Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-05-23

can Only accomplish this, by establishing, By
making faced, true, sound, Conservative WING
principles and Wing measures. And there
are two views before us. Mr.. CLAY will be
the President ofthe United States, if we do ouI
duty. Cheers five do not do our duty,s
far as we can now foresee, Mr.. VAN buren, vii
De the President of the United States. Loud
cries, ofnever.1 You obseree, gentlemen, in
terposed Ms, W., the important qualification
prehxed TO this supposition--if we desert our
duty. Mr.. Van Buren, may be President
If Mr.. CLAY is the President of the United
States, we know, gen lemea the character o.
the general princiP les of his ADMINISTRATION and
the several measures he will rec mmend and
support. We know at least that ne shall u7a-
derStand him. (Cheers.) Where he isright
we shall SEE he is right; and if he is iCro1g we
shall be able to see in what his error consists.
Now, [ would not speak with personal disre-
spect of any gentleman, whom any large part
Of the people have proposed to make President
OF the United States. But | naust say,gentle-
men, in Justice to Mr.. VAN buren,, that
have not yet made such proficiency in my
knowledge of the English tongue; have moi
studied SO far all lis shades, and varieties of
meanIng,I have not so compassed all it's broad
and narrOa0 phrases, positive, negative, or
equiUOcdI, Shouts of laughter,) as uza0ays to be
sure or EVER to be sure. when that gentleman
attempts to communicate his sentiments to the
people, that know what he means. Laugh
ter and cheers hope do not exceed the
decorum-of the occasion I am sure that it is
consistent with the spirit of perfect good ma
ture and perfect respecf,-ifl say, that in my
opinion, that distinguished individual might
save himself some considerable trouble in v0ri-
ting, and those who wish to know his opinions
a great deal of reading, if he would adopt
some settled. short formula for answering
questions. tLaughter.1 When two gentle
men meet in the morning. we know, each says
to the other "Weh, how are you 10 day!"
And his'answer is,'Thank!ye pretty much as
usuGH' Or if it happens TO be one Of my
countrymen of whom the inquiry is made,
his reply is, go! don't know, thank We; pref
ty much as ulsnal, guess: how are your
Now do think that this Yankee form Of an
swer would be fgreat importance in the polit-
ical correspondence Of that gentleman
heers and liughter.] And when upon new.
ly arising questions of public or national cons
Germ, he is asked his opinion,or how he stands
in regard to it, he might answer go! don't
know thank We; pretty much as usual"
Laughter and long cheering
Gentlemen, | never fully agreed in the SEN
timent of that pleasant maxim of the poet in
''W hat is best administered is best"
know that certain forms of government are
more likely to be administered well than others
Certain forms of government are based upon
elements into which enters higher regard for
the public interests than others.
Nevertheless it is an important truth, and
one too often overlooked, that in public and
national affairs there is no form of government,
however costly and however pleasing theore-
tically to the eye, which can work out and
permanently secure the good of the peonle
WITHOUT an honest and skiiful administration.
Government is not mechanical operation,
PrOtiurSirEg cotton Jenny a nail
making machine. 1t is moral production
Claiming moral character, intelligence, honesty
and good intent, Constitutions, institutions and
elementary laws are essential, absolutely es-
sential, TO guide the best disposed public ser.
wants, as tie compass and the stars to the sea
man and mariner are essential, to direct the
course of his navigation across the deep,-or as
lighthouses, scattered along thousand miles
oil coast, are important for the preservation and
safety of those who follow the seas. It is moth
ing that these lights have been hung out from
every promontory and headland; unless vgor
and skill are at the holm, the vessel must go
on shore or be dashed upon the breakers. And
so is it Ia political affairs, They NAV have
just; but If at the helm are those who do not,
or will not regard them, the vessel of State
must be sh'pwrecked and sunk -
It is therefore the incumbent duty of ,verv
generation, and of all the men Of each genera
ton, the subjects of free government, 10 be vi.
gIlent and l will say jealous of the ad1inlstra-
ton OF the government, to see that all it's a cts
are directed TO secure public liberty aud the
good of the people. And now,- gentlemen, do
not deem IT too muchtto say that in this ccun-
try and under our constitution, this obligation
acquires far greater force than in ordinary ca.
ses. We have received these institutions from
our ancestors. Their name and their char
acter are committed to US. We call ourselves
Wires: and who are our ancestors! Some of
them we see here to-day. Wesee these bad
ges Of 10 upon their breast, THEY are Wines!
(Cheers.) Washington and his noble band of
we've Wigs. They who founded
the Constitution of the United States were
Wings! Il They who first undertook its admin.
straton, and those who upheldthe great arm Of
in the earlies- movements of the
struggle, were Wings. We bear the name
which they distinguished,by ounds. and scars
and sufferings and blood; but the great achiey-
euents OF their lofty Patriotism have been en-
banned in history.
IL belongs to u.s. therefore, if we would be
rue 10 tue name and character we bear: It be-
ongs to US and all the generations that shall
come af.er us,to remember from whose hands
we have received the civil and religious bless
sings we enjoy. Let us bind it to our hearts-let
nothing separate us from it--let nothing, moth
ing of seduction, nothing, nothing of terror
lead Us for single moment to give zip one of
these principles or one of these great exam
pie which belong to- that. 1t il ours 10 pre-
serve the Constitution under which we live
Ito uphold it, TO see that It's administration is
coufided to honest, faithful. and patrio &c hands
TO take care tbat,so long as we have any in
ffuence upon tive suffer no disgrace'to fail M
on that character. Virtnously, honestly, l,atri.
otlcally acting for is support, and for the def
ence of our Constitution and our nationalir-
terests, LEI Us so educate ard teach those who
are to come after us, that, if vice should here
alter assail that noble Constitution, and that
structure. the work of the world, should be
doomed to fall, there shall be no ground Justly
to ascribe that catastrophe to Whig votes.
Wing misrnle, OF Vhig ambition. (-Tremen-
dous cheers ssv0 sgs9satk8 HAs glfEsE6
AAer Mr.. Webster had spoken. eight o. len
distinguished. Wings addressed the immense
throng from different sides of the platform -
Ex- Gov. MctcaK. of Kentucky, with his tan.
spai fofnis thin face, silver hair and generals
feeble appearance. thrilled the multitude with
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