The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-02
EXTRACT FROM TIE
SPEECH OF MIR. ANDERSON,
OF RorErouRr,
OF BoTETouRT,
Delivered in the Senate of Virginia on the Sc

VI
Delivered in the Senate of Virginia on the Sc
Material election, Jan Is, 1911.
Before take my seat, Mr. Speaker, must ask the
indulgence Of the Senate to notice some of the
marks Of the Senator from Matthews. He informed
US that Mr. Ryes was not offered higher office than
Secretary Of War and he strongly insinuaed that he
left the Administration because he could not get a
higher office. Now think that the Secretaryship OF
War, as a beginning, would satisfy tho ambition of
most men but was informed by late distinguished
Senator from Georgia, a friend of MIR. Van Buren,,
that ne designed giving Mr. Rives the Secretaryship
OF State, and actually offered Mr. Forsyth the mission
70 Austria and informed him that Mr. Riyes was TO
succeed him in the State Department might, also,
for the purpose of showing in what estimation Mr..
Rlves was held by the Southern Democratic members
OF Congress, refer to meeting held by them Wash
ington city, about the ncement of the present
Administration, who invited him TO accept seat
In the Cabinet, and thereby identify himself with its
policy as they might want his services aid in arrest
ing obnoxious measures; but, sir, will content my
sell by calling the attention of the Senate to an edto-
nal paragraph ofthe Richmond Enquirer OF so recent
date as last Saturday. This is an authority which
cannot be questioned by the Senator from Matthews
or any of his party. 1t is the high authority of the
Napolean Of the Press, and triumphant refuta-
uon Is 1t OF the imputation MIR Rives by the
Senator y admits every thing that the warmes,
friend OF MIR. Rives has ever asked After speaking
OF Mr. Rves past and present position, the venerable
Editor proceeds He has left friends who lored him.
~ wiz ueSpiseu nlnl lie mas abandoned
party whom he could trust for who will never cor
daily trust him he has exchanged one of the bright
EST prospects IN the Union for a connexion with par
", "hch mas many, very many men, who have supe-
nor claims their Presidential rotesh This consid-
erlng the source from whence it comes, is precious
confession If Mr. Rives iored by they Democratic
party, what was it for Not for the vices which are
now ascnbed to him by some of the party no il was
ior ms virtues for his high intellectual and moral quail
1ties for his great pubic services What were "te
brightest prospects in the Union,' which he gave up
by leaving the Administration ! The Presidencu
ne EDITOR OF the Enquirer says SO, and il must lie so
Here is the acknowledgements of one of Mr. Rves'
bltterest enemies, that he sacrificed the Presidency
rather than surrender his principles What higher
compliment could be paid himl Can any one doubt
that he made such sacrifice knowingly and willing
~ That he would have been the choice Of the De
mocratic party the successor of Mr. Van Buren il
seems 70 me Is completely demonstrated by the present
condition OF that party IL is obvious that if they drop
Mr. Van Buren,, that they cannot unite upon any
other OF their prominent men. No one will pretend
10 say that they can unite upon Mr. Calhoun There
are preJudices against him with large majority of the
party, which can never he overcome There are in
surmountable objections TO Col. Benton with res
pectable portion of the party and Mr. Buchanan
Smells rather too strong of old Federalism for the
Democracy-so that Mr. Rvcs is the only prominent
man of the party that they could have united upon
Al all events he left the strong party who in the
language ofthe Richmond Enquirer "Lored him z and
Were willing and able TO confer the highest office upon
~ "'iu Joheu according TO the same authority,
MS enemies, who despised him. without either the
power or disposition to promote him. For what pur
pose 10 arrest measures which he believed would
ruin his country and lis liberty Was there ever more
dsinterested patriotism? The head and front of his
offending Is, that he sacrificed his ambition on his
country alter; that he preferred his country to him
self and his party and has taught the rising genera
ton that they have country to serve as well as
party to obey" MIR. Speaker have done | have
said much more than nteuded when commenced
trust that the intense interest felt on this subject will
be sufficient excuse