Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-21
SPEECH OF Mr.. JOHN p. KENNEDY,
Delivered at the Wyhig Meeting in Hagerstown,
Maryland, on the 27fh of September last.

After several speeches had been delivered in the grove near
the town, the meeting adjourned the Courthouse in which
they eassembed at eight o'clock in the evening when
Mr. JoHs T. KEssEDr Of Baltimore, being introduced by
| the President, addressed the meeting as follows
Mr.. President: Our opponents, for want Of a better
theme, affect to find great fault with US that we do not liza
them, accompany every nomination make Of a candidate
for the Presidency by the publication of what they term
platform of principles Sir, their party was party form
ed upon conviction Of the truth and value Of great cons,
tuona doctrines which well defined and held to be essen
tal to the promotion of the public welfare and the peserya
ton OF popular liberty if il distinguished for lis con-
slsten support Of system of policy adopted in the earlier
stages OF our national existence and approved by west
and Purest patriots which have adorned country them
sir they would themselves need nor ask of us the con-
nual periodical republication Of political creed We do
not require such devices to make position before the coun
try ntelligibe TO any citizen whatever When we say we
are WHO'S, we refer 10 whole volume of past history for
the identification and description Of faith, leaving
thing belonging to the great cardinal principles by which our
association is held together, open any kind Of doubt Our
party is the Wing party If advesaries really desire to
understand what that is let them read the history popular
freedom both in England and America let them read the De-
caraon of Independence and the narrative of the the
Revolution let them read the pecepts and study the poi
cal philosophy OF the early sages of the republic and the
thors OF its constitution let them read the annals Of each
successive administration, from that of Washington that
of Adams inclusive and from this abundant stoehouse of
Wing history they will be able to extract the full scope of
Whig principles and practice. Therein they will find our
platform.
Sir, if ours party Of perpetual change, affirming
one thing to-day, and repudiatng if we made
promises which we never meant to performs if we dealt in
ambiguous protestaons purposey rendered obscure with
view to the various and opposite interpretations which might
adapt them to the conflicting opinions and peudces Of every
region and section Of the counin that case sir might
recognise the necessity OF appointing few every four
years write and publish our occasional creed We
might instruct them to nfuse into few ndsputabe popu
lar ruisms with view to claiming them distinctive of our
organization. We might enon them mystify, by arul
and ElyaIuf
harmony Of opinion amongst usspargre ambguas roces
and might require creed to be fortified by whatever
startling invention of the day seemed most apt to bring
accession of numbers All this might do and afterwards
maintain by hollow and loud professions OF exclusive patr
osm and not less loud caumniation of alversaries
party finding itself such category has need build plat
forms every fourth year, and still greater need repair them
with such timber the growth of each year may supply
The Whig party needs no such jonery this. ....
We have two candidates in the fedto say nothing
Of others who have been presented to the country by
dissenting fragments Of the people, We have candidates
who have been regularly nominated by Conventions duly
chosen hy the two large parties Of the nation On the
sde the Wings have presented Gen. Zachary Taylor ap
proved Whig gallant soldier, and most faithful Of
the republic their candidate. The antagonist party the
Wings have presented Gen. Lewis Cass 1t not my pur-
pose say any thing touching the qualifications Of these
two distinguished men for the Chief Magistracy You sir
and this assembly have heard to-day that subject discussed
with great force and eoquence by than Of friends
who have addressed you. They have lett nothing add
which could hope to urge with the effect they have given
their own views propose to myself invite the attention
this meeting other points which discussed to-day
The party to whom stand opposed has recently, within
few past usurped to itself the of the Democratic
party. They have done this with great camor and with
domneeng and perseverance in the assertion Of it,
which Of ITSELF think implies more than doubt Of their
title to it. We have suffered this usuIpaton go undspu
ed too long Many honest citizens Of the country have been
deceived by it. Many have joined the ranks of this par
upon better argument than this Of the The
ter sir has been aruly got up. should have been
posed at earlier date. 1t is my purpose now sir
inc into the preesions Of this newborn democracy, and
compare it with the old hope shall shock mans pre-
JUDGES by this inquiry. mean dsparagement in any
thing which shall say reference either Of the old parties
which formerly divided this country. believe they both
actuated by the highest sentiments of patriotism in the general
purposes of their organization but they wagei their
with aspery quite equal any thing of the present day,
may not be surprised that they often betrayed by the
warmth and violence Of party affection into which
camer review Of them must lead US to condemn.
We especially invited to the consideration Of this sub
ect by the very remarkable letter Of Mr. Csss addressed
the committee of the Convention which nominated him. and
in which he accepts the position assigned him the Pre-
sdental candidate Of his party do not find fault with that
letter for its blind and obsequous adoption Of the whole for
mua of principles and policy which the Convention had laid
down fr the guidance Of the party Those who best
acquainted with General Cass prepared expect that he
could Swallow all that quite easily he proessed be
able to swallow all Mexcs BY those WHO best knew Gen.
Cass il not supposed that he would make difficulties upon
any article Of faith which might be presented to him. matter
how dssonan with any and every thing that be had
~
public 10 find him exong Mr. Poks administration through
out Notwithstanding the Presidents recreancy the prnc-
Piles of the platform of 1874. generally believed,
Ill this letter appeared that neither Congress Of
Congress there than handful of men who
yet willing TO the homage Of commendation TO MI Polks
Chief Magistacy Wehave been accustomed hear much
said against the President by those who asduous
to elect him. that had believe that nsw in his
latter day. poor do him Gen.
Csss is the exceptonand that Notwithstanding the gnomi
nous retreat from 81 40 the adoption Of Tsts treaty the
purchase Of the boundary, and the payment Of the indemnify
have been fighting for in Mexico the Of the river
and harbor b and the passage Of the tariff Of ls46 after the
writing Of the Kane eeal Of which Gen. Cass leaves
to infer he entirely and cordially approves With all this
find to quarrel with Gen. Cass the exibily of his
political opinions may commend him the his party.
matter Of taste with which have But
there part Of his letter which altogether unnecessary
TO the purpose for which it and
dictated by spirit of volunteer detracton and which is
particularly offensive the whole Wing pariy-the Of
fensve because il is grossly and sandeous will read
what allude to. He says:
"From the days Of General Hamilton days the party
opposed to of whose principles he the fouader while
has changed its has essentially its identity
OF character and the doubt he taught OF the
capacity OF man tor clgoyernent has sxerted msrhed u"
fuenee upon its action and opinions Here the start
ing point Of the difference the great parties which
divide country All other differences but subordinate
and auxiliary to this, and may in fact be resolved into it,
This distinct allegation Of three things first that the
Wing party dentcy the old Federal party second, that
of of