Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-11-08
Nr. Iyy,. 4. RirsS.


A communication in the I.vnChburg Republican
replies 10 what is represented Is a violent attack
made upon MIR. Rives by tine Richmond Wing
impuiing to him, among other high crimes and
misdcmeanorS, treason 10 the Wing party.
/ We have no recollection of the article referred
to hut it may have escaped orr observation. All
we have 10 say the subject i. that the present
editor Of the Wing does not consider Nlr. Rivcs
guiity of treason to the Wing party. We were
OF that portion of the Wing party. who were oppo-
sci 10 clcctirg Nir Rives Ia the Senate believing
that he had not given sufficient evidences of his
Whiggcry. So far from it, the speeches which he
made-whilc they were strongly anti Van Buren,,
were. according TO our notions, any thing but
Nhiggish they were, so to speak. entirely Rire-
Sh-Iust as his course is represented To be at pre-
sent.
\ majority Of orr iIicnd. however. were conten;
with him-and we acquiesccd in their decision.
Unquestionaby they have been Disappointed in Mr.
Rives they fully calculated upon his hear
/ " and thorough cooperation with them, in all
their great measures for the public veal
( They inferred from the fact Of his opposition TO
| Van Buren, and the Sub-Treasury, that hc would
support Wing men and Wing measures; and this
inference was strengthened by the readiness with
which he consented to take scat in the Senate at
their hands. They supposed that this last circum.
stance implied pledge of the mos; sacred and
binding character. They have, as all the world
knows. been mistaken in their expectations. Mr..
Rivcs has not we believe, given a single Wing
vote, and has ON several memorable occasions
made himself conspicuous in defeating Wing
measures. If the Wings were right in their esti-
mate of the nature Of the supposed pledge if they
voted for Mr.. Rives believing him to be n Wing.
and he was conscious that they were thus i'm
pressed, and received their votes without correct.
ing their misaPprchenson-thcn they are Justly
entitled to reproach him with treason. We know
this is the light, in which the great majority of the
/ Wings view lIr. Rivcs' conduct. But rs we do
+ not happen 10 be one, who has been disappointed
/ at his conduct we do not feel at liberty to cast
any impua;ons of treachery upon him.
We do not, however, wish to be understood as
saying any thing designed to paaie what we re-
gard very high political and moral ofence-that
/ OF public man permitting himself to be elevated
to any post, through a misrepresentation Of his Cpl
mons, on the part of those who support him. II
is nothing less than a fraud upon the people: and
whoever does it, merits no fayours at the hands o
any party.
/ A. TO Mr. Riyes, We have inclined to believe
that he was influenced moro by excessive prudence
and ambItion-which dcgcncratcd into timity and
sclli-hncs', than from any settled aud re.dcicrm
ned purpose to deceive He might have been well
content to keep the even tenor Of his way
with the Wings, ifthcy had not lost their Captain
and if the popular gales had continued to fill then
sails; bat when the heavens became overcast, ana
Whiggcry seemed to be threatened with total de
struction, his mmoderate fears made him hasten
TO look out for his pcrsonal safety. In thus heed
ing the trcacherous counsels Of fear, he has done
himself an injustice. He Is undoubtedly man d
fine abilities, aud high capacities tor public useful
ncss but his yacilatng course, subjects his motive
TO suspicion, and by destroying the popular conf
dcncc IN his integrity, will speedily consgn hiin {,
private life.