Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-23
SPEECH OF THE HON. ROBERT c. WINTHROP
ut The Hhig State Convention.

personal kindness Whatever OF political sympathy appro
baton, this cordial greeting may Imply. here, | an
almost afraid to say, with purpose Of making speech
because the honored friend VINO has made speech
ed with the same remark and he has utterly dscrsdte
the dea that am afraid should hardly be believed III sou
make similar declaration. am here not even as dele
gate, although the city of Boston honored with ap
pontmen, the head of the delegation was uncertain
whether it would be in my power at all, and there
fore declined the appointment, lest there should be single
vacant seat in the hail. And am with my friends
and associates only through the invitation Of the State Contra
Committee rather to be than 10 be heard only
y by our personal appearance here steada adherence
10 the old Wing party and seadfast purpose
rate in all their proceedings. . ..
Indeed eow-citzen this hardly to Inc an occasion
for any long speeches moment, the President
has Justly observed of somewhat doubul guides and de-
vious paths when rather desire hear many Voices
from all parts the Commonwealth, from every district and
every county, than to be engrossed voices
any single locality We desire, if mistake not this hour
of somewhat sudden conversions and somewhat startling
summerset to know who is who, and who is where. We
desire have hearts encouraged by sight of familiar
faces and the sound of familiar voices We desire know
who ready again take up arnsin support of the good old
Wing cause and who ready to fall those who have
been heretofore, and still are the enemies OF every true Wing
principle.
And, Mr. President cannot fail graduate the Wings
who assembled here this day. that the Wing party of
Massachusetts is yet quite dissolved. fail
congratulate all my Wings throughout the Common.
wealth. that that fiat Of dissolution which forth Phla-
dephia against the Wing party of the United States from
voice altogether unknown in these halls has so utterly
failed of its ulflment. congratulate you, sir congrau-
myself that the Wig party here this day. unshaken
unseduced, unteed IN full ranks with full hearts, ready
IN stan
gua candidates, ready mantan their long cherished pn-
cps Sir there may be few familiar faces longer
here there may be few familiar voicesno, always raised
he it remembered swell the harmony annual chorus
unheard among cannot depreciate their value
would not speak lightly of their loss there of
them, fellow citizens, with whom honestly part with unegn-
ed regret; whom, besides, hope meet again.
tant day, the old platform which have met
heretofore But with exceptions the Wing party are
here from Bsstab Berkshire from both capes from the
whole seabosrd and the whole interior rayng under the
old banner responding TO The old wachwords and ging ON
their arr,cr afresh in the good old cause.
Ind why should they not be here What has occurred
during the past year which should shake the courage damp
the ardo which should diminish the consistency
hearted Massachusetts, Wing What hes occurred which can
be assigned why the Wing party Of Massachusetts
should merely disIand their forces national party but
should muster their State officers put service
Tor that called upon do, and the enemy
unaskeo Why, Mr. President, my mind there is some
thing utterly unaccounable and nexpcabc in the idea that
true Massachusetts, Wing should for deserving
his ranks ard betaking himself especially, the ranks
OF the Van Buren, party because Genera Zachary Taylor has
been nominated candidate for the Presidency Of the
United States and that sir is the only assigned.
Why, can conceive that such domination that should
up something OF the old spirit should reknde the Har
rson re should eune those disposed separate upon any
conceive that u like that, covered with the
unsurpassed gores of Pao Alto, Resaca dc la Palma and
Buena Vista covered with the still surpessng glories
OF character whose modesy, honesty, magnanimy, and
wisdom outshne the brancy Of military conduct and
saw that A like mi shoolJ obarl
parties, and should bring ard unite the whole country in
its favor.
But that any Massachusetts Wing should feel himself
called upon TO break from his ranks nay, break bis very
sword his knee, General Cas- is said 10 have done
upon the surrender Of General Hull (though the authority is
somewhat apocypha that any Wing should eel called upon
DO this upon the nomination OF Gen Taylor TO the Pres
dency Of he United States, Is ny mind unfathcmsbie
mystery
Gen. Taylor has not given positive pledge with regard to
tie Nilno provso and for one, do hesitate say
that rejoice that he has done rejoice that General
Taylor, If he into the Presidency will be unpledged
upon any whatever that be in only commit
Ted TO this great principle, which my excellent friend who
preceded me has well illustrated, that the popular will
expressed by the representatives, OF the people, have
free and be goned" Sir he does not come in COM
itted in positive and specific upon the Wlmo proyso
upon any other question He does not in, Martin
Van Burcn did, 10 veto bill for the abolition Of slavery in the
District u Columbia. He does not in, Mr. Polk did
pledged and committed land the folly OF pledges in
that very nstsnce) claim from Gres, Britain the whole or
none" Of Oregon He does in Gen Cass comes
inf be Is ever 10 ia, which very much doub-com
United against the Wmot poyiso advocate OF The
ess Of the South in regard TO all this question, 10th Of
extension OF territory aud the extension Of slavery He comes
in unetered trusting TO his past character and his general
principles and declaring that in his Judgment in the judg
nent Of every true Wing throughout the country that odous
veto power ought TO be altogether dIsused.
But, gentlemen, 10 forget that the very question
which is raised in regard 10 this Of slavery in new Ter
nores and in relation TO support Of Gen. Taylor was
formally settled 10 the Wing Convention Of Massachusetts,
at lis last meeting Who is there here who fails remem-
Ter the resolutions introduced into that meeting the angry
controversy excited, and the summary manner in which
The resolution rejected by the Convention which was in
substance that the Wings " Massachusetts, would under no
circumstances vote for any who specifically com
it,ed IN favor Of the Wmot proviso Thst resolution
deliberately prepared in my judgment, to anticipate the
inaion which hiss now been made, and which was even
then believed to be almost oeran although il is now stated
10 have taken every body by surprise That resolution was
framed 10 commit the Wings Of Massachusetts, against the
support Of General Taycr fJr the Presidency Of the United
States, in he should be nominated, he has been
mated.
Bot the intelligent and patriotic Wings refused be
committed They opposed to the extension Of slavery
earnestly srden,y, uncompomisiusy and they declared
themselves They bad been 'iree soil men from the
FIRST they /" free soil while Mr. Van Buren, and
his friends admitting Texas into the Union, and
ing ourfths Of il with slavery They have always been
free soil' men. They had preconceyed preJudces,
either or General Taylor any other candidate Tor the Pre-
sidency