Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-08-31
The chicago Convention.
NUMBER II.

less conduct of the WING leaders in the
late Convention at Chicago. The smell
of rottenness is too rank and too charac.
teristic to be mistaken, without the me-
cessity ofprobing further into this whited
sepulchre of Wing honor. l hope that
the Democratic party and especially the
Democratic editors Of the country will
not fail to see the necessity of cutting
loose, forthwith, from the tolls of this in
sidieus alliance, and of rallying back into
a position for resuming hostilities, under
the old banners and to the old battle cries.
1t is not merely expedient to do so: tits
inevitable. Far be it from me, wanton-
ly and causelessly to fan the fires, that
always burn fiercely upon the altar of par.
ty. But am fully satisfied that there
can be no cordial fusion of such discor-
dant elements as Democracy and Wing.
gerry, on any question of public policy.
There may be some,-indeed, | know
some, myself ofthe rank and file on that
side, who sincerely wish to see this sub.
ject set apart and consecrated as neutral
ground in the political arena: But their
inscriptions leaders are too intent on
reaPing full crop from what they deem
a favorable juncture in their affairs, to
allow such sacrifice. The scheme of
union is an amiable one, but it is utterly
impracticable. I repeat, therefore, let
US back in solid column to our own
grounds, from which, in moment of gen.
erous confidence and patriotic hope, we
were induced to depart.
1t is incumbent on the Democratic par.
ty without delay to re-define its position
upon this great subject. While l am
not prepared as one of that party, to sup.
port men for Office who cannot accede to
some moderate and reasonable scheme of
River and Harbor improvement. am
as little prepared TO abandon the Treas
ury to the loose and indefinite policy of
Wing statesmen. Let not the people be
deceived by the soft tales ofelectioneering
courtship. However low the key on
which they now pitch their sereuades for
popular favor, no sooner would they gain
their suit and grasp the reins of govern
ment, than they would overleap all the
constitutional barriers of which they now
speak with so much affected respect,
sweep away every troublesome distinc-
ton, and seek to seduce the local inter-
ests ofthe country with a food of proiu-
sion. Let US not so very soon forget the
experience of 1s41; when in the wolfsh
eagerness, with which they rushed to the
banquet of power, they speedily devoured
even the President, who with his feeble
hands was ministering to their rapacity.
Let us not forget the "reminiscences, still
more directly in point, conjured UP by
Mr. Benton, by way of ghostly comfort
10 the Chicago Committee, of the count.
less millions, which wing administra.
ton, some 20 years ago, was about to
squander upon an infnity of local prof.
ects; when the iron will of Andrew Jack
son came in good time, to the rescue of
the devoted country. Their policy, now,
is what it always was,-hexible to every
touch feonvenience, anchored on no fixed
principles, land always moulded to suit the
most delicate changes of popular caprice.
1t may be, that some of our own states
men have erred on the other extreme:
and in adherIng too closely to the letter
of the constitution, have fallen into dis
tinctions, condemned by its spirit and by
the analogies of established usage. If
such errors have been committed let them
be retrieved; but if either evil is to be
endured, no one, who duly appreciates
the sanctity of the instrument and the
perillous tendencies of the opposite school
of doctrine, would hesitate which to
choose. II will be found far easier to
overcome those scruples of civil authority,
which deter it from going to the full
measure of its orbit, than to repress
headlong and reckless spirit of assump.
ton which would wildly ouerleap it.
Let it be granted, that injustice has
been done the West. Yet. it has been
less the fault of any branch of the Gen
eral Government, than of the West itself
in the bad Congressional tactics used by
its representatives and the inauspicious
connections in which its just claims have
been embarrassed. Besides this. IN eve.
ry national canvass, heretofore, other is
sues have engrossed too much the atten-
ton ofthe press and the rossrum. The
great constitutional points in the subject
have been but indifferently discussed be-
fore the People; and no appropriate steps
taken to mature definite, united and
earnest Public opinion. Congress has
never been with, (what would since have
become Formidable great Western or.
gGnizGtiOn, based on some general & well
digested scheme of policy. The notions
prevailing in the West have been loose,
dasnltnrH. secfionnL.--each district scrann.