Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-07

facts lust as well before the report was made, Gs ne
did afterwards Was 1t strange then tiat ne s"ouu
have hr,rayed ecrne feeling IN dIscuceing ina SUI
ecle On the contrary, is it net remarkable that nc
did not sbcw more of III Occupying tie hos!ie posi-.
ton which he did the Sub-rreasuTy, he Owed II 10
himself and bis friends TO move tie resolutions o. e4
ry and expose the whole transaction, Tor Inc purpose "
showing to the country that reliance could be p'aceu
upGn the professions Of the Secretary oil the treasury
and of demonstrating by his acls that he conid no
sitter the Treasury Department without the a!G "a oa'
that he at least preferred them 10 Inc Suo
when he had in his power 10 choose between thet
The last oh sc;ion made by The genemap F9'il S"'P
pe!:n Mr. RTes is, that he refuses to give ~; ~
port NJ. Van Buren, during !iS present ,e'" | nhTc
election Mr A. said that Mr.. RIves 8 "no'e PuD"o
life fuInisheda stronger pledge Tor his future co' ~
any promise he could make he chaie"s 80
tlemen 10 point 10 act or WORD Of MIS- ihc0" =,
the principles Of the old Republican party is NI' o.
posed TO Il National Bank, 10 Internal lmF'".e'n y
The Federal Government, Tariff Tor protecun' "
Abolition, and though last, not least 70 ne 20 "
sury. In short, he is opposed 10 the Ieu'is'
ment exercising any doubtful power anu . @ Al ans
sures which his Stale has opposed Tor Inc asI ~
and he is friend 10 the rights and institutions oil Inc
States and of combining the Federal hSec1tNe power
within its constitutional limits. "hal fuOHc man Is
more thorovuhly committed upon all these questions,
than MIR Riycs: Besides, he is pledged 10 support
all The measures Of The present Administration, consist
en with the principles which came mo power, anu
if his constituents should change or think that lie mas
changed 10 obey their instructions or resign MS seal
Won bav vour Senator humble himself, and degrade
this old rnterriied Commonwealth by falling on MS
knees 10 the President and ask his pardon 'nT haVng
dared TO oppose his iavorte measure, the SHo itaSu
and promise 10 support all of his measures in nu'e,
rrht or wronr? Or will you have him, IN order TO Sc
cure The supp0. Of the Sub Treasury patty here pledge
himself support the re election oil MT an h"'en'"o
years before his present term express before ne can Kho"
whether he shall approve OF his acts or not ana thereo
deprive himself Of The whole moral force o! lis opposl'
ton TO the Treasury? Far better would be tor n
to spend the remainder Of his life IN o0scur!iy tEa a'
he should obtain Office such debasins terms Nhen
before has Virginia Senate! been required 10 give
pledge tina. he would support any individual Tor The
Presidency as condition Of his election: There Is
great improperly in it. The Senator has nothing Ola
ciay to do with the election Of the President lie be-
longs to branch OF the Government, as independent,
under the Constitution, the Executive, intended 10 be
check upon The Executive power, and TO defend The
States from its entertainments Ia short he is hepre,
sentative Of sovereign State, and the constitutional
adviser OF the President Is II not, then, OF the ut
mos, importance that he should take his seat il the
Senate un;rammclcd with single eye to the best
interests Of his State and Of The whole counsry:-
Would you have proud Senator of the Old Dominion
pr dyed beforehand 10 support every measure which the
President should recommend, and however much he
should GisarTroYe them TO support his reelection -
Where would be tie Independence OF your Senate
They would become the mere registrars OF Executive
edicslhe yassas and palace silrcs OF The pfes:cent
This doctrine of passive obedience 10 Executive will,
leads 10 the dcporabe aud Illuminating consequent
ces The Senator is TO have no judgment or will Of lis
own He is to surrender all up 10 the President: and
follow whatever lead be may GCth!e and lie ca.es TO
differ from him, and oppose any OF his measures he lets
slip the dogs Of war upon HIM. The Globe aHd the
whole hungry pack open upon him. ard his Si1!c lt-
gsIauIc is required 10 offer him up as aac!iic" to The
demon of parry. In the meantime, the President be.
comes otnnipoten-hs will is the lawond ii is treason
70 question his ntalb!lity. Can more horrible dcs.
potism be ina gned And yet this is The legitimate
sequence of the party doctrine row boldly Advocated
If this doctrine is 10 prevail away with your Senate and
House ut Rrpresenaiives-hcy arc merely the costly
trappings and pagraatry of power. II the Presidents
will IS to be the !aw-If it be treason 10 oppose his
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS him with supreme dicla-
,oria power and dismiss your Senate and House Of
Representatives You may hy hint means at least Gimi
nish tie expenses Of the Government.
