Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-08
RICHMOND, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8
COL. .REENER.


RICHMOND, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY :,
COZ. .:REEVEE
In the Richmond Wing Of the 18th instant We lind
long article dedicated 10 the Delegate from Smub
will more than usual courtesy but with us customary
Justification and assumption Of facts, ii nacousIy At
tamnts TO distort and msrepresen the conduct Of hu
gentleman and excite against him the dSpl easure D,
the people of Smyth
II is well known that the good people of That ins,
!ircn county are strongly attached TO the Admnl,trl
ton. and that notwithstanding the difference Of OBJ
Mon Which exists among them Is TO the policy Of III.
independent Treasury, they never for moment fa
tered in the purpose OF sustaining the reelection Of
Mr. Van Buren,. AZ the last election, this was h.
lived by them to be the position of Mr. Rives The
could not and would not tolerate the prescription Of no
eminent public man, for single difference oil opinion
with the Administration they had assisted 10 bring iao
power and which they generally approved I.yinyia
remote section of the Commonwealth engaged IN an
honorable pursuit, nsusplcous and coniidng, they dl
not for a moment dream that MIR. Rvcs would con.
ceal his true position abuse the confidence of his ar
dent and confding friends. Under such cIrcumSaa
ces they elected Mr. Greevcr, pledged 10 60 for llr
Rivcs-pledged however to go for Mr. William c
Rivcs Jclirrcd 10 be member n Me Democratic PAM
-beIifred 10 be friendly 10 tie reelection Of Martin oa
Burea: but not pledged to 90 for Mr. Rves, enemy
the Republican party and laborng for lis destruction
This we undertake 10 say ''for The people OF Smyh"
was the real character of Mr. Growers obligation 10
them, and none other 1t was indeed, all they IN.
tended or required
lion, Mr. Grecver took his seat in the Assembly. He
soon had occasion to doubt and disrust the Democracy
Of Mr. Rves. IIo found the whole Federal party eager
for his election. He found the whole Democratic party
with some two three EXCEPTIONS against him. II
was alleged, that Mr.. Rves against the Admins.
traton-tha he sympathised deeply with the vicorie4
and defeats of the Opposition and yet Mr.. Rives re-
fused to dispc those clouds and doubts that hun,
arond HIM. Yet while Mr. Grcevcr doubted, he was
without the evidence convince and satisfy his con-
stucnts he felt il his duty TO carry out their will as
revealed TO him at his election
In such state of mind, the letter of the 18th Dccem
Der last made It's appearance. II was published c&
pressy at The time 70 operate upon the Senatorial ccc
ton, BY thawng the impracticabllty OF certain Wing
9entemen-Coupled with the rumors, coming thick and
fast from the county of Abcmarle, that Mr. Rves had
verbally declared his purpose TO sustain the Opposition
left doubt that MIR Rivcs rretrievaby lost 70
the Democratic party. And we understand Mr.. Gree.
yer determination did reel under the power of these
Developments. Indeed, certain was the election OF
Mr. Rives considered, in consequence of belief tina,
he had disclosed enough of his position 10 proptata
the Wings, that 4 iarrison man from distant county,
writing TO friend III this city, and deeply disguised
the mystery and sophstlca,ion of Mr. Rivcs, and ate;
declaring he had TO doubt he had expressed himself in.
favor of the Harrisburg nomination, says, For do.
ing lie has, fear already got his re'rard; reTard
undeseryed as il has been unworthily obtained.
