Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-16
TO Tar EDiToR or TuE ENQUIRER,

SrAStEDSNILLE, Greene Co, June lst ISiD.
o'r:- ne Wings ni this county, as you aware,
have inV'icd Mr. Rivcs 10 address citizens on the
tn, that being June Court Mr. Rvcs has accept
ed the invitation The distinguished orator Of Cul.
p"Prr " m Smith, has been invited 10y large number
." te Citizens OF the county TO reply 10 Mr.. Sves, and
expect ne will certainly be here. When we first
spoke Of inviting hlr Smith the Wings laughed at The,
idea an. declared rSt anntingv that he could not he
rot here The Democrats, however, remained firm To
iieir purpose believing that, with the pebble of truth
the David OF Democracy would be able to vanGush The
mighty G"ah Of Whiggcry in single combat As
soon, hnwcv"r, - The Wings found that we were in
earnest and had reasons 10 believe that Smith would be
"imprnden enough 10 come, "a change care over The
spirit OF te dreams, and It seemed to them very in
delicate to invite Billy Smith here reply Mr. Rvcs
kather than suffer their Democratic friends to be guilty
OF suc breach OF good manners, they offered give
up June Court, if We would promise that Mr. Rvcs
should not be replied TO by Mr. Smith or any one else
on any other day he might choose to select We told
them, II they gave Mr. Rivcs public dinner or in
viicd hun TO address the Wings of this county on any
occasion, so that il Wing meeting. they should
certainly have all the fun to themselves; but if they in.
Vitcd nm here TO Instruct Democrats in political
matpFs we would pursue different course from that
OF the Judge who would hear the evidence on bat one
side, lest he should be confused with the multiplicity of
testimony They seemed to think this very unreason-
aole, particularly as we expressed wish that b. Ii
speakers should have fair hearing Some suggested
that there mtgM be some personal difference At one
time they determined 10 have it Wing meeting, in
vtng such OF the Democrats as chose to come At
another time they spoke of giving him dinner In
ne, Their plans assumed every shape their ingenuity
could devise to get rid Of Smith; and they at last set
tied down upon their original proposition. Willis, these
Things were going on, meeting of the Democracy of
the county called for the purpose OF organizing and
adding 10 the Committee of Vigilance. The Court,
house crowded, and the finest spirit prevailed |
have you for publication copy ola preamble and
resolutions which adopted at that meeting, with
the correspondence, containing certain propositions
which you Will were not fully accepted by TIE
Wings and have been finally rejected by Mr.. Rvcs,
as am informed By of the Wings who submit.
ted the resolutions in him. II seems to me the
fair inference from thus course is, that Mr. RivcS
intends TO means TO deceive the people, which
he knows would be detected and exposed, if sub
mitted to rigid scrutiny. He must feel that his
cause is indeed b:,. If he not willing to test It's
strength under circumstances favorable. What
VIM. G. Rives afraid 10 meet VIM. Smith in an argu-
ment before the people, unless he have the advam
age as TO time or in some other way For ms object
must be to consume nearly the whole dav as he did a
Cupeper and thus prevent ply until the people have
generally gone Indeed, heard Wing say, Mr.. tives
would not commence until after he rot his dinner, aud
then continue as long as he causc. DcSp, rate
must party be who would resort to such means and
desperate the that requires them. How the
mighty Senator has fallen Fallen either in the estima
ton of his own acknowledged abilities, or in that per
feet consciousness of the rccttude of his political POI
slcn, which impar,s nudauntcd courage 10 the posses
sor | have Tins IN my imperfect style given you
correct of Of the leading facts
ed with this affair you make what of them
and my name connected with them if you desire you
may think best. Very respectfully,
A. R. BLAKEY