The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-10-27
From the National Era1
A VETERAN WING FATHERS ANSWER
TO HIS SON
SHERDURNE, n. 7 Sept. u, t


venerable father, is received. Though you may
not have anticipated such notice, he thinks it
merits formal reply. In consideration OF his
age, he has requested me to undertake the task
for him. | have consented TO do So But before
| attempt to do this, indulge me in alluson to our
parent He, you know, has ever, in poliucs been
identified with the party which has for several
years been known as Wing. His first vote was
cast for General Washington: his last for Henry
Clay, in 1914. If lite and health are spared, his
next will be thrown for Martin Van Buren,
His reasons for MS course will be found in this
letter, in whose sentiments he heartily concurs.
| am now prepared to enter upon the considera.
ton of your letter.
You talk of the Wing party as though it had
present existence; and of its devotion to Free
Soil, you say-'I want no better or truer Free
Soil party than the Wing party; they ha pre-
vented the spread of slavery so far, and hope
they may be enabled to prevent its further
spread" But why seek the dead among the liv-
ing ! Why talk OF things that aCere as though
they are? There 1oaS a Whigparty our father
member OF it until it was dissolved bv its
own act-until it expired by its own hands Since
the 9th OF June, 1913, there has been no Wing
party in these United states. This every candid
man must admit What Is party 1t is an or
ganization of men, having certain defined princi
Piles and objects. This is the most limited dehna-
ton OF party that is admissible. Is there, then,
any Whig party? There was: there was an
organization called Wing, with a platform OF
principles. But there is none n0tU The Phila-
delphia Convention surrendered It's creed, aban-
doned its formula Of political doctrines cast awav
as vile thing its own basis OF organzation-and
with it, the great Free Soil doctrine + 1t indig
nantly spurned the great Jeffersonian Ordinance!
Now, viii you talk of present, diving Wing
party Talk OF structure without foundation
An organization without platform--a BODY
without soul! And, to crown the absurdty.
Will you repeat that this Is good Free Soil par
ty Perhaps such doctrine might be believed
by the inmates of the large stone building lit.
tie west OF your city. But should it be by them
Insist that DR. Brigham would be bound TO sig
nifty to their friends that any further efforts for
their recovery will be useless, as they would be
hopelessly mad. A Free Soil party contemptu
ously spurning the Jeffersonan Provso! A Free
Soil party selecting for its standard bearer the
owner OF 800 saves--a man who declares that
the South should neUer submit to the PRINCIPLES
OF the Wlmot Proviso A good free soil party.
torsooth So the Robert Owen party is GOOD
Christian party So the John G. Calhoun partv
Is good Anti-slavery party? So Beelze bub is
good follower of the Holy saviourl How justly
might here use your language away with
such stuff; | repudate it as vile thing ?; The
Wing party! The Taylor .4narcbV, saw. A
Free Soil party The Bow Down Slave Soil
Anarchy, say.
But more The act of selecting General Tav-
Tor at Philadelphia a candidate sustaining his
PosluoE and views, was formal dissolution of
the perty. He told the country, again and again
that he would not be party candidate that he
would not defend carry cut party projects.
This you and all men know Now. when the
Philadelphia Convention tool; up such man.
with such position and views, thew necess0riIn
rehnqulshed their organization. The true ones
ton decided by the Convention was this. win
you take Henry Clay and the Wing doctrines. or
General Taylor tOithOm them? The answer was
Glue as Taylor and let the doctrines of the
party go! But, after all, you gravely talk of the
Wing party My brother, beg YOU to believe
that some men are yet sane
Let me illustrate. You are an EpisconaI;an
Suppose an election is to take place to supply the
vacancy occasioned by the suspension OF Bishop
Onderdonk. There are two promine Mt candidates
one is a staunch Episcopalian the embodiment of
your church, talented and eloquent; the other
claims to be moderate churchman, but is quite
illiterate, and wholly unacquointed with the doc
trlnes OF the church; besides, he declares, in
advance, that he will not be party candidate
and, il elected, he will not be the exponent of the
views oil the denomination. Your Convention
meet in New York. The iterate no party can
dlda.e receives the highest number of votes-he
is declared elected A large portion of the mem
bers are alarmed. The richest and most inHuen.
tlsl diocese has virtually left the church. Hence
they seek so commit the Convention to the doc
trlhes, rites, and usages of the denomination.
Several resolutions introduced for this pur.
pose, but they are Indignantly voted down. The
Convention breaks up in disorder the members
return to their constituents. Now, can an hon.
orable man talk OF that Convention as an Episco
pal Convention, or of its bishop elect as a church
man Not until an honorable man can talk of a
CHRISTIAN inhdel and temperate drunkark.-
But such was the Philadelphia Convention and
its nominee.
But you setup for the Wing party for its past
virtues, which, with the present light is not to
be admitted. You represent it as ever having
been an Anti Slavery party. You say it has
prevented the spread OF Slavery so far, and ex-
press the hope that it may continue TO do SO -
You then add, that the Abolitionists defeated YOU
in 1874, and suffered Slavery to walk over Tex.
as and give utterance to the fear that there
may be foolish Wings enough to do so in the
present contest | should once have conceded
the justice OF this claim, immodest as it seems
But that was at time when | had too strong
partalltleS for the DartV / DnXu etand IN no