Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-08-27
ORIGIN OF THE TERM wHIG-

ne w Hlg newspapers throughout the /
Union are copying from the Tennessee
Telegraph the following spirited and true
definition of the term s.Whig," as given
by Col. Gentry, of Williamson, member
of Congress elect, in one of his recent
speeches before the people of his District.
The Telegraph says /:
"When did the name Wing first make
its appearance in Tennesseel'' That ques.
ton is often asked by the presses and
orators ofthe Administration party. We
heard it answered a few days since by
Col. Gentry, the Wing candidate for con-
gress from this district. "The name
Wing, sad the speaker, made its appear
ance ir Tennessee, when po1cer first began
to encroach on the rights ofthe people: 1t
made its appearance IN Eng and when the
Kingly power sought to destroy every
vestige of human liberty 1t made its ap.
pearance IN the thnteen colonies when the
British crown attempted TO fasten cords
of slavery on the people, and compel o5edl-
ence to the dictaton of single mani Is
the name a reproach Then do all those
patriots who have stood up for the rights
of the people, in opposition to tyranny
since the foundation of the world, bear the
stain. for they all were Wings. Tie
name implies opposition to power, and
| that opposition was exercised in Tennessee.
| as soon as the enemies of political liberty
endeavored to stretch their dominions 50 as
to include her, am a Wing, and am
proud of the namc!''
In connection with the foregoing, which
was uttered by freeman and Tennessean
whom the Wings in Congress will be proud
of as an eloquent and fearless co-laborer
in the great work of rescung the Liberties
of the country from the grasp of the Spoil
ers, the Richmond Wing copies the follow
ing passages from the speech of John G.
Calhoun, delivered on the 9th May, 1884
on the Presidents Protest:
81 am mortified lsad Mr.. Calhoun
that in this country, boasting its Anglo.
, Saxon descent, any one of respectable
standing, much less the President of the
United States, should be found to entertain
principles leading TO such monstrous re.
suits and can scarcely believe myself
breathing the air of our country, and to
, be within the walls of this Senate Chamber,
when | hear such doctrines indicated. Ii
/ is proof of the wonderful degeneracy of
: the tmes-ofa total loss of the true con-
cepton of constitutional liberty. But, in
this degeneracy, perceive the symptoms
of regeneration. 1t is not my wish to
touch on the party designations that have
recently obtained, and which have been
introduced in tR debate on this occasion.
|, however, cannot but remark. that the
revival of the party names Of the revolu-
ton, after they had so long slumbered, is
not without a meaning-not without an
indication Of a return to those principles
which lie at the foundation of our coun-
try"
"Gentemen ought to reflect that the
extensive and Sudden revival of these
names, could not be without some ade-
ouate cause. Names are not to be taken
or given at pleasure. There must be
something to cause their application to
adhere. IF remember rightly, it was
Augustus. in all the plentitude Of his pow
or. who said that he found il impossible to
introduce new word. What, then is
that something What is there IN the
meaning of Wing ard Tory, and what in
the character of the times, which has
caused their sudden revival, as party
designations, at this time | take it,
that the very essence of Toryism-that
which constitutes a Tory-is 10 sustain
prerogalive against privilege-to support
the Executive against the Legislative
Department of the Government, and to
! lean on the side of Power against the side
of liberty while the hig is, in all these
particulars, Of the respective, parties.
Wing and Tory, the opposite, and the |
parallel runs through their application in |
all the variety of circumstances in which |
they have been applied, either in thus
country or Great Britain. Their sudden
revival and application at this time, ought
to admonish my old friends, who are now
on the side of the Administrator, that
there is something in the times-some.
thing in the existing struggle between the |
parties, and in the principles aud doctrines
advocated by those in power, which has
IduSGu 81 SuouCu d ICNlNdls duu SuCn du
extensive application of terms. | have
not contributed TO their Introduction, nor
am DESTROYS of seeing them applied
but mnst say 10 those who are interested,
that they should not be, that nothing but
their reversing their course can possibly
prevent their application. They owe it
TO themselves-they owe il to the Chief
Magistrate(whom they support) as the
head Of their party, that they should halt
n their support of despotic and slavish
doctrines which we hear daily, advanced
before a return of the reviving spirit of
liberty shall overwhelm them with those
who are leading them to their ruin"
Mr.. CEay.-The Globe is excessively
abusive towards Mr.. Clay, for exercising
his right as a private citizen of visiting the
State of New York. The objection, we
take it, is not as much directed to the visit
itself as to the reception which Mr.. Clay
has met with in every direction-a recep.
ton at once cordial and enthusiastic. He
does not travel like Mr.. Van Bnren, at
the public expense-te has no pageants,
no royal ceremonies, no troops of office.
holders or ofice-hunters in his train-but
like true republican, he takes the usual
public convcyances from town to town like
other citizens, and if the people will detain
him, will send committees to meet him, III