Sir, importGn, mag be 20 the State 70 retain in
its councils the services Of w c. R"rs, il sinks into in
Significance in comparison With the sacred principle in
voiced in this election. IT nothing less than the inte
penGcnce o.: The American Senate. Gentlemen may
enea BY ingenious speeches 10 conceal The true issue
The people w!il understand it, TIE head and front Of
Mi RiveS offending is has daring 10 di!er with the Pre-
sGcn and oppose his !GvOIite measure the Suh-lrcGau
~. know that sincerely believe that this Of itself
would not induce them TO go agast him. but they do not
know themselves: the party drill would drive them To II;
and under high party excitement is very easy to nd
other reasons TO satisfy our conscIences Mr. kvcss
destruction has lung since been decrrcd by the party
leaders who aspire to succeed Mr.. Van Buren, ! was
thoroughly convinced Of i twelve months ago. by
their movements and lnnalions; and II ! IGd en-
tertaCed any doubts the subject. they would have
been entirely removed by The declarations at caucus
this winter Of Of The most prominent leaders at The
Sub Treasury party here. that the President had sakrd
the Of his Administration upon The Sub freasu-
ry-that if it failed his Administration must 90 dawn,
aud that he or Rives must sink. Tins lie knew "as The
doctrine Of the party here and Il, Washington, and he Is
satisfied that The decree for hr Rvrss execution, had
been determined upon long before the meeting oi Con
grcss and went forth from Washington soon after II as
m q orders from
ton: Snail cngag" IN the foul deed at sacrificing
Of Virginia u"htcs Sons 10 grsy Inc ma!icr aad
ambition Of party leaders and political aspranis: Shall
we, the sQrs OF this unerrcd Commonwealth be made
by arliul and designing politicians the degraded exscu
TONERS Of Virginia has been and may we'll he proud
10 honor fer having da red defend her rights, aud
present her wishes against power?
Sir you may succeed in rroslra,ing him for a lime,
bu, You cannot keep him down. His brilliant talents
his distinguished public services, his sounc Republican
principles his moral worth, and his public end private
virtues, cannot be kept in obscutity There is gene
rosity and magnanimy in the Virginia CHARACTER which
will be suie ayenmc his wrongs II you condemn him,
TO the brave the just and .hinnGed birgniaDs wall
appeal rhcy vii! al The polls rush to HIS rescue, and
teach his "prFessos and their inslrusuIs TIM Virginia
appreciates Tie Of her gifted son. and knows how
to defend him Sir, if you destroy Mr.. Rvcs now, for
daring differ with the President, you will establish the
doctrine Of passive and unconditional obedience 10 Ex-
ecu,ive will and what Senator in future will dare 10 d
Ter with the President OF his patty; Where, then, viii
be the Independence Of The Senate and the rights al the
Slae.? All will be swallowed up in Executive power,
and liberty shall become an empty name.
Sir ADM, that Mr. Rivcs has erred. that he wong
in opposing tie Sub-1reasury and ha, displayed too
much feeling in his speech against the Secretary o.! the
Treasury. is bis splendid public career, his long aud
valuable public services both at home aud abroad. and
his able supper, Of the a!c administration 10 weigh
thing against This single fault; Dies Tins than
balance all OF mis- good acts Will you tuget the
ninety and nine good and cast hun eli for one bad
one? Sir, you may DO ii; but the Vrgnans,
rely it, will not sanction your act. /. was Justly said
Of her by of her distinguished sons (Mr Randolph,
in the debate on The Missouri res;cliun) That she
tanned her grea, by throwing the mantle of charity
over their faults and cxtol'ng their virtues.
Mr. "a. said that OBJECT 10 lie election OF Mr..
Rvcs by the aid OF the Wings, and he regretted 10 say,
that his fit nd the venerable Editor OF The Enquirer