of Mr.,
Jefferson, the great apostle Of Republicanism And,
sir, was Of the most pleasant scenes that man
could witness, TO observe the respect and enthu-
siasm with which they greeted MIR. Rvesi Joy
beamed from their countenances, and the honest
| and hearty shake Of the hand which he received
from his old friends showed most conclusively that
the threats Of party will never deter them from
honoring and supporting such a man as he has
| proven himself 10 be.
After the cloth had been removed the following
regular toasts were read and drank with applause:
/ l. Our Counfvv-Tts free and republican institu-
tons were established by the blood Of patriots the
only lie sustained BY the virtue and intelligence Of the
| people.
Gen. Geo. Washington --The patriot, the soldier,
and the ststesman His character is not only pure but
il is unsupported. Drank standing and IN siisnce)
g. Thomas .Je6ersoa.--The author Of the Declare
ton Of Independence or this ustrous man, oil that
can perish eposes under tho cod Of his mountain
top. His name and his principles embAmed in the
hearts Of his countrymen Drank standing and IN 81
| ienee.
a. The Soldiers Of The ReUolation Let revere
the memory Of the Dead and country take care Of
the surviving few.
S. Our distisguis1ed guest and fssO's- eiiissn--
VIM G. RivEs'--We respect him tor ms virtues, al
mire him for his talents and honor him for his public
services !. Lot him continue he has done to take
principle for his guide, and public good the end, and
viruous and patriotic people will never orsake him
The filth regular toast having been drank, with
| rapturous applause Mr.. Rives rose and addressed
the company, for more than two hours, in most
| happy and felicitous manner. He ably vindcatcd
/ himself, and the course which he had pursued in
Congress- from the aspersions which had been cast
upon him BY many Of the pariisans of the admins
tration. He told us OF the proceedingso Con-
gress, since the Sub Treasury scheme had been
preached. and the means used to keep the party To-
ge,her-and said he knew that many who were
now the active and jealous supporters Of the favo-
rite measure" were, up to the extra session of Con-
| gress opposed to it, and that he could have con-
fronted them with their language, stronger than
he had ever used, against il. He showed how COM
petely and effectually, parry discipline had been
exerted to change the minds OF those who were OPP
posed TO the Sub Treasury-for some had openly de-
cared that they sustained IT, because il was party
measure, and that, although they opposed to il,
they must sustain the President. He read the fol-
lowing striking extract from the letter Of Hugh s.
Legare 10 Pierce Butler, Gov. Of South Carolina:
II give it to you as my deliberate conviction that
the balance Of the constitution is subvar,ed; that
through the external influences constantly brought
bear upon IT, the federal legislature is shorn Of amost
all dignity and authority that the freedom OF thought
and action essential the very idea Of representative
assembly. charged with the conduct Of limited 90.
vernment sssaled all sides, and has been seriously
| impaired and that republic is beginning to take
the shape Of an elective monarchy, tempered in some
degree by two Houses Of Parliament whose occasional
opposition to the will Of the Executive 10 treated
volt against the people, in the person Of their only
representative"
On the subject Of party discipline he read the fol-
lowing from the same letter:
al speak Of what is the inevitable consequence of
the discipline OF party, is expressvey called
here, by which all freedom Of private Judgment is
rccd to the mary will Of the majority and public
opinion is shaped, with view to future elections by
few leaders Debating no knows how, to multitndes
Of dissenting dissatisfied, and yet complying followers
tho whole body doing what almost every member Of
il disspproves."
He spoke Of the defalcations ofgovernment officers
the increased expenditures Of the government for the
last 10 years, and compared the Of the present
administration with Jefferson's, and asked, if Mr.
Jefferson could correct abuses and prevent the inter-
ference of Executive ofice-holders in elections, and
reduce the expenditures, If Mr.. Van Buren, could
not do the sane? He appealed, in strains Of elo-
quence to his audience, to know the result Of yield
ing 10 the will Of the Executive--showcd the anti
republicanism of such acquiescence, and the dam
gers threatening our country, il the people did
not spurn il with indigny He alluded to the speech
which he made when he offered a substitute to Mr..
Cruenden's bill. He had bscn accused OF voting
for Mr. Cs BILL but said he did not; but that it was
Ear preferable to the one introduced by Mr.. Wall,
an old Federalst, who now claimed to be Of the
Democratic Republican school The speech which