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


Brief appeal to the honest and State Rights Wigs.
The of the last winter have been renewed the
Zig guns have been reloaded and the batteries have
again been opened upon you BY the mercenary unprn-
cped and office hunting portion of your party, IN Or
Ger to induce you to vote against your conscences,
against the dictates OF honor and honesty, and your
own stern convictions of right. Although am your
political opponent although probably differ with you
upon many other questions can readily and heartily
admire your consistency, independence, and noble
and lofty aspirations after principle You stand in bold
e honorable contrast to the great body OF your party,
nHo they do not openly profess their exclusive at
achment,o power and place, have yet by their acts
invariably ernced the most greedy and ravenous aPpe-
'e Tor "otce, Office, the most bareaced indifference
- principle, and the most utter contempt tor former
pledges and professions.
With regard to Mr. VIM. c. Rives you will readily
'ssse with me, that he occupies more untehaoie
ana nnenvlab!e position than be did even at the last
session Indeed, ] am utterly at a loss to conceive
no" honorable, patriotic and intelligent men OF any
parry can conscentiousy approve his course or support
soch politician! Errors which have had their origin
Me understanding be forgiven and forgotten; Dnt
we 50 easily forget those OF the passions: Gan any
ming like bad faith be praiseworthy quality: Can
oSinceri,y BE- virtue. Can selishness be patriotism:
Ian man be honest and patriotic in supporting for
many years all party measures and extremes, ana DC
equally honest and sincere in abusing and deserving that
party its hour of need, and when its prospects seemed
49,
,eonemptble tergiversatons let absove him Of all
ms weakness and vacations; but can absolve him
o. ...fshness9 i appeal to you, honest men of the
Wing party, TO say whether all MIR. Rives present
defamation about the dangers of Executive power IS
not downright mposture: because you know, know,
dlmen do know that Mr. Van Buren, has never broach-
"a or recommended such strong measures as Gen.
Jackson did all of which, however, Mr. Rives support
%, defended and eulogsed, without ever dreaming of
Hs .iniquty of "party.
iue, that you hear daily the most exaggerated state
hea's, the most ridiculous humbugs, the most inta-
mons Misrepresentation put forth against the Admins
;aNon BY the presses of Federalism But was not Mr.
sene'sons Administration as bitterly assailed by the
,s SO Of that day Again is it not clear and
eVdent, that these newspaper hirelngs and despca-
" party hacks resort to this indiscriminate abuse
Gey Tor effect and that they do not themselves be-
Eve one word of what they say To prove the truth
4 ms assertion, we have only to study and recur to
past. Did not those Wings who now bestow such
s.s abuse upon Mr. Van Buren, once, (and but re-
Eaay,? equally denounce and abuse VIM c. Rives?
a. al Of sudden, the latter has become saint
NS.t Mey who even stigmatised him ga conscience
wSssn hypocre in the Expungng scene, and as one
oS political sins ages of penitence could not wash
NC now foremost in urging his claim to the i'm.