The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-06
VIRGINIA POLITICS.

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Hpsech or the Hon. VIM. Q. Rsves-He Advo-
Gates the Burying Of tho Slavery Question
~ q Political Issue, and Condemns the Cor
yupsien OF the Present Administration, &c.
ECIAL REPORT FOR THE NEW YORK HERALD
RICHMOND Va, May 3, 10}s p NJ
ne Hon VIM. c. Rves delivered address in the
Aioanlchurch In this city tonight, before an immense
multitude consisting OF not less than three thousand per-
sens. The church crowded to excess faly tnfee-
suay,ers Of an hour before time appointed for the
speaker to commence eight o'clock, while nunareos
were excluded for want of room me galleries. were
for ladies' and scores OF them awaited themselves
cr This rivege exhibiting quite as much enthusiasm end
interest in the proceedings the most ardent politicians
Of the Steiner eek.
Al tbs appointed hour the meeting called to order
and R. T. Daniel Esq. of this city, appointed Chairman
On motion committee OF five, consisting of VIM a. Mac
hrland, Wyndam Robertson, Robt R!ogwly, Or. Robt
Maxwell and Marmaduse Johnson, was appointed to wait
on Mr. Riyes and conduct him 10 the PLATFORM The
niiee proceeded TO execute tina. duty, and in few
retured having in charge the orator OF the night
he Loudly sppauded on ascending the platform. As
soon as order was restored Mr.. DANIEL and in few
remarks mt oduced AIR. Rves audsnce @hereapon
M RyEs came forward and addressed the audience
follows
Fellow citiyens-rhe habits aud pursuits of my Bfe for
many years past have removed entirely from
OF political excitement l have had, l need no; say
81 you, no personal desire again to engage 10 them
10 perform it faithfully, honestly and to the best of my
abitymore aDzous to serve than merely 10 please my
which brought with me into pubic life could not, as
honest man. change them at the mere bidding OF party
(Appause My services were no longer acsepsoe, ana
have since lived private citizen, conteniet and happy,
with complaints 20 make or regrets IN the past aud
ylih no aspirations IN the faIure GAPpapSe sas Eel,
unconcerDed spectator Of pubic eveits In free coua
try every ctzen the hunbest and most obscure equally
with The highest, has patriotic duty 70 perform IN watch
ing and defending, according to his opportunities,
t0e precious deposit OF The public liberties Candor con-
pss declare fellow citizens, that from time to time
have much cause for patriotic anxiety, but
much as at the present time (Appause) II is this
convection which has induced mel may say consra
Me-not without many strugges against the force Of
habit and that love Of retirement whch grows stronger
by every indulgence to appear before you ia ooed
10 the faterDg Call that las been made Don me-
j know how incapable am OF adding by anything can
say the force of the many able and eloquent appeals
already addressed to the intelligence and
anhness of the country. But poweress my voice is,
feel that should be recreant 10 the duty OF good c
may be one Of my countrymsn willing to listen TO me.
SAppause do not appear before you TO plead for the
Eumph o: party No, fellow citzens Is far higher
racse whit now demands the exertens Of US all.
bold and uoblushipg corruption has invaded every de-
partment Of national aornistration which, if not
promptly and vigorously checked by the sovereign
hpke of the people must engupn the public liberty
as rapidly undermining The public morals applause
me- wisdom and vaor Of bequeaned to us
nabe, free institutions, which intended place the
Fubc liberty securely under the guardianship of the pub
10 virtue. II is these noble institutions which daring off,
esl abuses emboldened by mpunty, would pervert
10 the destruction Of liberty by undermining every qua
nAose provided for its security-even virtue and
patriotism Of the people themselves (Applsusc) Shall
not, ihep rally TO their defence one and all of us9
Snail be told that this the cause of paryS Believe
me- fellow citizens, il is the vital or constitutional
fSee6o.n.be common cause of every American ctizsn
democrat, whis, or by whatever party denomination he
may haze been hitherto known, VINO values his birthrght
and 10 nanfaly determined 70 defend It, cloud app ause)
That haze presented 70 you no picture of our
iscIs NOV OF universal nooriety Reveaons broushtoit
during the late SESSION Of Congress have placed il before
the public il aform not 70 be questioned applause
Lock the report upon pub &c printing, and you will
thsn how exboraIey and iD2enously in that large de
PAL OF the pubic expenditure corruption has been
osgsnZsd into system TO multiply brides 70 tie
ylSy es snd supporters OF the government (Appause
every contrast whether for paper for printing Tor ntho
Erapoing fer engraving, has been managed no.
