Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-03
SPEECH OF THE HON. S. S. raENTISs
At Recent Wing Meeting in .Ner Orleans.


private citizen, to exercise my rights and perform
my duty as good Wing, DESTROYS of promoting
harmony and united action In our great and glor-
Gus cause. Though have mingled deeply in the
political contests and fought many of the party bat
ties in neighboring State, yet since my residence
In this city, private duties and interests have with
drawn me in great measure from political afairs,
and 1t Is only now as one who has no aspirations
beyond the position OF mere private in the ranks
that appear among you To- night, l am still warm
devoted, enthusiastic Wing, such as have ever
oeen since learned to distinguish between right
ana wrong, and such as expect to be when the
grave shall demand my mortal frame | under
stand the object Of this meeting to be, to secure
harmony and union in our party secure re-
presentation In the National Convention, which is
70 determine 10 whom the great Wing banner shall
90 oonfided in the coming contest. We must sink
all personal preferences and predictions i'm the
great good Of our party. We come together TO Of
Ter up the affections and paralities of cur hearts
upon the altar of Wing harmony. AS staunch
veteran Wing, who has never deserted his stand
ard, never swerved from his duty and devotion. or
turned his back upon the enemy, | come to give
my counsel, humble as it may be. in fur,herance of
the purpose OF this meeting. Whatever opinions
as we may heretofore have held about the exped |
ency OF Conventions, and | have been among the
strongest OF their opponents, we must all be now
convinced that their action is indispensable to the
union and harmony Of the party. What is mere
personal, individual action in great political con
tests but the folly of tho soldier, who at Buena
vista would have shouldered his musket aud pro-
ceeded alone against the brstling bayouets and
serrid ranks OF the Mexican hosts! 1t is only by
keeping together--by, In military phrase, presery-
ing the touch of the elbow, that success is achieved
IN military operations and SO it is in party con-
tests, which mere civil battles between larpe
masses. we must act, then, together. We must
throw all personal preferences into the ercibe of
Convention, so that we may draw forth the pure
soid ana present 1t to the people for their admira
ton and enrichment. This can only he done bv
counseing together--by meeting our brethren OF
other States IN Conveniently examining well the
cna'' Oh inc whole Union, calculating the prospects
and arriving at just and satisfactory conclusions :
1t the State Of Louisiana could elect the President
acknowledge there would be no necessity for such
consultation but our sister States have Something
10 say IN this matter, and their will and counsel
must be lelrd-tleir might and influence acknowl-
euged we must not expect to force our individual
preferences on others. Had the choice of I, pc
eiuen.-did 1t rest with me TO indicate the success
BOT OF the present occupant OF the Chief Mauis,racv
should cling to my first love-I should shout A.
ioud the name OF that veteran statesman who has
attained The very highest emnence of the pedestaI
oi 1aEac-under whose banner have so often been
proud TO fght--whose white plume have On ofian
followed in battle, when, like that of the n,Ii,n,
1enry w. 1t tossed to and fro in the conflict bnt
never oowed 70 power nor was stained by coward
icej should give my choice my vote a,r-(brt
ere the name passed Mr. P.'s lips, there was = ire.
mendous outburst from the crowd which shook tho
,I.n a"u made the name of Clay reverberate
u'Iough the immense room i'm tones of thunder y
But Presumed Mr. Prenss, when silence w.s -.
stored 1t is not for TO choose for the whole mar,
~ hold that the Whig party is lahor;n1 G
something else besides the elevation of am indiv-
duai. fortunately we have many noble leaders a.
no!S US aoorned with all those high virtues and ca
for, l-
sidency over this free people, Our country 10
scarcely less prolific OF great mental and moral ex
ceiience than of those of physical growth we
uave many profound statesmen who would bear the
wing banner with honor and success-have Gene.
Ies VINO would marshal our forces TO glorious vico
res out they are all of inferior consideration IN the
great interests of the party. The Whie PARTY. as
understand 1t, is contnnding for certain fixed and
aei'e principles. IL is the party that has ALWAYS
e4is'eu In this country, and must ever SO exist =
90 100, there must be Democratic party. This
party is made of two branches The one extreme
.noiuueS 'he wild radicals, whose devotion to liber
y runs INTO ilcentIousness--who are so fearful of
despo.sm that they would relax all law and politi
ca order. Ihe other extreme consists OF those sell
Ilsn demagogues who are looking to their own in.
'ereStS' and only use the mass to help them TO DOW
e. between these two, in the golden mein. rests
n1 s.ea' '" mig conservative party, by its position
ana power preserving the harmony and security of
our political frame, and saving our constitution from
inc WIG excuses OF reckless radicals or from the
colo selflshness OF calculating demagogues and place
men. F
There must ever be such parties in this country
we snail rue the day when the no party idea is
carried out-when we shall have no political issues
OF contests to fight. Then the people will lie down
IKE great giant, to sleep in peace and quiet whilst
oefnagogues will carry their nefarious purposes
with lmPunlty and success. God save MS from no
paTtylsm! God save the Wing party from the dis
grace OF deserving its standard at the present nnor
tant epoch of affairs. The conquest of vast empire
the Immense additions which have been made TO
our greatterrory, and the necessity of governing our
new acquisition through proconsuls or other accents
will throw into the hands of this Government y
power oYcorruption which will require all the vioor
union and strength Of the Wings to resist. TO pre-
vent the Shipweck of our Constitution and the down
fall of our Union.
10 preserve the wonted power of the Wbig mar
~, we must, repeat, send our DELEGATES to the
National Convention, not as Taylor nor as CLAW
men, but as Wings, devoted to the success and tri
umPh OF our party and our principles. rather than
TO the interest OF any individual If Gen TAYLOR
should be the choice OF that Convention consider
his election beyond all doubt | for one whatever
may have been aud may now be my personal pre-
ference, should be proud to fight under the banner
of that gallant old chief, the prestige of whose vic
tories over foreign enemy would give him irress-
tlble strength before the people in a civil contest
speak of Gen. Taylor as a Wing a good WHO
whose principles and views are those of the great
Wing party. have no confidence in the indenen
dent no Parysm, which has lately exploded in this
city. trust not to the gifts of the enemy Gen.
Taylor, though for forty years engaged in the duties
OF the soldler-though devoted to the life and pro-
fesslon which are said to unfit men for civil office
has given such striking proof of fitness for civil din
ties, that for one should fear to trust him with