Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-04-04
LETTER FROM THE
Hon. William G. Rives,
Of Virginia.


tal election, and what course think ought to be
pursued in it by those Of us in general Of the ke
publican party who have been opposed to, the
leading measures Of the presen, administration.
While my name was recently before the lIeg'
islature, by the act Of my friends, as a candidate
for reelection to the Senate Of the United States,
l declined, in answer to various community .ons
from members Of that body, to give any pledge
Of support to either Of the Presidential candl
dates, as the condition Of my election. did So
because, while it is clear that, under the ConsIl
tuition, Senator Of the United States, can, in no
possible contingency, be called on, as SUCH TO
give any vote or perform other act in the election
Of President, l believed that the practice OF re.
curing Of those who might be brought forward
for the office Of Senator, pledges to support tn
or that man for the Presidency, however it may
be otherwise viewed by many honorable and Lti
triotic men, is practice fatally calculated to
stroy the independence Of the Legislative Depart
ment, and to PROSTATE it at the feet OF the Exec
utve power, whose inordinate growth and over
shadowing influence already threaten the very
existence Of our free institutions. In regard to
all those questions of public policy and legislation
which were likely to come before the Senate Of
the United States for its appropriate and legit-
mate action, my opinions were fully k.. II, or if
explain them to the best OF my ability, in answer
to any inquiries which might be addressed to me.
had, moreover, been very recently in the public
service, and my acts in the discharge Of the trust
conhded 10 me, which were neither few nor
equivocal nor unattended with circumstances of
peculiar trial, were before the country affording
as it seemed to me, the most authentic ntcrpreta.
ton of my principles, as well as the surest guar
antee OF my future course,
For these various reasons, | felt that ought
not 10 give any pledge of support to any OF the
Presidential candidates, as the condition OF my
election to the Senate of the United States, and
accordingly declined to do so while my name
was recently before the Leg slature, in connection
with the election for that Office. These motives
OF reserve have now ceased. My-w----.-.-n no
longer before the Legislature for thatS-naty other
office: sld as, in time past, 1t mas never been b.,
any ACTOR solicitation OF mine, so, whether it
shall at any slime hereafter be, will depend on the
Sree will Of Others, not mine. And, in the event,
even, Of my name being again presented to the
Legislature, by the Partially and generous conf.
dence with which my friends and fellow citizens
have been heretofore pleased to distinguish me,
the Presidential election will have been deter.
mined, and we shall all, Of necessity, have taken
our equal and responsible parts in it, before the
Legislature, according to their recent decision on
the subject will proceed 10 the election of Sena,
tor Of the United States. Under these circual.
stances, can no longer feel the slightest deli,
cacy, as private citizen, in expressing to you,
freely and without reserve, my opinions on the
interesting question you PROFOUND to me.
Your inquiry naturally divides itself into two
branches. The frs. is, can we support the re-
election Of the present Chief Magistrate-those
of US, mean, who have been IN earnest in our
opposition to the leading measures and prevail
ing policy Of his administration And this ques.
lion would seem properly and plainly to resolve
itself inta-another. Has he abandoned or with.
drawn any Of those measures, to which we have
been, and are still thus opposed? So far from it,
we have seen that, in his recent Message to Con.
gress, he has again brought forward and urged
with increased determination Of purpose, his now
cherished Sub.treasury scheme, which. at the
time OF his election, all his political friends be
lieved to be fraught and which 1re still believe
to be fraught with the direst evils to the country.
He has not only again earnestly recommended
this scheme, but he has urged its adoption in the
most obnoxious and Objectionable of all the
forms it has ever assumed. ] refer, of course, tC
what has been commonly called the specie clause
or requsition OF the public dues in gold and sill
yer alone. This rigorous feature OF the scheme
had been pretermltted by the President, in hi;
more recent exposons Of it, and was believed
to be finally abandoned by him; but is now
brought forward in bold relief it is understood
as the sine qua non Of the new political alliance
which has been announced 10 the country. Ant
the President euen tells as that he "believes M
period will be more suspicious" for the introduc
ton OF this hard money policy in the operations
OF the government, "than the preSent-When W.
know, that in two.thirds or three (ourths Of tn
States specie is at an average premium Of ten pc
cent. above the common currency Most "auspi
eious" indeed, for the interests of those who ar
Recipients and benefciaries of the public contri
buttons, but surely not for the interests OF tn
people, who are the payers, immediate or ulti
mate Of all these contributions.
In compliance with this recommendation Of tn
President we have just seen the sub.treasur
bill, with the obnoxious specie clause, hurriet
through one branch OF the National Legislature
by minority vote, in the absence Of many mem
bers, when, il that body 0he Senate,) had BEEF
full, and its members had voted in conformity Il
the opinions and wishes. either expressed or un
derstood, OF their respective States, the measur
would have been deleate1 And yet, in the fac
OF such facts as these, appeals are still made il
the name Of blind and AFFECT Palty-alIegiance
to many who are truly opposed TO this schem
from a thorough conviction Of its most dangerou
and fatal tendencies, to support the re election c
the President, by whose influence and anIi.rePut
lcan contumacy it is to be imposed and Perma
nently fastened upon the country. A poor q
temp, is now msde to give pIausbty and efe'