Washington sentinel., 1856-07-19

the interest of the whole Union, to see that
party re-organized on its ancient, national and
conservative basis and with view to promote
q result so much to be wished as furnishing a
ralying point for the loyal, constitutional and
genuine republican sentiment Of the country,
they hereby appoint v. w. Southall, &C., &c.,
William z. Rives, &c, &c, their delegates to
convention of the Wing party of Virginia, to
be held In the city of Richmond, on the 10th
day OF the present month"
Mr.. Rives said: !" He had heard the pream-
BILE and resolutions read to the meeting, and
begged leave to say, in conclusion, that be
gave the full and unqualified assent Of has un-
derstanding and his conscience to ecery pris-
cipte and sentiment contained in them"
Instead of abhoring party discipline and
denouncing the new system Of being controlled
in our choice by the fiat Of the few who work
the machinery of party conventions he gives
the unqualified assent both of his understand
ing and his conscience to resolution to re-
construct the Wing party, and aids in appoint
ing delegates to convention of this party,
among which delegates he is shining light
quorum pars Jni," one of the few by whose
fiat the detestable machinery of party con-
yention is to be worked. Instead of exposing
only his vulnerable heel, he throws away his
armor and exposes his whole body vulnerable
in every limb.
Why, if we are controlled in our choice by
the "6at of the few" persons who work the
machinery of party conventions, and if that
control is against the theory which recognizes
the sovereignty Of the people, why does Mr..
Rives approve such party convention and
become one of the members to work the ma.
chinery? Alas, alas, his antipathy to the De.
mocratic party is such that he cannot see that
"the machinery of party conventions" applies
to Wing convention as well as to Demo
cratic one; and that the men who go into these
conventions are the motive power to put the
machinery into action.
| Mr.. Rives proceeds: "And then, when we
have, by this process, elected the public func-
tionarics, they our servants, according to the
theory of our institutions, or are they not, to
every practical intent, the masters and we the
servants? Does not the modern code of po.
litical ethics require of every good party man
to support the President or representative Of
his party, in whatever he does while in Office,
be it right or wrong, beneficial or injurious to
the country; and does not this doctrine make
the public officer in effect the sovereign and
master, and the people his tools and SER
yants?'
Now, if Mr.. Rives knows all this, how can
he, with propriety, go into convention to put
in motion this party machinery to make the
public functionaries the masters, and the
| people the servants? Mr.. Rives knows that
parties must be governed by majorities-that
when an individual goes into q party conven-
ton to participate in its proceedings, he can.
not have his entire will and control; if he
could, he would be- the master and his associ-
ates his slaves-he knows, if he nominates a
man and does not succeed, that good faith re.
quires him to submit, because, if he had been
successful, hewould have expected others to SUBJ
NIT to his nomination, and therefore that each
man who takes part in such convention is
morally bound to abide by their action. He
says that this is virtually the way the people
abdicate their sovereignty, by electing men
under the influence Of such party machinery,
and by supporting them in whatever they do
while in Office, be it right or be it wrong. Mr..
Mantaline said that his wife was "such a
id enchanting, bewitching, engrossing,
captivating little Venus" And Mr.. Rives
thinks that himself and the Whig party are so
pure, virtuous, patriotic and superlativey God.
like, that they, under no circumstances, ever
did or ever can support party leaders for party
ends; that their opponents only can do such
things; therefore, there can be no impro-
priety in their putting in operation the party
machinery of party conventions to nominate
party men to carry out party principles by the
fiat of the few, because the moment anything
is done wrong, If such thing were possible,
the whole party would instantly turn a sum-
merset and throw their party men to the dogs,
and try some other party man Of equal purity
with themselves. The Whig party ought to be
proud Of that man-make much of him. He
is an ornament to the party world. His "com-
plaint is soul-it swells, expands, dilates, the
blood fires, the pulse quickens, the excitement
lincreases-whew.n
Mr.. Rives reminded bis countrymen "that in
the DOWNFALL of the Roman republic, it was
said Octavius had his party, Antony had his
party, but the Commonwealth had none. Let
it not be said, in this critical and eventful mo
ment Of our national fortunes, that Mr.. Buch-
anan has his party, Mr.. Fillmore his party.
Mr.. Fremont his party, Mr.. Stockton his party
but that the country has none" And how
does Mr.. Rives propose to give the country q
partyH BY re-galvanizing the Whg party
which have already in every mode possible
declared itself of the Fillmore party. Is that
it2 This purest, "this ID foin, enchant-
ing, bewitcbirg" little expunger proceeds thus:
"If there ever was a moment when the country
should have party looking at men and poti-
cal associations only in subservience to the
1 Ureat intereets of the rnhI,o rnoca 81 Al