Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-30

ordinate 10 ptrsona interests and that Think The true
Characteristic OF faction He adds "Thee may be such
conduct on the part Of government as no national parry
will bear, at least justify But }Hetto" nam no
TO national interests Faction, Msrorc, nW bear any
thing share in any thing, justify any thing II me mi
mister who takes this method 10 support hImse hath
any art he will endeavor 10 disguise his acuon unuef
the and appearance OF national party. Du'
This DISGUISE will soon fall off. The best OF those, VINO
were engaged in the purity will quit The nc0n aud men
the latter must stand confessed 10 public view ms
pIernant extract affords much matter ioT ecyin@ teec
lion and The intelligent! reader, may: perhaps, deduce
from it moral altogether napp!lcabe to the present
times.
But have been accused also Of having formed cor
rupt coalition with The UhgS Where Is the evidence
or have from The deepest convictions Of my under.
standing and under solemn sfnse OF my duty 10 the
country opposed certain Of the Administration
whether upon good and sufficient reasons or not am
willing that enlightened and impartial public shall de-
eide The Wings have in like manner. been opposed to
them We have, therefore, oil necessity acted together
in carving respective opinions But does tins
in arising measures which we both berve
10 be Of The most fatal tendency to the Liberties and vel
fare of the county prove the existence OF corrupt ana
dslonorabe cOaiion' IL the result Of compact or
arrangement but the necessary consequence OF coinc
dence of opinion the measures involved; and so lar
from being criminal reproachiul acl in ethsr party
it was high duty of patriotism in both. Was to aban
don and rcnounce my opinions because tie Wings hap
pened 10 concur in them: Does truth become false
hood because the Wings embrace il Who, then, are
these Wings, thus held up 10 n supersUus horror as
q of political lerc's whose touch however slight,
is pollution and death know they have been rece mt
!y, spoken OF with great gravity, as foreign enemies
with whom any communication whatever Incurs the Pc
naes of treason, under the definition Of that offence in
the Constitution But are they rot, in fact ellow-cl
lzens oil common County, having an equal stake IN
the general welfare with other men, many Ut them dis
lngushed By the confidence and respect Of their coun
uymen in public trusts of every grade Of Importance
from the highest 10 the lowest, and whose patriotism
intelligence and virtue cannot be questioned what
differences OF opinion, other matters, may
ever prevail: Is II not then 10 dishonor the spirit
Of The age, is II not 10 insult the understanding o
the Republican portion of onr fellow-czens, to al
tempt 10 invoke their pre- udIces against individual
not because his opinions his acts have been wrong IN
themselves but because in the maintenance of those OPT
Mons, he and The Wings have noted together, they
Of Necessity have done, if they acted at ALL in
sIsting measures which both Of them believed 10 be ia
tally injurious 10 The best interests OF the people,! FOL
one shall never be deferred by the Brutum fuimen Of
any such denuncations from treading, firmly and fear
essy the path Of princps whithersoev may lead
in the honest and faithful discharge of my duty to the
| country.
Still, another charge alleged against me is, that have
entered into combinations and engagements in re
ference 10 the Presidential election of 1910. This like
all The other instr ualions and accusations brought agans
me, is wholly destitute of foundation. have had no
thing do with the next President al election. have
| had higher and more appropriate duty, in my esma
iion To perform wit 10 give my aid in the situation
in which your confidence had placed toward taking
of the great interests Of the country they should
be affected for good for evil by The policy and mea
of The existing Administration That duty have
sought honestly and iearessly perform. In what man
it has been done, is before you, for your debe
| rate and enlightened Judgment.
The Presidential election | have considered mat
ter belonging exclusively the people, in their own high
sovereign capacity In their hands, and 10 their unbiased
decision, | have been wiling 10 leave it. In no possible
contingency under The provisions OF the Constitution
| could n the Senators Of the State, have any
| thing do with it. On the contrary, the Constitution
expressly excludes any Senator Representative from
being elecior of President. have, therefore, alb
stained from taking any part in lis discussion, or IN The
arrangements connected with it, AS one OF the people
shall he prepared when the proper time arrives for de
cison, to take that which, according 10 all the
lights then before me, shall consclenlIousy believe the
best interests and the freedom aud happiness
! Of the country, demand In the meanwhile | am un
committed 10 any OF the candidates. And II Is precisely
because am uncomnltted and have refused 10 com
nit myself that all this of denunciatIon, by which
your good opinion Of has been sought 10 be shaken
! has been raised against me
If Ind been wiling TO give an unconditional pledge
vote for Mr. Van Burens election the Presiden
cy, 'sink swim with him, and support his AID
! mnis,ration right or wrong, might have been re
elected without difficulty (accordng to the aulhorita
live exponent of the of his party in Virgina) L
tine Senate of the u. S.
But could give such pledge, fellow citizens, with
out beraying and dslonorng you, well as degrading
myself. representative of the sovereignty OF FTgl
MA, the highest council of the nation it seemed to me
should be free and unrammeled to assert under all ch
cumsiances the sacred enes Of her political faith he
should be there the vGilan sentinel of her rights The
faithful guardian OF her interests the fearless champion
o her principles and not manaced beforehand by piedg
GOURd IN iRdsRtureS 20 do the bidding OF EXecu
tive power have always been willing Ia render anc
have rendered candid and honest support TO such n
! the measures Of the Administration appeared to Inc
consistent with Republican principles and the true int
of the country; but those Of opposite character
have felt myself called on, by every consideration OIL
honor and PATRIOTISM resist 10 the utmost OF my ability
Every rejecting mind must have Observed with palniu
anxiety the rapid growth OF Executive influence, within
The last few years sustained by system OF party dtsct
pnc and of organized dshuncatiOn through the Press
such have existed, in any other country pre-
tending freedom, under the If II shall be per
! United 10 continue, it must bring every other Depart
Of the Government and the People and the State'
themselves to the feet Of Executive power, and hnay
extinCush every sentiment of independence and pubic
in the land II Is for the people themselves 10 say
| whether this shall be il is much more their cause than
that of any individual who may have been singled out az
tie victim whose blood 10 cement this gloomy laurie
| party dsspoism and tyranny For myself, humble as
am feel that my fate is in this instance ndIssolu
bly, bound 10 that Of The free institutions OF my country
and if TO fall victim 10 power, the cause OF IT,
berty and truth will fall with and he, who IS buried
in their ruins is happier far than ne who survives mem
WIN. G. RlVES.
| Castle Hill, Albemure Co., March lsth 1879
onghrokes Dedication Of his dissertation on pafes 10 si
| Robert WHpole.
Richmond Enquirer Of 10Th inst.
! Richmond Enquirer