Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-05-09
MIR. REVES'S ADDRESS,
re khe FssrS. or sYrzt.as.


service IN the honorable aud responsible
station in which your confidence has twice
placed me. 10 the quiet and not unwel.
come scenes Of private life. fiod myself
pursued with a violence Of dehuncia,ion
and bitterness Of oblcqSy. which allow
me no choice but TO appeal. in defence Of
the character which party prescription
may still have LETT me- 10 the sober and
candid judgment Of my coun,rym-n.-
IL Is now twenty-five year. since first
entered into the service o! the State " h,ch
gave mo birth. &C q representative Il the
people, and from that period to this, with
hardly m interval, nv time and faculties,
such @ :hey are. have been devoted TO
The public service. Humble as my eNer-
lions for the general veal, during that
long period. may have been, and far short
as they have undoubtedly fallen of nv
own wishes, have We, Catered myself
'ha, the zeal and good intentions which
accompanied them, had earned for me
some small share of the esteem and re-.
gard Of ny fellow citizens. have sought
and now seek no other reward. Office
| have never coveted, but. on the contra
nv, have oi.en declined or rclinqnished.
and hold as no,hi. when pu, in the ba.
lance against an honest farc, and the re-
spec' OF Vittuous and enlightened rcorlc.
But 10 these, the most precious posse ssion
Of life spent inpublic service. confess
] arr moi insensible: and csnno, consent, 10
surrender them 10 the mcrcile.s proscrip-
ton ofpar,y. without an effort TO disabusc
the minds of my fellow-ci,izcn,.
Ever since have felt i; nv duty to
the country under the solemn conviction
OF my understanding. TO oppose a favorilr
measure at the Administration. which
believed and do still believe 10 be frausht
with the fravest dangers 10 the pablo
liberty and happiness. have been the
object Of deep noli,ical resentment, and
occasionally of fierce and bitter denuncia.
ton. Bnt within the last ;hree or four
months. the storm Of denuuo:aiion. has
gathered new force, ard been directed
with unsparing fury against me. During
that period, the Robcspieuean Press at
Washington, under the immediate control
OF the Administration. has daily exet,cd
all its disbolicsl resources Of falsehood
and defamation to blacken my character.
a'sail my motives, and misrepre.cnt my
conduct IL has culled from its vocahu-
larry OF abuse all its most backnied terms
OF political viiupcration, such as federal.
ist, renegade, deserier, traitor. and bv NJ.
iaching them 10 my name. has sought 10
make it the object Of general odium and
reprobaiIon. AZ the same time the par
ii'ans otthe administration Of every grade.
IN and out Of Congress, have been taught
that they could render no homage more
acceptable iopower than 10 discharge each
one. his poisoned shsft at me-. The
whole pack, "the little dogs and all. Tray,
blanche aud Sweetheart" have all been
let loose and barked on in this general
hunt Of ob,oquy" against me. And
las, though not least. The most ancient and
powerful Press in our own State, lately
sgreeiEg with me, too, in my own con-
Gemnation Of the leading and test mca-
sure ofihe Administration hut determined
Mt all hazard to rink or swim" with the
men OF u. after many saluta,iCns Of "art
ihon IN health my brother accom- panying
the point Of it's dagger, has AZ length O.
penly proclaimed the war cry OF lis party.
in the coming elections, 10 be "Rives, or
no Rives." The whole power and influ-
snce OF the Executive are thus combined
to pursue me. it would seem 10 annihila-
| ton.
What crime have prrpeirnled. fellow
citizens, what heinous offence have com
miited, 70 have drawn down upon me all
this fierce and unrelen,ng hostility Have
] misrepresenied the sentiments snd opin-
ions, or betrayed the interests Of my
Staiei IL will not be pretended. II is
notorious that large majority az the pro.
pie oi Virginia. az well a, Of her repre-.
sentalivss ~ tue Legislature Of The State.
are firmly and decidedly opposed 10 that
measure Of the administration. which !
have felt II my duty to resist 10 The best
Of my ability.
Have departed from any principle !
have heretofore held Have I abandon
ed sny tenet Of The roIi,lrsl faith have
/ protested. The old Heppblicsn creed OF
! Virginia ] challenge ihe most search
/ lnE and viu6iciye scrutiny 10 point out q
I solitary instance Of such departure or ..
/ bs:donmen.. On the contrary. The corn
| plant against me 10 that have adhered
too s,ofniy to nay principles, which were
bot recen'ly the Proirssed principles OF
/ The sdmini,ira,ion-thai have not chsnz.
ed with the paTiy-ihat have not lsen
wiling To surrender the settled conviction
Of my understanding. together with he
I well known sentiments II my constituents
70 The mandates n party discipline. and
} The influence Of Official power The
head and front Of my offending hath .h,s
/ cE.rni-nO more
To account for this impoli,ic Gernncs'
/ 81 principle. men, incapable of srp.ccis-
7 iiog other motives of scion. have ias.n.
/ ua'cd ihsi ] have private giicis sgainsi
'hc President. md that I have been m.
Guenced by ambition. These shafzc,
force ne 70 depart from a deliesey vhioh
] have heretofore prescubed 20 ny self N
I speaking Of certain transactions. vhich
we're however known 90 oiicrs az ihc
time u their Occurrence. and have thus
become slreaiy partially known 70 the