Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-16
RICHMOND, TUESDAY, JANUARY lG.
TUE WASHINGTON srEcrATop-ASD MR.. RivEs.

THE WASHINGTON srEcTAToR-AND Mr.. RivEs.
The course of the "WashIngon Spectator" towards
Mr. Rves's liter, is omnous sign OF the trans'-
tions through which il is destined pass 1t up
the letter as nab Ills author as distinguished =
but there is not oae word OF generous dgnaon Tor
the reckless apo tacy OF MIR Ryes- and his aban-
Comment 10 the destines OF Mr. Clay. II is true, that
the "Spectator SAYS with The murmurlng notes o! a
"sucking dove" s." is not our purpos to enter at ell
n,o The reasons assigned by its distinguished author,
for his preference of Mr.. Clay 10 Mr. Van Buren, for
the Presidency We do not agree with them A d
is this all that it says, BY way OF dsapprobatIon All!
every syllable There IS none OF that hery 'ndig-
nation which would have become honest pol tcian
at this extraordinary spectacle of the most shameless
aposticy of modern tunes. But that is not all, that
the Spectator is pleased to say. He even condescends
10 employ Mr.. Rives witness against Mr.. " buren,
1T contends that his desertlon 'jus,ifes what we
tine Specta.or) have repeatedly urged on the Demo
cratic par,y-,hat in taking Mr. Van Buren, their
candidate, they only threw the party back 10 the
old issues but to the old votes and the old anuPahes
which were enlisted in the LIST against Mr..
Van Buren,. Ii we could have hoped for exception
IN favor of Mr.. Van Buren,, II would probably have
been in Mr. Riyes He was unable 10 co-opera'e with
the Wing party in any Of their measures, they
cem me to legislation. lie stood, indeed, antagonist
Mr. Clay Yet, he will support Mr.. Clay oppo.
sltion to Mr.. Van Buren,.
WHY, of all men breathing Mr.. Rves the las,
To quote IN c0rTU0O!dlioN III MS poeiuoH why, HIF
Riyes was the las, the country, who would have
rome for Mr.. Van Barren. He diskes, I've might
say, hates him) l'nmf asnrably, that lie would
sacrifice his principles aye! ne has done oil he
could 10 sacrifice them 10 his lnextngnisaable
sentiments He went against m in l7i0 and de-
scendcd TO every species OF scpas,ry to justify has
preference Of Gen. Harrison To what dad he not
descend2 HIS manfs of the l5:h Of February lSiu,
+, memorable record Of his passions In that letter
he breaches the ridiculous humbug of the Standing Ar
my of one hundred thousand and perverts the VII Il
proposition of Secretary Ponse,t, in order TO place
il upan a para-l with the scheme o. Oliver Crom
we'll. He attempts TO soften down the principles
Of General Harrison, end to SLOW that We were IN
no danger of National Bank, high protective
Tariff or any other Eeesy, from the success OF the
Wings lie threw himself into the arena, was one OF
the Stump Orators of the Wing pary-misrepresen
ing all The acts of Mr. Van Burens administration,
abusing It's enormous appropriations for which he hum
self had voted, and charging him with The poor, worn
on. washed gold spoons, which Col Monroe had pur
chased in d-dy the ltl.st, lowest trick OF
the hole campaign fle went 10 all points OF the con-
pass in the Domn'on-in the Metropolis, IN The
middle country the North vest, and IN the Southwest
fooled every where by Smith, or McDoweH, or IhomP
son. or some ether Democratic oator-and condemned
fnslly by the verdict of the good people OF Virginia
He IS destined II the same dsgraceu defeat IN 1874
Ho ia even sborn n some of the little influence he pos
sessed IN 1910 He carry no new weight into tb'
seal. OF Mr.. Chy-and we doubt much, whether ne
can be any where successful as he was IN the North
western section of the State where we are cred1ly
informed he gained but solitary convert lie no"
comes forward 20 testify his undying opposition to
Mr.. Van Buren-in production as fiimsy as 1t IS
in sd!lus-ho!ding out the same gloz'ng promises oil
Mr.. Clavs moderation, sir. Clays elevation OF
views" Mr.. Chys "seif possession, Mr.. Clay nc
bleness and generosity Of nature that he held t"r'h
in 1910 Of The % nerous views and Enlightened prtnc
pies of Harrison and the Wings. He tells Us tha
are threatened with NJ high protective la'ih'
with mammoth bank with no prescription, a' II we
had had the Be!ial promises IN ashland a.
if the very moment these Wings had got int power,
they did not rush into ruthless violation OF all us
pledges-as if they did not Immediately call an Extra
Session Of Congress, pass Bank BILL pass Dstrion-
ton bill. pass corrupting and unconstitutional BANK
rup. bill, prescribe 1000 pos,nasers in lew weeks
and about to immediate 600 more, when MI Gfan-
ger surrendered the seals of Office.
And vet, behold this SINE politician, thus e1ci'eo
against MIR. Van Ruren in 1c40-tius ialsihcd III ell
his promises coming forward again 10 oppose h'm-to
support even Henry Clay in the wild excuses of hrs
passlons-to throw himself into the ot the Federal
PARTY with similar promises of moderation and reform
upon his l,ps And the beauty Of it is, that this man
IS cited by the Washington Special exponent o:
the general feeling of the American people Because
he will not change from his Wing associatss-because
he III not 90 for Van Buren, ert1re, The sober, line
efiactng the patriotic portion uf the people, who
mlsled in 1910, will not change either Why, what les
son do the mighty changes which have been wrought
among many people, anu IN So many siSr
1910, teach the Spectator To 90 no further, Whist
does the spectacle. exhibited before the eyes Of
the "Spe ctator'' at Washington atast See the ma
jorlty of near sixty Republican members of Con-
gress, who have taken the place Of The Wing ma
ority, which went in with General Harrison. We
tell the "Spcctator, that # 1t means TO fly off like
WISE from the Republican track-iita, Journal means
to slide into the embraces of Mr.. Clay-or, II 1t pro-
poses nsdousIy 10 take up another candidate or re-
fuses to support the nominee Of the Baltimore Conven
ton-and though not voting directly for Mr. Clay, yet
indirectly assisting hun, by drawing oft It' forces
from the field, the Republicans Will nttemp. to fight
this desperate battle against William c. Rves, and
Henry Clay * Co, without the assistance OF
The Spectator lis Clique. We hnow no! what our
brethren of the other States may Go. We know not
what the degree of enthusiasm they may against
the most formidabl. champion Of Federal principles =
Blu, we will answer for Virginia. She will he the last
to strike her hlg-her fag-the flag of the States
Rights School Of 9S. Her Republican sons are too
chiyalrous too much devoted to her principles to play
the recreant or the neutral We will carry again her
banner, unarnished by Disgrace or By defeat, in the
defence of her glorious principles, let thousand Ach
les if the other States could produce ,hen retire
ng!oflousy to their tents!