The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-08-05


Edoanot like and can never approve
still, as man, am compelled to e.
spect him.. The high qualities OF his
heart and head command therespect Of
every man that has heart or head to
either. [Cheers from the
outside Clay whigs.] Where is he?--|
Two years ago and little better. a
gentleman and very worthy man was
unknown to the two great political par
ties of this country. The name Of
Zachary Taylor had then nothing po-
litically associated with it. 1t was un-
known to the people. The great whig
party thai had been exerting itself for
half century 70 establish its princi.
pies, to keep its organization, TO con-
vince the American people that their
principlesawere the true principles Of
goyernment--that party, which num-
bers within its ranks so many great
statesmen, men of honor, virtue, and
political experience, that party knew
not Gen. Taylor. A voice: :"lvo years
agoY] Two years ago. | ask--if
there be any such here--l ask those
claiming to belong to the democratic
portion ofihe whig party here voice
on the outside called "for three cheers
for John Van Buren,. Steady, gentle
men, CONTINUED Mr.. Allen you will
get enough,of him before the campaign
is over. (Laughter.) At that time,
two years ago, this gentleman was un-
known. AT that time Henry Clay was
better known than any other man that
treads the earth 10 the whig parity
And now, one Of these men is forgotten,
and the other one adopted.
It was a melancholy scene at Phlla-
delphia the other day. 1t was melan-
choly scene to see the hands of the
whig leaders 10 that convention, grasp
ing the gtay hairs Of Henry Clay, and
dragging him to the or,kicking him out
as vagrant, rather than chosen lead
er and head !a And why was it? Was
it to reward military gallantry? If so,
where was Winfield Scott? Was it to
reward military merit? Where was
the hero of the late war: Where was
the conauerer of Mexico? Where was
Winfield Scott, if the whig party had
honors to bestow upon military Gen.
eral! ask again, where was that dis
tinguished Captain, if the object Of the
whig party was to reward military
merit? No, sir. continued Mr.. ALLEN,
turning to the President of the meet
ing,) Gen. Scott had been known to the
country long before the name Of Gen.
Taylor was heard Of. He was known
from The day of Lundy's Lane to this
day, over. this entire continent, as the
victor over the British troops in 1914,
and the conqueror Of Mexico in ls48.
Why not, then, take him up? Because
Winfield Scott was known as whig.
daughter and cheers.) "You ask u.s.
say the whig convention to Gen. Scott,
as he presents himself, as were, at the
door of the convention:--He comes
brow-bound with laurels won in the
"halls Of the Montezumas"--he pre-
sents himself to the convention Of his
party. He says to them: ''If il be
your object 10 discard Mr.. Clay--to
put aside en- old and well tried and
faithful statesman Of the party; if it be
your intention to rebuke his gray hairs,
and to pronounce a decree of banish-
ment on his decripid, form; if it be your
intention TO consign the naine Of Clay
| to the intamy. Of party condemnation;
| fit be- your intention to do that, and
YOU desire toreward military merit in
a swhig General, here | stand, the hero
Of Bridge water, Lundy's Lane,and Mex.
ico. / am known as devoted, uniform.
tried whig, I claim the suffrages of this
convention" But what say, the con-
| vention to this? "No, General, stand
aside, sir, with your British and Mexican
conquests! You are too well kno wn
You are whig! The same reason
that makes US throw Mr.. Clay out o'
one window, compels us to throw you
outofthe other." (Cheers and laughter,
The whig party, the party Of prlnci.
pies--.the party that claims TO- stand on
constitutional ground.---the party that
claims the sufirages of twenty mil
lions of freemen' on the score tha,
they have political principles, and tina,
those principles conduce to public
happiness and prosperity.---that party
banishes two we'll known and tried
leaders, the embodiment and expo.
nent Of its principles, and 60 and Sc
lect a man who never did political
act in his life, who at thatyery moment
declared that he knew nothing about
politics, and had no political principles.
la voice on the outside, "three cheers