Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-07-05
For the Portage Sentinel.
A Glance at the Whirlpool.

Than fly to others that we know not OF"
For the Portage Sentinel.
A Glance at the Whirlpool.
In the solemn history of hum an affairs
it would be difficult, if not impossible to find
a transaction resembling in any of its par
ticulars, the extraordinary proceedings of
the late Whig Convention assembled at
Philadelphia. In every respect that Con-
vention is without parallel. In the first
place,a powerful party in our country, known
by the name of Wing, has opposed our re-
cent contest with Mexico. The greater
lights of that party have taken occasion to
look into futurity, and foresee the conse-
quences of our sin. With wondrous sa-
gacity they have done this, and with unex-
ampled earnestness, they have told in pa
thetic tones the miserable actors of the un-
fortunate drama, to retrace their steps, and
to receive before gazing world their just
deserts, the ineffacable marks of nations
dishonor. To accomplish this the tongue
and the pen have been unremittingly en-
ployed. The gray headed veteran with
heightened visage, and with sorrowing en-
phasis has appealed to the passions, sand the
feelings of a generous people. The orator in
the vigor and strength of his manhood, with
all the inveteracy which an unconquerable
ambition inspires, has employed the magic
of eloquence, to weave more effectually the
web of sophistry, which was to bind the
hands, the hearts, and the purses of the ma
ton. Every device which ingenuity could
invent, every means which selfish disre-
gard of truth and justice could prompt, have
been summened to bring into disgrace, the
responsible participators in the war. But
scarcely had the smoke of Taylor's last bat
tie field cleared away, before the world saw
in astonishment the beginning of those re-
markable events, which the late. Convention
have now completed. The name of the
great murderer" is to be the talisman Of
power. and the watchword of success. Al
ready that name @smeared in blood" is seen
in glaring capitals: and already the enor-
mites of an aggressive" war, which here
tofore have received unmitigated cursing,
are transformed into virtues, and the talents
which can kill, are thought equal to the dis
charge of the highest duties which ever de-
volved upon a man. Amid the involutions
and evolutions of party principle, and party
strife, man few days ago abborred is
now made an idol and is to be made a God.
What sincerity in the professions of party
leaders! What confidence the toi1fng mill
ions should repose in their patriotism and in
their honesty!
But there are other horns of this dilemma.
Did not Gen. Taylor refuse to be the nomi-
nee of a party! We thought so VIXEN we
read his letters on the subject. We thought
he told the parties of this nation plainly,
that if they adhered to their old land marks
he could not be their leader: that if he be-
come candidate he did so without any
statement ofprinciple or of policy. Where
then Wings are your long cherished, and
boasted measures of f=reform2 2~Ie Taylor
favor of distributing among the States the
proceeds of the public lands? None can
tell and we doubt whether he knows HIM
self. Even the ghost of Protective Tariff,
which the Wings have hugged with frantic
energy, has gone into the shades as the last
shadowy relic of an exploded policy. The
Hero of more defeats than any man living,
still reposes at Ashland. He was once the
"great embodiment" but his principles and
policy having been suddenly abstracted, he
is now left as vacuitous as an uninhabited
oyster shell. We wonder the operation did
not produce fatal prostration. To what
realm the subtle essence, called the political
doctrine of the Wings, has flown, now that
it is disembodied, we presume no one can
tell. In the coming contest which probably |
will be hard fought, the two parties meet
upon grounds never before occupied
While the one avows definite objects and
aims, the other keeps every thing concealed.
While the one in selecting a northern man,
acts in accordance with recent professions,
the other by putting upon the track slave
holder and warrior, disregards and tram
pies upon every principle it has heretofore
avowed, and forfeits all claims upon the
confidence, and support Of the people
While the Democrats kept an eye upon a.
availability, they did not make that the only