Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-21

tasted Of the breath If liberty and the spiri, Of patriot
is,n wa strong within him. lie saw destruction aud
ruin sappng the liberties Of his country, and felt that
unless the men power could be turned oui, the prn
cipie of freedom wnnd be des,roycd-hc then bid AZ
apparent farewell To power and hnnors; lie left that party
from whom he light have had any distinction, or any
reward and he came and enrolled himself amongs, the
log cabin and hard cider buys who At that time had
neither power nor ability to bes,ow distinctions upon any
man; from them he asked nothing-to HIM promise
was sven but in obedience 10 the will of their
CONSTITUENCIES and as mark of appreciation Of his indie
pendent and maguanmous conduct, they we're desrous
Of sending him to represent Virginia in the Senate OF
the u S. He was wiling 10 take him up, to
forgive him all his past sins for his present services
The compact between hr. Ryes and his former friends
ended and the patcrna care and affection of his
friend Of the Enquirer had changed into iiend.hke
hatred and unrcenting persecution. He had arrived
at the House just in time to hear the enquiries made
hy the member from Monroe lie was sure that that
gentleman did not as his friend had remarked desire
tie information for iir purpose o satisfying himself SO
to enable him vote for that gentleman. Now the
gentleman hoped that the answers might, perhaps, fur
nish little capital which might be turned 10
count. The gentleman himselfcoud give much bet
ter account of the political principles OF Mr.. Rives
than he any member on that side OF the House could
give; for he and the party with whom ne Acted had
known him much longer and much more intimately
than they-he had come to them as new ally and
friend and was strange that they should SO long have
supported gentleman with whose political principles
they pretended be totally ignorant The life of
Mr. r. had been public one, and his acts continually
before the people The people required no exposition
Of Mr. Rives principles, for they had decided upon
them in The spring.
There principles dear to Virginia, which Mr.
Rves did support; but when he ceased to run with
Mr. Van Buren,, when he cut loose from the party 10
relation 10 the currency question, then they iou"u
them pursuing him with endsh hatred and blood-honho
ferocity. In the opposition to Mr.. Rives, were they
anxious to maintain principles to CRAFTY revenge
Let them be brought to the that dv'dso
the people of Virginia, Mr.. Rives opposed, and they
would talk and endeavour to get away and wnsh
pressed to tell the truth, the fact would at length
ooze ont, and it would be found that the great SIN
was the refusing to sink or swim with the party;
lie was no eulogis of Mr. Rives, but he considered
that he deserved more credit for his magnanm'ty
and patriotism than probably any other man n, IN y!
the State He left of the highest stations in their
party, when any gift which he might have asked at
their hands, would have been conferred;-he left them
at time when they were in the bloom of prosperity
and power, when it almost high treason to hint
that there yet omnipotent might in the maIes-
y of the people;-at a time when the Office holders
had possessed themselves of the citadel of their beF-