Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-10-06
Speeeh Of Ihc IIOn. ROberl Q. WInlhrOp,
AT THE WING STATE CONVENTION.


FOR whatever of personal Kindness. whatever Of
political sympathy or appreciation, this cordial !
greeting may imply. | avn here, | am almost
airaidIosay, with no purpose Of making speech, |
because the honored friend who has made speech
commenced with the same remark; and he has
so utterly discredited the idea, that am afraid
shou d hnrdl Y BE- beleyedi ir should make sim.
lar declaration. ! am here. not even rs a dele.
gate, although the civ Of Boston honored me
with an appointment, at the head OF the delega-
ton. | was uncertain whether 1t would be IN
my power TO come at all, and therefore decll'
ned the appointment, lest there should be SIM
glo vacant seat in the hall. And | am come
now with my friends and associates only through
the invitation Of the State Central Commitee;
rather to beseenthan TO be heard only TO testify
by our personal appearance here oursIeadlas ad-
herence TO the old Wing party, and our steudlast
purpose to cooperate in all their proceedings.
Indeed, lellowcilzens, this hardly seems to
me an occasion (orany long speeches. 1t seems
a moment, as the President has Justly observed,
Of somewhat" doubtful guides and devious paths,"
when we rather desire to hear many voices, from
all paris Of the Commonwealth, from every dis
UicS and every county, than TO be engrossed in
one or two voices, or any single locality. We
desire, if | mistake not, in this hour of some.
what sudden conversions, and somewhat start
ling somersets, 10 know " ho is who, and who is
where. We desire to have our hearts encoura-
ged by the sight Of familiar faces. and the sound
of familiar voices. We desire to know who is
ready again 10 take up arms in support Of the
good old Wing cause; and who is ready 10 fall
over 10 those who have been heretofore, and still
are, the enemies Of every true Wing principle.
And Mr.. President, cannot fail to congralu-
late the Wings who are assembled here this day,
that the Wing party Of Massachusetts is not yet
quite dissolved. | cannot fail to congratulate
all my fellow Wings throughout the Common
wealth, that that fiat Of dissolution which went
forth at Philadelphia against the Wing party Of
the United Stales from q voice not altogether
unknown in these halls, has so utterly failed Of
its lul6lment. | congratulate you, sir, con.
graduate myself, that the Wing party is here this
day, unshaken, unseduced, unIerrfed, in full
ranks, with full hearts, ready to stand to their
own organization, ready TO support their regular
candidates, ready to maintain their long-cherish-
ed principles. Sir, there may be few familiar
faces no longer seen here; there may be few
familiar voces-not always raised, be it remem-
bered, to swell the harmony of our annual cho-
ciae their value; would not speak lightly OF
their loss; there arc some Of them, felow.citi.
zsns, with whon honestly part with unfeigned
regret; whom, besides, hope to meet again, al
no distant day, on the same old platform OF
which we have met heretofore. But, with SOME
exceptions, the Wing party are here, from Barn
stable TO Berkshire, from both capes, from the
whole seaboard, and the whole interior, rally,
ing under the old banner, responding to the ole
watchwords, and grding on their armor aIresh
in the good old cause.
And why should they not be here! What has
occurred during the past year which should
shake the courage and damp the ardor, which
should diminish the constancy of any true. hear
ted Massachusetts Wing! What has occurred
which can be assigned as Il reason why the Wing
party of Massachusetts should not merely dis
band their forces as a national party, but should
even muster their own State officers out Of ser
vice-lor that we are called upon to do, and tC
go over to the enemy unaskcd! Why, Mr.
President, to my mind there is something utter
ly unaccountabe and nexplicabe in the dei
that any true Massachusetts Wing should see
reason for deserving his ranks, and be,uking him
sell, more especially, to the ranks of the Val
Buren, party, because General Zachary TayIo
has been nominated as our candidate for tn,
Presidency of the United States; and that, sir
is the only reason assigned. Why, sir, cal
conceive that such nomination as that shout,
rouse up something of the old spirit, should re
kndo the Harrison fires, should rcunite thos
disposed to separate upon any issue. can con
ceIve that name like that, covered with tn
unsurpassed glories of PaIo Alto, Resaca de Il
Palma, and Buena Vista; covered with the still
more surprising glores of u character who's
modesy, honesty, magnanimiIy, and wisdom
oushine even the briIliancy of military conduc
and courage: | say that name like that shou
dsband other parties, and should bring over ant
unite the whole country in its favor.
But, sir, that any Massachusetts Wing shoult
feel himself called upon 10 break from his ranks
nay, 10 break his very sword over his knee, u
General Cass is said to have done upon the sur
render of General Hull, (though the authorit,
is somewhat apocryphal,) that any Wing shouIt
feel called upon to do this, upon the nomination
of Gen. Taylor to the Presidency Of the Untet
States, is, tomy mind, an unfalhomable mystery
Gen. Taylor has not given positive pledg
with regard to the Wi!mot Proviso; and, for one
do not hesitate to say that Irejoce that he ha
not done so. | rejoice that General Taylor,
uo SomeS Ih'o 'he IteSuehCy' VIII Oe uhpleuS
cd upon any issue whatever that he is to com
in only committed to this great principle, whic
my excellent friend who preceded me has S
we'll illustrated, that the popular will, as express
ed by The representatives of the people, is t
shave free course and be glorifed." Sir,
does not come in committed in positive and spe
Gifted terms upon the WiImot Proviso, or upo
any other question. He does not come in, a
Martin Van Buren, did, to veto bill for the abe
IlHon OF slavery in the DistrictEof Columbia
lie does not come in, as Mr. Polk did, pledge
and committed (and we see the folly o. pledge
IN that very insIance) to claim from Great Bri
tain the "whoe or none'' of Oregon. He doe
not come in, as Gen. Cass comes inf he
ever TO come in, which very much doubt