The Madisonian., 1840-01-21
From he ~ Y Times.
VIM C. RIVES OF VIRGINIA


If any doubts have heretofore existed as TO the DO
still Of this eminent man, the following letter,
which, with the accompanying remarks, We copy
from the Albany Evening Journal, OF The lih in
slant, should al once dssipale them. What can be
| more explicit than lhe language here employed T.
Ihe writer II appears 10 Us takes sides W th much
hearliness as II Is possible for words 10 convey
Most iervcnlly do we hope, for the honor of Vir-
glnia, that her Legislature may, the twenty-hird
OF this month, emulate the example offer.d by the
legislature Of New York, by adding another homes,
patriot 10 that distinguished minority which so gal
lanlly asserts The rights Of the people in the Senate
Chamber al Washington. We trust the preudices
oil The impraclicables will thaw before the influence
OF the tidin2s we have sent them from New York.
Virginia, the mother Of statesmen and heroes whose
names are the walchwordS of liberty, when she ap-
pears by proxy on the floor Of the National Senate,
should al least have oD representative worthy of her
Old renown WILLIAM G. RivEs would be such
representative But even setting aside The more en-
nobling motives which should influence their choice
good policy should teach the Legislators a, Richmond
noto repudiate the statesman who had the indepen.
uehce 70 iofsaBe his party, because his party had be-
trayed the people.
II they do this wrong, what will be its operation
| on those who may hereafter wish TO be emancipated
from the thrador. Of corrupt plrtv and 10 serve
their country With the prospect Of being dsown-
ed by one side; and stgmalised by the other rene
gades and apostates; will they not rather act like
those they despise, than risk insraude and calumny
from those whom they would otherwise have braved
every thing 10 strengthen How the patriotism and
sraightforWardneSS OF that man can be doubted
who casts aside prdfered hunors and tramples upon
the temptations Of self interest in his eagerness to
denonnce oppression and miSrule, is TO us marvel
we do no claim il as an extraordinary merit in Mr..
Rives that he has done his duty in spite of the al
lurementS OF power; but we do claim that the course
he has pursued ought 10 satisfy the Wings of Vr-
glnia that he poss sses the Jeersonian qualification
of honesty he is well known to possess that Of ca
Pabitty, and that he is therefore worthy Of their
fdence
From Tie Albany Ereaing Journal.
WILLIAM G.. RivEs-We learn with surprise and
regret, that here is moment, hesitation the part
OF The Whig members OF the Legisure OF Virginia.
10 the reelection Of their distinguished Senator. He
has BY sell-sacri6cing and noble resstanceto to
! ecuve power, commended himself TO the support
and confidence of the people His course, through
the last two years, has been which has exhalted
| him IN The estimation of the people of the Union
! We cannot bring ourselves to fear hat the Whi5
members of the Virginia Legislature will deny TO
their friends throughout The Union, the satisfaction
| OF hailing the return OF an able champion Of their
rights and interests 10 the councils of the nation
We have obtained the permission of the gentle
man 10 whom The following letter from Mr. Rives
was written TO present it 10 our readers How
the Wings doubt the pitriotism of a gentleman
whose life and character furnish the highest guaran-
tee for the sincerity of his professions
CASTLE Hit, December 4, 1899.
MY DEAR SIR My engagements have led de-
lay longer than | intended my Acknowledgements for
your very kind letter the 9th ul conveying the
first certain intelligence of the glorious triumph of prln
cple aud patriotism in your State. II is demons,ra-
tiou OF the yet unimpared energies Of lofty and vr-
tuous public sentiment in the country which, consider
ing the extraordinary and imposing influences which
were brough, to bear upon the freemen Of your State
is as full OF honor to them, OF hope and consolation
to their compatrots elsewhere.
Sincerely hoping that the debcatlon. of this day at
Harrisburgh may be such will be most auspicious to
the continued ascendancy Of the feeling in your
State and to render its fourth expression efficient
as the three last have been. pray you to accept the
assurances Of the cordial esteem and respect with which
am very truly yours, w. G RlVES