The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-09
SPEECH OF MIR. RIyEs
AT THE AUBURN CONVENTION,

SPEECH OF MIR. RIyES
AT THE AUBURN CONVENTION.
[CoNTiNUEDl
Once, said statesman Of England he knew not how
to draw up bill of indictment against whole nation
OF people, and say that man is authorized, in ref
70 the display of majesty here to-day to speak
of this day. and Of this anxious universal agitation
of the public mind, as the result of factous excite
ment. No, no my friends the great issue of 'I6 Is
come forward again say il fearessly and If you
will do me the honor TO accompany me in the remarks
which propose to submit to you this evening, doubt
not you will hold justified in the declaration make,
that the whole of the present administration has
been standing the great interests OF our coun
try, and fragrant conspiracy against the rights and
liberties of the American people, (Applause) say
this fellow citizens beg you TO understand, under
the influence of no passionate excitement in my own
bosom speak under full Of the sacred obiga
ton which free representative of the people ought TO
feel when he discourses with his felowczens on the
interests of their common country andnl do not sat
isfy you that in pronouncng hsdeclaraton have but
uttered the words of truth and soberncss then fei
low citizens the failure may be attributed to the fee
bleness of the advocate and not defect in the truth
and justice of the My friends, in common with
large majority of you whom have the honor to adj
dress this day supported, honestly and heartily the
election of Mr. Martin Van Buren, to the Presidency
of the United States Numerous voices in the crowd
cried So did I'O Gentlemen, that is the response
expected from this large assembly. know you did;
anu lot precisely the tnat
you supported him because reposed faith and conf
dence in those professions of his Demscracy which no
nan more eoquently and unequivocally made than
Mr.. Martin Van Buren,. But ] also supported him
Southern and Virginian, for not
common to yourselves. | was glad to have the oppor-
tunity, a Virginan, to manifest to New York, in
the person of who was deemed her favorite son,
that debt of gratitude which due TO her for stand
ing by the Sons of Virginia, in our great Constitu-
tiona battle for liberty and can say, IN truth, in
the name ofmy honored Commo nwealth, that she,
too by this impulse ofgraude was glad to come freely
forward, with the energies of her whole mind and soul,
to support citizen of New York. But, my friends,
when we found that Mr.. Martin Van Buren,, by every
measure of his administration, from the outset his
latest act classifying those republican professions on
which we gave him our confidence; when we found
his conduct in office conflicting with the professions
which brought him into it when thought honestly
that did him pursuing, in spite of remonstrance
from his State and all others of the Union,
which believed were fraught not only with
tain destruction to the prosperity OF all but with mm
nent danger to our Liberties, could not, as
honest man, hold up my face before my honest com
patriots Of Virginia and the whole Union and contn-
my support to him any longer. applause Fellow
citizens, did more Placed by the confidence Of my
fellow citizens Of Virginia. with your own noble son
who has just addressed you, Mr.. N. r. Tallmadge,)
and who never will deceive you-(great APPLAUSE
in the Senate of the United States the representa-
tive of free people Of America, did not satisfy my
self with mere negative discharge ofmy duty, by re-
proposed by his administration. felt that had
a higher duty to perform-to cry aloud and spare not
and because |, with my honorable friend, Mr. Tall
madge of your own State-( great cheering land in
concurrence with another noble champion Of American
liberty Mr.. Legare) who has come here to aid this
day renewed cheerng)-when we thus interpreted
our duty country, and acted thus, fearless of all
consequences and looking only for the appreciation of
God and the thanks of our country, which we this
day receive; when pursued this course as were
duty hound fearlessly heard us de-
nounced from extreme to another traitors and
apostates. For what, my fellow-citizensl For one,
glory in the Nance great cheering y glory in
name, my fellow citizens, with which, earned by such
conduct in the better days of the republic, might
pire to some humble prase-a name which consider
the highest title of distinction, and which hope to
transmit to my posterity. (Applause) But ask my
friends-and if there are any of Mr.. Van Burcns
friends present with whom, in better days had the
honor stand side by side fighting the battles Of con-
sttutional liberty in this blessed land OF ours appeal
to them and ask them to say how have we been trail
tors and apostatcs Have we betrayed solitary prin-
cipc Of that cherished republican creed which pro-
essed in common with that individual who now occu-
pies the highest Office in this country call in vain
and shall, for any to specify solitary
instance in which have departed from single prn
cpe of the old and orthodox creed of this country that
professcd and which still adhere. There
is not Well, then, my friends, have been trail
tors to you (No, no) No. no. my friends; il is that
stern and unfinching fidelity with which we have stood
by you and the common liberties OF our country which
constitutes highest offence in the eyes of those who
thus stigmatize us.
What is il, then, my friendsl Treason TO Martin
Van Buren, (Shouts of aughter) thank God,
my friends and fellow citizens, for myself and can
equally say it for my honored friends here, that
never took the oath of allegiance to Martin Van
Buren, to his governments and long God
spares the of my faculties to direct my actions,
| never will Immense checrng.)
But have taken the oath of allegiance TO my own
honored commonwealth and took the oath of fidelity
to support the common constitution of our common
country; and fell and trust will feel the so
lemn and sacred obligation which such an oath i'm
poses when brought into conflict with such miserable
considerations connected with mere party disc
pine. Loud and continued cheering.) But my old
republican friends and am happy appeal to such,
you shall have opportunity this day il my strength,
already nearly exhausted In the fields of action, in
and out of season. and it my voice does not fail
| me and your patience will enable me to 90 with
the Development Il will enable you, by the light Of
truth and the uncrring light of history, to Judge who
are the real apostates and who the traitors their
country. (Checrs.) Whether we who stand before
you who have been arralgned for these high crimes
and misdemeanors against common country, or
those who have falsely accused us. (Cheers and cries
/ of Them TO be sure
Gentlemen and beg leave most respectfully to
| appeal TO every who to the name of Re
nublican-whcther he stands in the ranks of Mr. Van