Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-04-30
THE RUTLAND HERALD
wEn>t DAY, ArRu. so.r,as
Death oi Hon, Nm, a, H,N"> "i
virginia,

We prefer tapu>ont To-" or readers na'
morning. IN spitau,e ot tie life Of one
who la, q national reputation and whose
public service, ,syrr large space ot oar
political history, ,o giving ouy yicws'
# our own upon current topics believing
that an occasional review nj eur country
history As exhibited in the life 81 one oil
It's public servants, viii give better view
Il the cause. which have brought as into
our present condition For hi, purpose,
We hy tetor. our readers a biographical
-ket,h IT thy lion VIM G. Rivcs Of Nir'
vinia, who deceased IA Sunday n,tpt
Charlottesville, taken from tie Boston
journal Ut Monday
The death Of an, Of our oldest public
men i announced Nc N,llmmC Rives,
Who had hccu prominent politician, ior
half a century, and who held high federal
nhiccs for about thirty years Ills death
took place on sunday At Charlottesville
Virginia, agrl -. Mr.. Rncs was horn
the lith Of Nay, 1898, in Nelson County,
Virginia Educated at Hampdu-Silnsy
aud William and Mary College, he chose
the law Tor his profession, aud WIS 81 FOR
tuna,e a 10 have hi, legal and political
studies directed by no less man than
. Thomas jefferson This made him "a
Democrat. a. Democracy was understood
in the pas, age OF the Republic. and al the
South, meaning aristocratical republican
ism. The Democratic name Vas not ae-
cepted at the South in those day, hy4h-
iicdm was the term used. the South fight
ing and ruu1urfihe- ttit,leE - part -n1mc
that was destined to be- borne 10y another
party whose EMISSION" il became, through
the irresistible logic of events. To cut down
and uproot that institution, the existence
Of which was the cause Of - many South
ern political victories
In the war of lsl2 ~, Mr. Rive, served
a. a Ysluntcer and attained 20 the rank of
Colonel His political career began in
1916, when he waAohoscn member Of
the stanton Convention, which had. been
called TO reform the State Constitution
A year later he was chosen member of
the Legislature OF Virginia from Nelson
county, and served until the close of 1919,
three years. In lS22 he was again elected
10 the Legislature from Alhcmarlc coun-
~. He entered Congress in 1923, remain
ing in the House Of Representatives siN
years, including the last two yearS.of Mr..
Monroc's Presidency, and the entire term
Of Mr.. J. q Adams In thu new forma-
ton Of parties that took place after Mr.
Adams election he became prominent
leader Of the jackson party. that new
Democratic organization which bore So
little resemblance 10 the old Democracy.
He made himself 80 useful, and gave such
evidence Of the possession of talents, that
President jackson appointed him Minister
to France in 1899 He was the American
representative at Paris 1t the time of the
Revolution of 1890 and, much aided by
La Faycttc and other liberal leaders he
succeeded III negotiating that treaty
with the government of Louis Philippe
hy which France agreed 10 pay to this
country an indemnity of five, millions OF
dollars, for spoilations committed on our
commerce by the French duriug the wars
Of Napoleon T. This was thought great
stroke at the time, but il came very near
involving rs in a war with France partly
through want of tact in our Minister who
was charged. we know not bow Justly,
with having boosted that We had obtained
more from the French than We had any
right TO demand. But for The time Mr.
Rives was very populuf, and began to be
talked Of for the Presidency, cream
stance that probably had something to do
with his failure 10 reach that eNItfct but
very troublesome post
Ono result Of his popularity Was his
election to the United States Senate, in
1892, in which year he returned to Amer
lea That wear was remark tblc for the
bold action of the Carolina nullitcrs. who
passed the celebrated multiplying ordlu-
unce, at Columbia, which brought upon
them the weight Of President jackson,
wrath, who had Just been reelected by
the votes of thrce-fourths of the mymber-
OF the Electoral Colleges, and enjoyed the
unbounded confidence Of the Democracy,
while the most determined Of his political
opponents in the North and West sup
ported him in all that he did for the pre-.
servation of the Union. The course OF
circumstances was most unfayorable 10
the nullifers. who, their leaders at least
were guilty of the fatal error Of dospisinQ
President Jackson, the most energetic
American that ever lived BY the wise
use Of his constitutional powers the Pres
ident kept the rebels thoroughly bridlcd
but it became. necessary Ia place more
power in his hands r. his r1nr S,nth.
ern leading men. who had nat connie.
nanccd The nullifying movement wcr.
ayerse and Soutl, Carolina counted an
the same sort Of support from VIRGINIA
could she but hcgirr war. That .hr received
thirty wear, later, when She was able ia
begin il frr srrrzxiir1rl
Of 1882 3 were not snuntyi.c AS their sue.
cessor4 showed ,hcmsclve, IN lsGl and
Mr. Riyes, As one Of the senator. wa
one Of the most conspicuous supporters o