Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-11-17
For The Journal

WIN. S. ASHE.
Fort'ie Journal.
Mr. Editor:-The agony is over! Taylor
and Fillmore are the choice of the people. For
this result, we should not care to indulge any
foolish regrets. The nominees of our party
are beaten as they were in 1910, ''fully if not
fairly" The will of the majority is against
US, and to that will we should always be ready
to bow in submission, if not with respect. Ii is
perfectly natural, however, under the circum
stances, that we should be allowed 10 say, that
we are somewhat mortified in being called up
on, for the second time in eight years, TO attrib
ute our defeat to the influence of a wild,
thoughtless excitement, gotten up to lead the
public mind astray from principle. There is
this satisfaction, however, even in conclu-
sion, so unpleasant 10 every genuine Republi-
can, that the result was beyond the ordinary
reach of mere party association, and can in no
way be regarded as test of the popularity of
our measures, or the wisdom of our public po
Icy. To place this matter in its proper light,
it is only necessary to suppose Mr.. Clay or "a
ny other member of the Wing party, whose
views were equally we'll known, to have been
the opposing candidate. The election of Gen.
Taylor can no more. therefore, be regarded as
a party triumph, than was his choice by the
Philadelphia Convention party nomination.
His name had long been before the people
and doubtless had the wireworkers at Philadel-
phia not discovered his availability, they
would not now be entitled to claim any share
in his success.
There is, in this country, we are more and
more persuaded, large class of voters-men
of moderate views-who, avoiding, on ordina-
ry occasions, mere party association, are quite
sufficient in number to turn the scale in favor
of either candidate While the Wings, or Fee
deralists, and the Democrats are battling to.
gether, on opposite boundaries ofconstitution'
al Interpretation, and carrying 10 radical ex.
tremes the peculiar doctrines of their respec
tive schools, these are looking with calmness
and sobriety, solely to the good of the coun.
try, and thus, amidst the chaos of party con.
flict is constituted, conservative feature, or
which, ultimately more than in the patriotism
or virtue of party, the institutions OF the coun
try rest for security and defence.
| Besides these, however, there is another
and larger class-men who, from Ignorance
and incidence, on ordinary occasionS,are e.
qually careless of party connection, but warm.
ed by the contagion of unusual excitement, OF
blinded by show and glitter, will readily side
with that division which boasts the mos
sounding name, or displays greater attractions
to the fancy; with such, and unhappily in the
heat of the canvass, they form a very
large portion of our people; logic is was
ted, and argument ridiculous. Rough ant
Ready" and "Od Zach % " Monterey" ant
Buena VISTA" supply the place of both rea
son and principle.
The Democratic nominee has been singular
ly unfortunate in being deprived of the sup
port of both the mob and the moderates.
Breaking ones sword is very clever exhi
bition, in its way, of indignation at a cowardly
surrender, but the lustre of that achievement il
considerably dimmed when brought into com
parson with the charge at Monterey. So tn,
diplomatic ability which could thwart Trea
ty is not quite so readily appreciated, nor Sc
striking as the dazzling glories OF Buena Wis
Ia.
But the chief element in the success of Gen
Taylor, we conceive to have been the appre
tensions felt by the moderate men, includin.
many in our own ranks, on account of tn
danger of a too long ascendancy of one politca
party, and the supposed hostility Of the view
and feelings of Gen. Cass towards the Englsl
in particular, with whom we are connected b,
ties of mutual interest and commercial deal
L.. =
tant now to discuss, how unfounded wer
these fears lit is sufficient to know that the
contributed in very great degree to our de
: feat. The Wing politicians, during the lat
canvass, were very adroit in turning this weak
ness to their advantage, and the warm Ian
guage of Gen. Cass upon more than one occa
sion, and his votes and conduct upon others
gave, unfortunately, too much color to tn
suggestions with which they infamed the pub
lie mind. The consequence is now before Us
Selling upon this, in pretty much the sam
style with the school-boy who, by stealth
mounts the back of public coach, the Viii
party have been struggled into power upo
the popularity of man in no manner ident
fed with them.
1t seems to be very general opinion wit
} men of all parties, that the new adminstratio
is to be marked by a reference to these primo
pal causes of its elevation If Gen. Taylc
will succeed in maintaining this moderate pc
sition, despite of the influences which will
brought TO bear upon him from various qua
} tiers, there can be no doubt that his admin:
. tration will meet with united support, and h
will resume the duties of his present profes
sion, or his farm, with the best wishes of til
t whole country. There never, perhaps, wa
S at any recent moment of our political history
afforded a finer opportunity for displayin
those noble qualities of the head and the hea
which have been ascribed to him; but it wi
require degree of frmness of which we d
. not think him capable, to resist the importr
7 mites of the radicals III his ranks The MAY
i'm, that g" To the victors belong the spols
has obtained considerable credence, and W
should be surprised to find that in no case wi
e there be pandering 10 the cravings for ofic
which some of our patriots, who have bee
so long thrstirg, will very naturally expe
to have gratified
e The course of the Democratic party will
l.? plain and simple Should Gen. Taylor lea,
e undisturbed The Tariff of 1916. and the 9TH
. great Democratic measures whose important
: and beneicence has been so triumphantly vii
: dlcated, we will feel free 10 support him, n
= because II is his course, but because it is Il
nOlicV donoo ndod Nv ho trno Of IL