only 10 Yield rich harvest 70 the himself but
10 ihe officer OF ahe government who awards the contract
and 70 the inter agents employed brokers' 10
procure it. Thus ia gngle Job made, by it's rarlaca-
Mods to enlist and re 1unerate dozen Or more political
reianeIs at an enormous cos. t toe Ire FOR the
rriccs allowed TO the contractor must be corres-
pspologly high 10 enable him . pay the customary
tributes to his patrons and associates And this
rank corupJn has been PASSING under the
poee OF The government in The city OF Washington One
of these LEVERS Of black malone who received the
modest su1 $50 goo Tor his good will and patronage in
te sale and brokerage OF public
other AID conductor OF the Official OF the
sSoueh not II rame (Applsuse) Look now at the huge
report made upon the opef atoms in the navy yards Of
Philadelphia and Brooslyn-a documen. gigantic in it's
proportions but yet more gigantic and startling in the
Official niquNes 1t reveals have nsLher the time
the patience into the disgusting details Of these
revelations But garing and mcnstrous fact appears
from them a-the systematic employment OF contracts
for every variety OF work and materials both Of those
vast embellishments and tina. the drec. appreciation
of the government Itself TO reward partisan SERVICES and
to debsuch the SURFACES OF the people
(Fron point where Mr. Rives first referred to the
corrup,!ols in the Phadepna aud Brooklyn navy yards
sheI long pauses at the close Of every few words
which were evidently the result OF embarrassment he
reached that point in his speech where have just ei eff
he ade apology TO the audience and took his seat
had sspposed this sudden breaking of was caused by
ilhess bnt his own explanation, made subsequently,
proved that impression was errooeous.l
Er. j. T. THoRNros, Of Prince EdgIt, who IVES on the
aaOrm loudly called for, but lie declined to speak
= is followed by pause Of several minutes, when the
chairman Mr. DANIEL ae and Informed the al1lence mat
BIZ H. Chandler, Of Norfolk, who also On the pat
form, would occupy their attention for short time.
Mr. CHANDLER accordingly came forward and engaged
The ASSEMBLY with speech upon the Local ISSUES involved
In the present in this State All he sa!d an1
mc embraced in the several reports Of the Gosyn
sidr ssses which you A. tpe e!ose
OF his remarks, which occupied half an hour
Mr. RIyEs again came forward and saId-My fellow c-
zens have make honest confession TO you never
I'll out political speech in my le ou. On TINS
occasion did 80, because felt thi. tne Questions W "
presented 10 your consideration were q grave chAc
ter that OF the persia who presumed TO address
you saould be well weighed While prepared my speech
befo ehand did not com nit sufficiently TO memory
gentlemen have been for many years out Of the
pracce Of public speaking, 70 deliver my discourse with
ihe aid Of notes. and although may lose of its
yyacy effect because Of its delivery in this FORM it
will be guarantee to you that whatever said Ia: been
founded upon mature reflection and elaboration. Mr. R.
then proceeded With bis address, referring occasionally to
notes avoid the embarrassment. from which he had just
recovered. He said, when my memory failed me was
referring certain corrupt practices IN connection with
the opeI atoms In the navy yards Of Philadelphia aud
Brooklyn There you will see contracts involving
large amounts Of public money directed by the govern
nept 10 be given in open violation OF law 70 the
highest instead of the lowest bidder, from the sole
Of the number of subsidized voters in the
employment OF the preferred party, whose SURFACES
required the critic moment Of contested election. So
mnuely and scientifically this policy carried out
In one Of those establishments BrookyD that democratic
members OF Congress representing the adjoining districts
were formally constituted by the ts auhoriz
ed agents Tor making an equitable dvision Of the public
SPOTS among its supporters and n this the yard
filled, to the number Of several thousand, with
worthless and incompetent men, whose only claim TO
p,Oyment was founded political Service and among
whom in the language of the report tleness theft
subordnaton fraud and gross neglect OF duty prevailed
.v~.,o Aa-a