The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-31
AN APPEAL TO THE WINGS.

We think the present proper time 10 address
the Wings of 1910, the Republican Wings,
(not the National Republicans, nor the abu-
sive and deceitful cliques in the State of New
York, and other places East and North, on the
subject of their duty to the present Administra-
ton.
We presume that all parties can at this time
distinguish the course the President intends
pursuing twill be the Old Republican course.
What he has done, is precisely what any of the
Republican Presidents would have done, and
what, in his case, could not be avoided without
a sacrifice of honor A National Bank had
always received his opposition; he spoke
against it IN the United States Senate, voted
against it, and when it was crushed by President
Jackson, sustained the Veto by his vote. Could
he prove recreant to his long cherished and un-
shaken principles No. Although Mr.. Man
gum did so, yet he always spoke with him
and voted with him, until seduced by Mr.. Clay,
and now he abuses the President for not sub
hitting to political violation and dishonor, as he
himself has done.
But let us look at the past, for the purpose of
yet saving all that is valuable from the wreck
of the late triumphant party, and to enable US
to construct our craft the next time of sounder
materials. The truth is, General Harrison
might have been elected aoithout the aid of Mr..
Clay. 1t was Mr.. Clay's old, oft-disbanded band
of National Republicans that caused all the
trouble and confusion. This band, by sly and
imperceptible process, which had been going on
Cor hor of (o1v r,oLi in
cunning what it lacked in numbers,) had Sc
cured about three-ffths of the Wing presses
in the United States !! General Harrison had
control Of none, farther than his claims on their
patriotism and justice. Yet it was thought ex
pedient to accept the services of that portion OF
the Wing party and the Wing press (their cog
nomen had often been changed to suit the tmes)
which had advocated the recharter of the Uni
ted States Bank Yet these presses, though
Bank-established, Bank-bought, and Bank-fed
were required to abstain from agitating the sub
ject during the canvass. This they reluctantly
agreed to, after ascertaining that, if this point
were not yielded the Harrison party would dis
pense with their services altogether. This mat
ter was settled at Baltimore. The great con-
vention was at one time in danger of disastrous
dissolution, in consequence of the pertinacity of
some of the Bank advocates. The difference
was compromised, however, and it was mutu-
ally agreed upon to cay nothing on the subject.
And nothing was ever said by the Wings in ia
vor Of Bank, in any ant-Bank section of the
country.
We doubt whether Mr.. Clay would have
conceded any thing whatever, if he could have
carried out his "rule or ruin" principle. He
was fearful that General Harrison could be
elected without his assistance and in spite of
him. 1t was therefore better to make virtue
of necessity. He knelohe could make the most
noise. Having three-ffths of the Wing
presses in his interest, it was easy to make it
appear to the country at he welded vast
influence. This he might do with less than a
corporars guard of voters And thus he has
done. His presses not only kept up tremen-
dous din during the canvass, but when the vic
tory was won, gave full share of the glory TO
Mr. Clay And when the old hero died, they
simultaneously tuned their pipes to instruct Pre-
sident Tyler how to pursue the path of duty.
They expatiated his obligations to Mr.
Clay, the dangers surrounding him, and the
prospect ahead. And when he vetoed the Bank
bills, their savage CHATTER was truly enough to
make the uninitiated believe that he had NOR
tally offended the achole Wing party But
what was the fact2 1t was merely the empty
outpourings Of the Bank presses, as impotent
as unprincipled! They did not represent the
People; they never had represented the People;
the elections Immediately following proved it.
Like Mr.. Clay's Bank presses, an indignation
club of Bank members of Congress impudently
assumed the privilege of representing the whole
Wing party. And while the first Cabinet yet
held their seats, these gentry played most sue
cessful game-successfu as far as partisan re-
wards were concerned, but losing one for the
Dictator, as Mr.. Clay was called by John Ran
dolph We will give one instance Mr.. Trum-
bull and the other Bank members from Connec-
ticut actually succeeded, while Messrs. Granger
and Ewing were in the Cabinet, in filling every
office of Importance in that Wing State with
Clay men. Well, the vetoes, the. explosion,
etc., etc., soon followed. The Bank presses In
Connecticut caught up the howl from Philadel
phia, Richmond and Louisville, and belabored
the President without mercy. Surely, thought
they, the State will now be safe for Clay. But
what was the fact? Had General Harrison
and John Tyler no friends there Independent of
MIR. Clay and his servile tools? Was the Wing
party to be secured to Mr. Clay, because Mr..
CLAWS friends held all the offices2 The ques-
ton was settled completely and finally at the
recent election. And so it has been, and a0iH
be IN other States.
But we appeal to the GREAT WHIG PATTY to