Madison Whig advocate., 1840-05-09
From the Ciariottsriue (pa) Republican.
LETTER FROM MR.. RIyEs, OF VA.

From the ChariOttsriue (pa) Repu5lioan-
LETTER FROM MR.. RIyEs, OF VA.
CASTLE HILL, Feb I84O.
Nv Dear Sir:-You inquire of me what
are nv views on the sub Iect of the pending
Presidential election, and wha: course, | think,
ought to be pursued in il by those of us In
general OF the republican party, who have been
opposed 10 the leading measureso OF the present
Administration.
While my name WIS recently before the Le-
gisaiure, by the act of my friends, candI-
date for reelection, to the Senate of the United
States, | declined IN answer TO various commu-
nications from members OF that body, to give
any pledge of support TO either of the Presi-
dental candidates, as the condition of election.
/ did so, because, while 1t is clear that, under
the Constitution, Senator of the United
States can, in no possible contingency, be call
led on as such, to give any vote or perform
other act in the election of President, be-
heved that the practice of requiring of those
who might be brought forward for the Office OF
Senator, pledges to support this or that man for
the Presidency, however II may be otherwise
viewed by many honorable and patriotic men,
is practice fatally calculated to destroy the
Independence of the Legislative Department.
and to prostrate ii at the ieet OF the Executive
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 le-
gisation which were likely to come before the
Senate of the United States for its appropriate
and legitimate action, my opinions were fully
known, Orif they were not SO, was ever rea-
dy to declare and 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 discl arge ot the trust conhded
80 me, which were neither few nor equivocal
nor unattended with circumstances of peculiar
trial, were before the country, aHording, as II
seemed 20 me the most authentic IntsTpreta.
lion of nv principles, well the suresi
guarantee of my future course
FoE these various reasons ieit that ought
not to give any pledge OF support to any OF the
Presidential candidates, as the condition of my
election the Senate of the United States
and accordingly declined to do so, while my
name recently before the Legislature, IN
connection with the election for that Office
These motives of reserve have now ceased
NV name is no longer before the Legislature
for that or any other office; and as IN time
past, it has never been by any act or sollcita-
ton of mine, so, whether it shall, at any time
hereafter be, will depend on the free will OF
others, not mine. A nd in the event, even, OF
my name being again presented TO the Legs
lature, by the partiality and generous conh-
dence with which my friends and feilow-citi-
gems have been heretofore pleased to distinguish
me, the Presidential election will have been
determined, and we shall all. OF necessity.
have taken our equal and responsible parts IN
II, before the Legislature, according TO their re-
cent decision on the subject, will proceed TO
the election OF Senator of the United States.
Under these circumstances, | can no longer
feel the slightest delicacy, as private eitlzen-
IN expressing you freely and without re-
serve my opinions on the interesting question
you proposed to me.
Your inquiry naturally divides itself into
two branches. The first is, can we support tue
reelection of the present ChIet Magistrate
those of Us, mean, who have been IN earnest
IN our opposition 10 the leading measures and
prevailing policy of his administration! a nd
this question would seem properly and plainly
20 resolve itself into another. Has he aoan-
doned Withdrawn any of those measures, 70
which we have been, and are still thus opposed
So far from II, we have seen that, in his recent
Message TO Congress, he has again brought
forward and urged, with increased determine
ton OF purpose. his now cherished sub Ireasu-
~ scheme, which, at the time OF his election,
all his political friends believed to be traught
and which ice 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 IFS adoption in the most OBJ
noxious and objectionable OF all the forms II
has ever assumed L refer. OF course. what
has been commonly called the specie clause. oil
Tequisition of the public dues in gold and sill
ver alone. This rigorous feature OF the scheme
had beea preternntted by the President, in his
moEs rec mt expositIons of il, and was belIev-
ed 70 be finally abandoned by him; bur is now
brought forward In bold relief, IL is understood,
as the ssne qua of the new political alliance,
which has been announced TO the country
And he President eren tells us that he s.believes
no period will De auspiciouss' for the intro
duction of this hard money policy in the ope-
raiions of the government, ssthan the present.
when we know, that In thirds OF three
iourths of the STATES, specieis, at an average
premium of ten per cent above the common
currency. Most ssauspclous,n indeed, for the
interests of those who are the recipients and
benehciaries of the public contributions, but
surely Mt for the interests of the people, who
are the payers, immediate or ultimate, OF all
these contributions
In compliance with this recon endatlon of
the President, we have just seen the sub-Trea-
sury bill, with the obnoxious specie clause,
hurried through one branch of the National
Legislature by minority vote, in the absence
OF many members, when, If that body, ftne
Senate,) had been full, and its members had
voted in conformity TO the opinions and wishes,
either expressed understood, OF their res
pecnye States, the measure ould have betn
defeated A nd YET, in the face Of such facts
as these, appeals are still made, in the name of
blind and abject party allegiance, to many
who truly opposed 10 this scheme, from
thorough conviction OF its most dangerous and
fatal tendencies, to support the re-eiecHon 81
the President, by whose influences and anu-Fe-
publican confumacy, il is to be imposed, and
permanently fastened upon the country. "A
poor attempt is now made to give piausioiiity
and effect to this appeal, by repres nung tne
sub-Treasury scheme al . mere questfon o. 81
pedieney, on which men may agree to dlues
without any compromise Of principle, on either
side; and this attempt 10 made, too BY those
who have, themselves, but recently denounced
the scheme, in the strongest terms, a. DANCE
rous 10 the public liberty by giving tae Presi-
dent the immediate control of the public mo-