The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-13
SPEECH or MR.. RIVES
AT THE AUBURN CONVENTION.
ICoNcLUDEp.l

SPEECH OF MIR. RIVES
AT THE AUBURN CONVENTION.
lCoNcLuDEp.l
He told you, and is a warning beg you will lay
TO your hearts, that the great object and of mill
tia not TO defend you against foreign but against
domestic usurpaton and he also enunciaed the great
truth that the safety ofthe Republic depended much
equal use OF arms on an equality OF civil
and political rights. This opinion expressed in
of his reports chairman of committee of Con-
gress in 1918; and il emanated from a mind deeply
imbued with love Of American liberty, and pro-
oundy read in all the history of Republics, both an
cient and modern. He said, nothing is more danger
Gus than TO confine the military but to a part Of the
people, for or later that part will govern Now,
don't you the design of Mr. Martin Van Buren, in
doing what he proposes to do instead of doing the
Republican Patriot Harrison would do-do you not
see that he would bring these Jansaries into imme-
diate dependence upon him. that he might make them
the fit instruments Of his ambitious designs and thus
is the scheme of Mr.. Martin Van Buren,, which is
defended by Mr.. Slas Wright tho right arm Of Mr..
| Van Buren's democracy. Loud cries of well cut
/ off that right arm
| Yes, my friends you must cut off pot only the
right arm but the left arm too and leave nothing but
| q powerless trunk. (Cheers.)
| Gentlemen invite your attention to Mr.. w right s
Long Island speech in which he said that the Presi
dent intended to relieve the mass of the people from
their constitutional duties by the employment of POO,
600 menthat were to be released from the charge
and guardianship of your liberties which to
be delegated to 600 Jansaries in the pay of Mr.
Van Burcn-and tell you that this is most marked
and prominent point in the policy of this admnstra-
ton and am as sure that the Sub-treasury scheme
has been consummated the necks of this republican
people, in spite of their frequent remonstrances-as
sure you re-elect him, you will have his army
scheme too. (''He shall never do it.") But you re-
elect him and he will do il. ("But we will not re-
| elect bin. ~ know the free Of New York would
never do it and know the free men of Old virgi-
MIA will never do it. (Great cheering) And am
proud and happy say that know too as you know,
that the free men of all America will never consent to
do it, Never, never, never. (Great chcering) Yes,
my trends, and if wanted any further assurance Of
the proud destiny of this dear republic of this America
of ours have received it in New York. have felt
the pulse of our Virginia. have felt in all her
veins and arteries, and find il beats strong and
| vigorous in the holy of liberty as in 70
(Checrs And ifyou will permit me to say il, have
felt the pulse of New York toohere have felt the
pulsaticn of American liberty throb as have grasped
the hands Of many of New York sons this day,
and that assures that shall be triumphant even
though New Yorks recreant son seeks to PROSTATE
every thing that is glorious in her past history.
| Gentlemen thank you for that assurance; shall
| carry it back with me to Virginia, | return almost
as on the wings of the wind, and it will warm the
bosom of your friends in the Old Dominion. Great
| cheering)
| Gentlemen have been told and Virginia has been
told that you bound and ettered to the support of
Mr. Martin Van Buren,. CT is not SOY No, it is not
So You have done all you could to him. You have
done all that fond doting mother could do for son
from whom you hoped for better things. What have
you done You senthim abroad under the sole sanc-
| ton of your confdence-you aborcd in season and
out of season. to build up his fortunes; he left that
post for the one he now occupies unworthily and
the faith of your recommendation, Virginia took
him. We took him because we knew New York.
and loved her. because we had stood side by side in
| all our republican battles, and proud of the
opportunity to sustain you in what had reason to
believe you, brother freemen, took interest In &C
| compshing But you have told most imprcssively
and by convincing tcstimony--by that second sober
| thought which Mr.. Van Buren, himself has told you
is never crrng--and which has been repeated third
| time---hat you feel
How sharper than serpents tooth ii is
To have ungrateful child
You have nursed him and brought him up you
have reared him with affection, and what is his re-
turn He has waged war against all the peculiar and
distinctive interests and gorlcs Of the State Of New
York What my friends, is his Sub-treasury, but
special aimed against the better interests Of the
State of New York But you put Mr. Van Buren,
where he is, foI it your endorsement that he
put there and that Virginia came to your sup
port We wont do so any more-and we ask pardon
Tor what we have done Gentlemen, you have need
to ask that But | know you each acted, as feel
acted, as an honest man GU believed him to be an
honest and true Of New Gork---hat he cherished
those orthodox principles of democracy to the profess
sion of which his life had been devoted and how
have you found him A traitor to your interests If
then, alter all the agLant proofs of his treachery to
YOU you still hug him to your bosom and again seek
TO impose sisters confidence, you will have rea-
son to ask pardon 1t is human TO err. have erred
with you, my republican friends of New York---Vir-
gina has erred in common with you And how
make amends otherwise than byi discarding him,
and placing confidence in better and truer man
Gentlemen stand here before YOU and as New York
has given the lead, promise you we will follow. Mr..
Van Buren, has said il honor enough for him TO
have served such a cheftain" Virginia though in
a proud consciousness of devotion TO liberty and her
own sovereignty stood too in the same ranks as Mr..
Van Buren, but she felt il glory enough to have
served such a chcftain." We have ever congratu-
lated ourselves that have stood side by side with
New York; and esteem it an honor STILL and
higher glory--a distinguished honor than ever
has been yet enjoyed when have stood by her side
and have seen her exercising Roman virtue, not
initiating the dwelling, miserable, wretchcd, King
Lear, by merely complaining
How sharper than a serpents tooth it is
To have a thankless child
But playing the noble part Of the Roman Brutus,
when he found his son betrayng and sacrificing the
liberties of his country how much soever you may feel
mortified and humblcd to give the stem sentence to
| free and betrayed people What, then has New
York said TO to make good the injury already done
Discard the traitor That is il, and Virginia will
| be BY you still she ever has been.