The Hillsborough recorder., 1859-05-25
Speech Of Hon. VIM. C. Riyes,
lN TIE CRY OF RlCH,IoND,
MAY s, 1859,

Mr.. Rives began by remarking. that the
habits and pursuits OF bis life. for many years
past. had removed him entirely from scenes
Of political excitement. have no desire,
he said, again to engage in them. While
had public duty to perform, endeayored
To discharge it honestly. faithfully. and to
the best Of my abiliiy,-more anxious to
serUe than merely to please my constituents.
Cherishing with sincerity the principles /
brought with me into public life, conlu not
as m honest man, change them at the bidding
Of party. Ny services were no longer ac.
ceptble; aud | have since lived private
citizen, contented and happy, with no COM
plants or regrets in the past-no aspirations
in the future.
But. fellow citizens. 1 should be sorry to
say that have lived an unconcerned specta-
tor Of public events. In free country, eve
ry citizen, the humblest and most obscure.
as well as the highest, has patriotic duty
TO perform in watching over and defending.
according to his opportunities, the precious
deposit of the public liberties. candor com.
Il pets me to declare that, from time 10 time. I
hate seen much Cause for patr 0tic anxiety. but
ne'er 50 much a at the present moment.
II IS this conviction which has induced mo
~ may say constrained me--not without ma.
ny struggles against the force of hab and that
lave of retirement which grows stronger by
teyery days indulgence. to appear before you,
! in obedience to the ilattering call that has
hcen made uron me. know how incapable
| am Of adding. BY anything can say. to the
force II the many able and eloquent appeals
lh,t have been already addressed to the intel
lisrnce aud madness Of the country. But
pnwrrless as my voice is, feel that should
be rrcreant 20 the duty a Of good citizen, il
we're not 10 raise il ia such cause, while
there may be one Of my counlrymen willing
tu listen me.
do not appear before you to plead Cor the
triumph Of party. No, fellow citizens Il
is for higher cause which now demands the
eSeFtiOns uf Us all. A bod and unblushing
corruption has inya'ei every department Of
Que national administration, which il not
promptly and vigorously checked BY the soye-
reign rebukr Of the people. must soon en-,
gaiph the public liberty. a. il is rapidly un-
derniniog tile public morals.
+ The wisdom and yaIor of our ancestors be-
|qnea,hed 10 Us noble free Institutions, whith
we're Intended to place the public liberty
securely under the guardianship Of the pub
lie virtue. II j. these noble Institutions,
which 4 ring official abuses, embolLened by
impua,ts. would now persert to the deslrdr-
tiun Oi liberty, BIZ undermining every guar.
Iantec provided for its seeuriIy--csen the
yirinc and patriotism Of the people them.
selves. Shall we net then rally 10 their de-
l,Bcr, unr and all Of us. Shall we be told
that III is the cause Of party nolieve
me, ieIloS-citizens, il is tae vital tause u
Unconstitutional Al lreeanm--the common cause Of
every American. Wig. Or BY whatever par.
" Denomination lie NAV have beea hitherto
known. who values his bitth.tight, and 10
maniully determined to defend il.
q That have p-sseuted to yOu no exagger-
atrd picture of ouf public situation. is uni0r.
tGnately tno Wi established by facts, now
Ul universal motto iety. Revelations Brought
uut, during tie late session Of Congress, have
placed them before tie public 10 form not
TO be questioned.
Look at the rep ., upon plblic printing:
aud you will see lheie how deliberately and
ingenuously, 10 that large department oi the
pahlie expenditure. corrupt IN has been or
ganlzetl into a system to multiply brides to
the emplo,ees and supporters ,f The 60.
! vernmsnt. Every contract. Wbgth, i fsr pa
! per. Tor printing. for lithographing. fur en-.
gazing. has been 50 managed as not
only Ia yield a rich harvest 10 the con-
tractor himself, but TO the officer nf the Go.
sernment who awards the csntract. aud to
! the intermediate agents employed A. brasers
, 70 procure il. Thus is a single job made,
| lhy lis Famiicatiols, 10 enlis; aud femunersie
! dozen Of more political rst4ingta, At al
. enormous cost 10 the Treasury l0r lhs pr.
ecs allowed 10 the eontrartor must be set.
respOndingly high. TO enable him to pay the
! customary tributes to his patrons and asso.
! ciates.
b Ard this rank scene u corruption has been
! passing under the very nose VI the govern
. nsns, IN the City o. Washington. One II