Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-09-23

In SENATE UNITED STATES, August 10, 1871.
Mr.. CLAY having concluded his second
speech on the Veto Message
Mr.. RIVES rose and said he must be per-
mitted to express his surprise at the extraor-
binary exhibition of vehemcnce we had Just
witnessed from the honorable Senator from
Kentucky. He was wholly at loss to con-
GESTURE what there was in any thing he had
said to provoke SO towering an outbreak of
wrath and eloquence. In the remarks he had
made in reply to the honorable Senator, he
had limited himself strictly to defence of a
high public functioHary, who had felt himself
called on by the most solemn of all o5liga-
tons, to exert great conservative power pla-
ced in his hands by the Constitution of his
country, against animadversions and reproach-
es which he believed in his conscience were
altogether unmeritcd. 1t was an act ofiustice
which should have despised myself, (said
Mr.. R.) if | could have sat still in my seat,
with the materials of justification so abundant
ly existing in my own knowledge, and have
withheld from the humbest of my fellow-ci-
tizens, when thus assailed.
The Senator from kentucky may have jeal-
ouses and suspicious in his mind rs TO my
course here but if he has, permit me to say
to him he does me great injustice. concur,
with all cheerfulncss, in the sell-approving
sentiments he has pronounced with so much
emphasis, in regard to his own high character
for courage and patriotism. | am the last
person, let him be assured, that would i'm
pugn, in any manner, his just claims upon the
consideration and respect of his country
But while admire, and render the homage
due to his courage and patriotism, as well as
his distinguished talents, he will excuse me
| To nj
in political ethics from one who, invoking the
name of Deity and pointing TO Heaven, boldly
1utimatcs that he would win his way even to
that holy place, by violation of the Consti-
tuition he had sworn to support, and who
holds 1t up as the highest act of public virtue
10 trampe under foot that sacred instrument
when 1t may be supposed to stand in the way
OF some pecuniary interests of the country
The Senator shakes his head. But, sir, is
not this fair aud uneXaggerated statement of
the case? The bill which the Senator from
Kentucky would have had the President to
sign, his convictions to the contrary notwith-
stan3iHg,ie one which the President most de-
liberateiy believes is violation of that Con-
stitution which, when entering upon his Office,
he took solemn oath TO 'Epreserve, protect,
and defend" Yet the Senator from Kentuc-
ky, assuming (gratuitously as hurbly think J
that ma ority of the people are in favor OF
this measure, (Which, as / showed when ! adj
dressed the Senate before, had moi even been
approved by majority of their Representa-
tives,) insists that the President ought to have
carried out this imaginary will of the MAORI
fy IN despite of his own deep rooted convic-
tons OF the mconsttutionality of the act, and
IN disregard of the solemn sanction of his Off
cia oath If this be the political casuistry of
the honorable Senator from Kentucky, must
say, with all my respect for the distinguished
Senator, cannot consent to take him for my
guide and instructor in question of con-
science or of constitutional obligation.
choose rather, humble as the comparison may
seem to the honorable Senator, to look to the
straightforward example of John Tyler, who
in needing the 'stll small voice of con-
science' amid the importunate clamors of par
ty dlctation, and in manfully standingby what
he believes to be the Constitution of his coun-
try In the face of threatened denunciation, has
exhibited moral courage as high, and a hero
Ism OF principle as undaunted, and certainly as
worthy O the respect and applause of NOR
al and rengious people, jealous of their iiber-
lies and loyal to the great charter which Sc
cures them, as that species of latitudinariar
boldness which sacrifices principle to expedi-
ency, and which confounds conscience In
public affairs with pride, ranity, cgotism, anC
even crime, and which we have lust heard sc
Vauntingly celebrated in the heroic strains o.
the Senator's eloGuence as public rirtue!
will venture to say further, Mr.. President, tina
large majority of the American people
whether they agree with Mr.. Tyler or not in
MS construction of the Constitution, have toe
habitual respect for conscientious opinions
and principles of action not to honor the in
tegrlty and firmness with which, at every ha.
zard to himself personally, he has sought, ii
the faithful discharge of the solemn obiga
lions of his oath of Office, to maintain the
Constitution ofhis country inviolate.
The Senator has INDUCED his fancy in re-
gard to certain cdbai, which he says it is al
legged by Rumor Gan authority he seems prone
to quote of late) has been formed for the
wicked purpose of breaking up the regula,
Cabinet and dissolving the Wing party
Though the Senator is pleased to acquit me
OF being member of this supposed cabal, he
says he should infer, from the zeal and promp.
titude with which ] have come forward tode-
lend the motives and conduct of the Presi.
dent that was least member ofhs priUJ
counciI ! thank God, Mr. President, that in
ms gracious goodness he has been pleased tc
give me heart to repel injustice and to defend
the Innocent without being laid under any
special engagement, as privy councillor or
otherwise, to do justice TO my fellow man
and II there be any gentleman who cannot
find in the consciousness oc bic ,>x,-,, bo.or, .