Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-10-03
SPEECH OF w. .RlVES,

SPEECH OF w. G.. RlVES,
Al a public dinner Piren him at Louisa c. H., Ia,
on The 7h September, 1899.
Tue following toas, having been proposed and
drank with g'eat Enthusiasm" Our distinguished
guest w. C. RIvEs-I.ike Fabricus u, the rent of
Pyrhus --unscdueed by the aufements OF ye.le,-
day, untcrnheJ by the threats Of to-day, his de,o-
ton to ms parry has not been sufficient To Undue q
HIM 10 forget his cannir,. In lis opposition To the
will Of the Executive, lac has exhibited Grnncss and
abilities which should inspire his counltynrn with
increased confidence IN the man. who has too much
virtue to surrender his principles tor his party"
Mr.. RWes addressed the company in substance ny
follows
Fellow citizens OF the county of Louisa ! ,ise
to return you my sincere and heartfelt Acknowledge
ments for the honor you have done me. Without
any clam on your kindness derived from former
political relaiions-a lie which fails TO create
tue "armest s.mpaihies-and with cvcn bnt very
limited personal acquaintance among you, you have
etbecn pleased 10 manifest towards the cordial IN
tcrcst of old constituents and friends. Occupyinp
the unamblous station OF Il private citizen without
the glare or consequence Of public Office. enjoying
none even oil that adventurous influence winch n
systematic connection with prrty gives TO midi.
vlduals, but standing upon the humble mriit alone
for whatsoever they may have been inrlnsicay
worth, Of past elolts IN the cause of the con6-
ny, you haze yet, Notwithstanding these unattlac-
two circumstances, sought me out in the Oh
security Of my reneat. and made me the object Of
tins public aud fldlcfing demonstration Of your
fdence and regard. Nohng but he nagnanlmous
sentiments. which aGimalc the bosom Of u Tree
people, could have led 10 his generous procedure
on your pant. You saw me, gentlemen, for consis-
ten adherence 10 principle, denounced an poStaf-
for faithful representation of the sentiments and
an honest endeayOur execute HE will, IT NY cen
sututnts, Shemdtized as a tfdiOr-and ior refusing
to put Of old, aud assume the livery of new no
esslOus aud doctrines, III the arbitrary bidding OF
power aud Of party ,on saw me attempted TO be
branded as a turn coat and deserter: aud moved by
the spectacle Of injustice exhibited IN these ierol.
ting accusations you have eailessy, in the integrity
Of YOUR hearts, cone forward to cheer me ~ the as
suiances Of your appreciation and applause. beg YOU
to be assured, gentleman that appreciate tins no
BILE conduct OF yours MS ought to do-that VALUE
this testimony Of your good opinion, as ever prze
the unboughl aud spontaneous voice Of vinuous
and intelligent pcople-and that | accept H. with
sensiby aud pride AZ AN ample sci-oh TO all the
herce denuncallons Of patty resentment with which
| have been pursued.
have called ON my accusers fellow citizens, To
say wherein have | offended, what heiDous sin have
| committed, Of what crime against the Liberties and
happiness OF my country have | been gully, that
have been thus erocionsly pursued and denounced
lave abandoned any principle oithe old Republican
creed OF Virginia, which II has ever been my pride to
profess and To make the guide of my political con-
duct desire nothing more Than to be Judgedby the
recognized rnciples ot that creed. Have become
the advocate OF a landnous construction OF The
CoGst'tuton-of National Bank-of a protective
Tarlf--of system Of Internal ptovements by the
General Governmenl? No man will assert
it. In all these respects, ! challenge the sricest
comparison Of my acts and opinions with those even
Of the most orthodox in power. Have ] betrayed
and interest of the State, misrepit her SEN
liments and opinions, on any OF the great questions
Of national policy in which, us one OF her Rcprcsen
,aves, have been called 10 take patti No, fellow
citizens. no. 1t is my REFUSAL on the contrary, TO
offer up what | considered your highest interests, Ms
a sacrifice The altar of party, that constitutes my
great offence; and am yet to see the candid man OF
any party who will not promptly admit that in my
opposition 10 the financial policy Of the Admins
ttaon and its associated projects, have faithfully
reflected the actual opinions OF decided majority
OF the people OF Virginia.
Have ! violated any pledge, or failed to fulfil any
Just aud reasonable expectation as to my course
And here, fellow-ciIIzens, you will excuse ne for
bestowiDg very bret notice on a miserable attempt
which has been made, by sheer Justification OF
the record, 10 hold me up advocating. IN speech
which ! made the removal OF the Deposites in
January 1884, an exclusive metallic currency, aud
piedgine myself to bring forward scheme OF that
I.et the speech, IN its unmuli aed text, an
swer FOR itself. | will tell you, leIow citizens, what
said and what afterwards did aud then you will
Judge whelher have ienounccd any opinion, or
failed in the redemption OF any pledge. was com
batting on the occ aston referred TO, the old aieu
sary as regulator, preserve the soundness Of lie
currency aud expressed the opinion, IN the words
which follow that " ~laever influence such an m
stituion may be supposed exert in preserving The
soundness OF the currency, that object would be
much more eilectualy promoted by a'return, as jar
as practicable, IA metallic circulation" now.
fellow citizens, will you believe it, that certain news
paper writer's, whose productions were much iauoeu
aud blazoned forth by the rarty;pr on the rye o'
the late elections, lin their INSCRIPTIONS eageiness
to convici of some appearances OF inconsistency
while protesting quote literally with the usual &C
compartment of inverted commas, tie ABOVE *
uac, from my speech, actually suppressed tue ln
portan, qualifying phrase as far as Prdetedbte. sc
! as TO make it appear that had advocated an ahso
/ lutte return TO an exclusive metallic currency. Ivy
gentlemen this is not all, In the same raragNf'
I Of nv speech and Immediately after the pas~Nse ~
boye quoted. proceeded to define exac'y VIVA,
meant "by return, as far as prac,c'l'e',o /"
taiIie ci,v ulaiion." said The frst''ep I'd we
OF elorm contemplated, was r" I" lei ,''e o".,
| States Bank go down'-u,eue N was ~ W.,
the undetvaluation If ll< gold CONS at Inc il'".
and the last, aud ceneiny not the least was 10 Ian
measures 10 uis. ourage and suppress the cue . u"
-,,u,s under the denomination III ftH =