Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-09-20
WHOLE NUMBER 172.

down q Steamboat!) But there was ne.
| cessity for this war. There was neces.
sity that the Meaican nation should be-
taught to respec2 our nation and our flag.
American citizens in Mexico have declar.
ed to me that so little was oar Gag respect
ed that they had been obliged to ublure the
American stripes and stars and cling for
protection 10 the flag Of the British. There
was, fellow citizens, both justice in, and
necessity for, this war
And since my return to the United States,
my name has been connected with another
! campaign. 1 have been designated as the
head and leader of the great Buffalo Hunt
Felfow-cltizens, am no conspirator!
have fought for the stars and stripes and
have shed my blood freely in the defence of
my country, but ] trust l shall never do
any thing which shall bring a stain upon
that bright banner! Instead of seeking to
become the president of the Mexican Re-
public, am earnestly desirous of assisting
to elevate to the presidential chair of the
United States, one of the worthy citizens Of
this Republic. The coming election is one
of the greatest interest. The friends Of free
dom and humanity the world over are look
ing to US with anxious eyes. Soon, hope
there will be no tyranny On this broad earth.
The struggle has already commenced and
will not end while throne remains. This
Union must be preserved, and the presiden-
tial question has an influence greatly affect
ing its perpetuity. A continued chain of
mal-admimstration will destroy any gov-
ernment, and it behoves us to look to the
election. There are now thee parties in
the field. The Democratic party, to which
l belong, has managed the government al
most since its foundation. That party is
broadly national. 1t embraces within its
folds the North, the South, the East and the
West. 1t has no communion with factions
tits not sectional. Its principles are those
of equality and right. There must be a cur
rency, a national currency, of Gold and
Silver-there must be Tariff, if at all ,equit-
able and bearing npon all alike, the rich
and the poor, the manufacturer and the
farmer. There must be no protection to- the
great manufacturer ard capitalist at the
expense of the more humble farmer. So
with all our principles-they do justice to
all. The whig party comes next. 1t once
had principles, but having tired of them it
has ridded itself of them. The Wigs used
to say, "there is no salvation without
National Bank" @The nation will be ru-
ined without Protertiue Tariff 7" Well,
the wings do know the best use of names,
and it is by their efficient use that they have
been sometimes enabled to take money from
the hands Of the laborers and put it in the
pockets of the rich. Then, they would have
taken the proceeds of the sales of the public
lands and distributed that which belonged
to all the states alike, wherever presidential
favor might incline. But / must not forget
the bankrupt law. 1t would be sin to pass
over that great principle which so effectual-
ly wound up the whig party. 1t was a fit
end of that glorious and gorgeous system.
1t was right that the party should find
method for its followers to pay their debts
without money, as they had grown rich
without industry. But fortunately for our
country, the wings have never had fair
chance to put in successful operation their
extravagant scheme. At Philadelphia, how
ever, the wings abandoned all principles,
and presented themselves to the American
people in the condition of model artist,
without a rag of principles to their backs.
They are trying an expeliment-they have
fought with principle and for principle
they are now content to go to the contest
without and l think they will make as
good fight in the latter condition as in the
first. have always wanted to see Gen.
Taylor successful except in his present en-
terprise; and l think his greatest victory
was that which he gained over the wings.
How he coquetted with them and maneu-
vered until the whole party, bag and bag
gage, horse, foot and dragons went over
and surrendered to the victorious General!
They flung aside their principles - they de-
serted their leader, the only man who could
ever keep the wing party alive, and who
has sustained its existence for forty yeas!
They claim Gen Taylor as whig and fit
man for the presidency, who never gave but
one vote in his life, and that for General
Jackson-good evidence forsooth, of his
whiggery! Had been whig. as.long as
Henry Clay was before the nation, would
have sunk and foundered with Ehim upon
the shoals, sooner than with any other
man. l can say nothing against General
Taylor-I wish to say nothing against
him. believe him to be honest and high
minded! But be is a mere military mamie
knows nothing about politics-has none of
the chal acteristics of statesman and is
unable to give any pledge as to how he
would conduct the government. The wings
say they still love Clay-a strange way of
showing it. He was never disgraced until
he was disgraced by his ownparty. He has
the satisfaction that a poor fellow named
Donnelly connected with my command in
Mexico, had Donnelly was butcher in
the corps, but whenever he heard the sound
of battle, he left his occupation and joined
the ranks. At the battle Of Churubusco he
!, was unfortunate enough to have on Mex
lean dress, and being mistaken by our men
for an enemy, was shot by them. As !
passed him afterwards the poor fellow re.
marked TO me that it was all over with
, him, 'but,' said he, general, have the
satisfaction Of knowing that was killed by
. my own fr;ends!' Thus with Mr.. Clay.
S He has the satisfaction of knowing that he
: was killed by his own friends. (Here Gen
t Shield voice almost failed him, but after a
e little he resumed) wish to speak respect
: fully ofevery party. admire Gen. Toy