The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-23
From the Richmond Wing.
MR.. RIVES' SPEECH,

From the Richmond Whig.
Mr.. RIVES' SPEECH,
Before the Richmond Contention.
After n complimentary reference To the speakers
who had preceded him, especially Mr.. Webster, and
To his own exhausted state of body and mind,
stoned by his frequent recent abors in the good cause
Mr. Rives adverted to the universal excitement pre-
vaing throughout the country, and especially to the
spectacle then presented before him. and appealed to
several aged gentlemen present, the venerable rem
nant of Revolutionary days, whether the existing
state of things did not strongly remind them OF the
scenes and feelings oftha memorable time He ran
parallel between the attempts of Mr.. Van Buren, and
his associates the liberty of this country with those
Of George the ILL., before the Revolution, and applied
TO the latter part of that recitation of grvances
tanned in the Declaration of Independence In sup
port of the general view thus taken Mr. proceeded
TO the particulars of his indictment against the AID
ministration, and first took up the Sub-treasury
scheme forced as has been by the efficiency of party
tactics on the necks Of reluctant people. He then
went on to the attempt of the President to obtain the
control Of all the Banks of the country and to subsi
,ze then aid towards retaining him in power. thus
drawing within the vortex of Executive influence and
domination, not only the purse Of the nation but the
moneyed institutions Of the States Mr.. r. no
tced the doctrines maintained by the President and
his friends that is not only the right but the bounden
duty OF Office holders, to interfere with the freedom of
elections and to forth through the nation many
political emissares. Here he noticed the substitute
offered and urged by himself a substitute for Mr.
Wnghts propositions that subject, and their very
summary rejection by the Senate He compared this
novel doctrine with the position taken by Mr. Jefer-
son, in direct contradiction to it. anmadverting in
tone of Indignation, MIR Van Burcns claim to the
legitimate successor Of Mr.. Jefferson. Having thus
noticed the attempt of the Administration get the
control of the Public Purse and the Banks and the
elective franchise he advered to what he denounced
as the browning achpf Executive ambition 1.-The en-
deavor to clutch the Sword also, by the outrageous
project Of the Militia Bill. On this topic Mr. R. di-
lated at considerable length He stated the doctrine
OF the Constitution in regard to the militiathe de-
bates on that part of the instrument in the debates Of
the Convention and the prompt and decided vote by
which the idea of placing the militia of the country
the order Of the President in time Of peace had been
put down he traced out the gradual steps by which
this proposal had been at length introduced in all its
monstrosiy to the notice Of Congress- and endorsed by
Executive recommendation and then proceeded to ex-
pose the shutting between the President and his
Minister OF War when met by the indignant opposi-
ton Of the peopether miserable attempts TO slip out
from the responsibility of the proposal and the de-
graduation OF both in esfying for each other before
the public at the call Of party editor He exposed
anu ned up to T,dicule and scorn the qubbling be-
tween them and the Presidents endeavor thus to ex-
PLAIN ignofum by muitum gnofius, to play the ink
hsh ny the use OF equivoca and indefinite language
instead OF coming boldly forward, and saying whether
ne meant TO recommend the measure not and here
ne ventured the prediction, that should the present
Executive be reelected, this daring scheme would
De made test question and forced upon the country
by virtue ofthe party screws.
lie quoted Gen Jackson's excuse for the removal
OF so many public officers, viz. that that the only
efectual mode left to him Of expressing his disclaimer
oil their official acts and applied it to the present
case as binding the gentleman who protested to walk
IN ms Footsteps to take the same mode of expressing
ms dlsapproval W he did dsapprove) of the project of
his Secretary Of War and this led Mr. Rves 10 no
ice, IN humorous strain the many scape goats Of
TINS magnanmous party ruler. If Mr.. Ponsett was
TO be one, then to follow strictly by the Jewish law,
after the sins of the President had been laid upon his
head he ought, forthwith to be dismissed into the
wilderness But Mr.. r. would not admit the trans
ter but went into argument from facts to fix the au-
thorship of the scheme upon the President himself
lie called his auditory TO a sentiment EXPRESSED by
zen Harrison, that in the Of the trainers of the
Constitution the militia was provided not 80 much
against ioreign invasion as a safeguard against do
nestle nsurpation, and shield to protect State Rights
ana the Liberties of the people, and that the safety of
Ieeuom depended as much upon an equality among
the people in the of arms as on an equality in civil
rghts-hence his desire to have the whole body of the
people instructed in the elements Of military practice
and though the scheme might be condemned as vi
sonary It's conception marked a mind deeply fraught
with genuine Repubca nsm
MI H. went on IN the next place to notice as ano-
ther feature in the general design Of grasping all
things within the clutch Of Executive influence the
attempt to get the control of all the banking nstitu
tons othe States by means of general Bankrupt law
lie dwe at considerable length on this topic as evin-
eng fragrant contempt for State Rights He com
inened on the revolving features of the bill as pressed
upon the Senate by gentleman who was the right
hand man OF the President in the carrying out of his
wnole scheme OF arrogating power, and pointed out
what would have been the desoatinp consequences of
an adoption Of the bill as il from the Executive
mint lie recalled the recollection of his audience TO
the fact that Mr.. Van Buren, had denounced this very
scheme in 1896 odious invasion of the rights OF
the States; but when his success in procuring the
adoption of the Sub Treasury Bill had enboldened
HIM to hope that he would carry what he pleased
he had taken the back track eaten his own words
and brought forward the very measure he had himself
reprobated, and sought to use il as a means TO
consolidate his power.
Mr.. X gave, from personal observation, history OF
the Juggle by which, when at former session three
wears ago the scheme proved too monstrous for
the Senatorial gullet TO receive it had been conveyed
away from the public eye by the dextety of Mr. Sc
halor Grundy. AT that time il was able 10 comnan nd
only the solitary and alone vote Of Mr. Benton
put on the recent presentation it commanded IA OF
'ne otate Rights Democratic votes in its favor. He
therefore stated ruleofthree sum- in order TO cacu.
a'e now long 1t would require to obtain the requisite
majority Tor It's passage into a law, and made second
prophecy, that should Mr. Van Buren, succeed in the
present canvass, It would become a law before the
termination of the first Congress thereafter
After this review of the Executive readings after
power, MT IL. entered INTO forcible appeal TO the
People OF Virginia the duty Of putting down such
an Administration He secuted the pretensons Of
Mr.. Van Buren, 10 be State Rights man. and made
very happy alluson TO the memoirs of another Mar.
in-one Martinus Scribcrus and his black yarn silk
ana SIR yarn stockings and the speculatons Of ccr-
TEN learned College of Metaphy sicians in the doe
.rne ofidentity with view the question whether the
pemocraue stockings, now worn by Mr. Van Buren,,