Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-06-06
Tine Whig Parry.

opening address, thus speaks of the whig party.
He fully understands its component parts and
truthfully accounts for its frequent want Of unity
in non-essentials which We have always felt need
not destroy either its harmony or vitality.
In this brief outline of the course we
propose to ourselves, we next desire to
state that it will be our especial aim to
promote and cultivate the harmony Of the
Wing party; to preserve its integrity and
nationality; to carefully abstain from every
thing calculated to ALLEVIATE any Of its men,
bers or TO give to 1t sectional complex
ion. To preserve and strengthen the influ-
ence O. the Wing party in the sffairs of the
Government, whether in or out of power,
we regard as primary duty of patriotism.
In the enumeration of some Of the leading
characteristics Of the Wing party, contain
ed in preceding paragraph, we design
ed to show that its principles lie deeper,
and in importance reach far beyond any
question of transient exigency, however
important in itself, or than any particular
branch or measure Of public policy of a
more permanent nature. About many
such questions not fundamental, individual
Wings Of the highest ability and expert
ence may differ with each other or with
Wing Administration without compromis-
ing their character as Wings, or destroy.
ing their usefulness to the party and to the
country. We believe that the Wing par
ty may boast more numerous body Of
able and patriotic men than were ever be-
fore, in the history of parties, banded to-
gether for the protection and preservation
Of the highest interests of society and gov
eminent. Open questions must be per-
mitted to exist in any political or party
association for such elevated purposes.
This occasional independence of individ-
ual opinion and action upon particular
points of policy is one of the inevitable
results Of the character Of the materials Of
which the party is composed. The mem
bers of the Wing party want the cement
which secures rigid discipline in party
operations, and though they may thereby
often lose power when within their grasp,
yet the country is compensated by their |
united opposition to the excuses of their
successful opponent. Ii is not matter of
surprise, especially at the present june
ture, and amid the distracting issues grow
ing out OF the subject of slavery, that
diversity of opinion should exist among
Wings as 10 the best mode of disposing of
them. Nor do we consider that the course
of individual members Of the party upon
questions OF SO peculiar and extraordinary
a nature should be regarded as test of
their adhesion or of their opposition to
general Wing principles and Wing policy.
While, however, we thus recognise the
right of individual members of the Wing
party to independence Of thought and free
dom Of action on this or any other particu-
lar question of policy, we may, on the
other hand, feel it 10 be our duty freely
10 comment upon their course, whenever,
in our opinion, it is likely to prove inju-
rious to the general interests Of the party
and Of the CO un,ry. 'r-
But whatever differences of opinion may
exist in the Wing ranks, and between the
North and the South, upon the exciting
subject Of African slavery, or whatever
asscon'ents mary prevail among Wings II
he present moment on other accounts we
have an abiding confidence that those Diff
ferences will in time be reconciled; that
hese discontents will pass away, and that
he union of the Wing party, like the
inion Of the States, will be firmly estab-
ished and long endure, 10 Illustrate the
excellence of our institutions, and to bear
'nr country onward in the career Of pros
,erity and glory, so happily entered upon,
o the highest point attainable by human
wisdom,