But still, certain gentlemen undertook TO explain
away the letter of the 4th December and Mr. Greevr',
anxious 10 pay the utmost respect 10 the people OF h>
county, and manifest the most holy regard for tie
cred principle of instruction, and fearing that his
wishes might deceive and misiead him, still determined
to vote Cor Mr.. Rves. Notwithstanding the powrg:G!
impression made upon hun BY the speech OF ar. Goods
thc day of election, Mr. Grccvcr adhered to his de-
termination, and voted for Mr. Riycs throughout the
day and never did alter his purpose TO do, in good
faith, as are authorized to say, until Mr. Fontane
of the Senate, showed him letter from Mr. Rrves
himself, the mornn. of the second day OF the cleo
ton. This demonstrated, that Mr.. Rvcs was against
the present Administration, and Tor defeating the
reelection of Mr.. ' an Buren-and duty, imperative
duty to his Democratic constituents, demanded his
nunciaon of Mr.. Rives. In doing, his purpose,
fully satisfied truly and faithfully 10 discharge
his duty to his constituents
II is not true that Slr Greever could at any TIM
have decided the contest. He was not pivot mau
And it is gratifying 10 know, that If &ir &. has DOM
wrong, the people Of Smyth have another opportunity
TO be heard upon The quesonfhat 1t will be IN full
pro"al Of their worthy and exec licnt Delegate, sill
moi doubt
The letter published in our last paper from tie
/ county of Smyth, Is from Of the most iDteigcn,
gentlemen the county, and fully bears on, the
| clusion to which we have otherwise arrived
| Bnt woti to the extraordinary Letter Of Alf
| Riyes, which was shown TO Col Grecver To change
his course, and Propitiae his vote Tor Mr. Rves-but
which produced exactly the opposite effect Here
/ it is
"CAsriE HUI, January 22d, Is40
| "My Dear Sri find that entirely private Letter
of nine has, IN this land of universal n0t0ritty found
| lis aray 10 the Press. aude 10 a letter 10 --, .!
Albany, which has been published iii the Evening JouI
nal Of that city. | enclose YOU letter from
showing that he has taken this responsibility without
any concurrence of mine. - WILL doubtless, ~.
deavor TO make out of IT something most horrible G
tredSonabie, 10 raise another panic, as the AbcmaH.
story is becoming rather stale But what is there IN
the letter which every patriotic and independent MA.
of every party ought not heartily into visit
that the people Of New York had had spirit and Inde
pendencc to stick to their principles and still 10 oppos
the destructive policy of the Sub Treasury, &c. IN
spite of the personal and ecctioneerng efforts of the
President HIMSELF TO swerve them from their comSrc
tons and their duty to the country You will perceive
that the last paragraph Of my letter evident alr.
sion 10 the nomination OF Gen Scott by the Harrisburg
Convention, which was then expected by most OF Is.
and which it understood would be the most popular
and acceptable TO New York. | have thought do
TO our Conservative friends that there shOud be N
mystery about this business nor that any ground shuHt
be left for suspicion that had any agency direct ot
indirect, in the publication Of this letter.
In great haste
Very truly your friend
WIN. C. RlvES
f.. FoSrAISE, Esq"
This billet of Mr. Rives is characteristic. II smaca'
Of the diplomacy of mysterious politician, not Of The
frankness Of Virgnian He writes, he says, to ds.
spate mystery, and yet leaves entirely in fog Of
mystery. He seems 10 ins;auate for the benefit of the
Conservatives that the Albemarlc story is stae Dor'
he mean BY that, it is not true: He knows is tie
conesses that he for Gen Scott does he 10 N
snuate that he does not FOR Gen Harrison, the no
mince Of the Harrisburg Convention; He rejoice
that New York triHnped, because it shows that she
sticks to her principles, and still opposes the Subtle
sury. But is this NIL for which Mr.. II reioiccs. l""
| muck is Gouched under that mysterious 's&c.' 10
we not all know, that he goes the whole against y
Van Buren-and therefore, too, he rejoiccs in the sue
cess of the Wings Do not the very hits he maAr'
in this letter show, in his diplomatic sorl of way, tIa'
he is thoroughly opposed to Mr.. Van Buren, In >
word, how could plain honest, unsophstica'cd man
like Mr. Grcever, be imposed upon by such hnmbns
How could he help reading it. Notwithstanding the ds
euse in which it is wrapt up, that the writer Of !.
was at heart and in effect opposed to the Admnr.ii.'
ton; TO say nothing, of his New York letter, and W.
revelations the Court green Of Albemarc county;
BIZ: Mr.. T. did not wish 10 out altogether, i'