Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-01-20
BIgns Of PrOgress.


It is within the memory Of the oldest in-
habitants' that the leading doctrines and
principles Of the Wing party were well
defined and fully understood. At that
time whiggery sought no ;ooncealment Of
its principles from fhe public eye Then
the leading men Of that party did not fear
to stand boldly forth in advocacy of U.
S. Bank, and to heap upon the opponents of
that mammoth institution with its frauds
and corruptions, their bitterest malsdistions.
Few have forgotten the vindietixeness with
which they pursued the old Hero Of the
Hermitage for his opposition to that insti-
tuition, and when he sought to strip that
rotten concern of all governmental patron
age and counteuance, by Withdrawing from
its custody the moneys Of the Government,
the rage Of whiggery knew no bounds, and
they denounced him as tyrant and asurp-
er. Their violent opposition to the Ipde-
pendent Treasury system, can be scarcely
less distinctly remembered. Then, too,
high tariff for protection was an essen
tial element in the Whig creed; and gen.
eral system of internal Improvements came
in to make perfect that creed upon
which that party staked its political for
tunes. And not least important among
their doctrines was their opposition 10 the
Veto power, that kiEgly prerogative, for
the exercise of which they have poured out
the yials of their wrath upon the heads of
Democratic Presidents. Upon these issues
have they been met and defeated till all hope
Of success became utterly vain. And now
what one of their long cherished doctrines re-
mains upon which they dare to enter po-
litical contest? Not one. They have alb
iured them all, and their craft is afloat sail
ing under bare poles, with not sheet or a
flag TO the breeze. President Fillmore in
his message does not advocate ono of these
old whig measures. He is mum on the
subject of national bank and independent
Treasury; high tariff, he declares, can
not long stand; he recommends improve
ments for national objects only; and upon
the veto question he distinctly announces his
determination to exercise that power when
ever be conceives any act Of Congress
to be violative of the Constitution, or to have
been passed hastily and without due consid-
Grafton. Thus has every plank in the old
whig platform been swept away, and yet
the entire whig party approve and applaud
the positions Of their President. This is,
indeed progressive age, and the whig par
ty is progressive party! Who doubts it?
Again, who has forgotten the noisy pro-
fessions of the wings in favor Of the Will
mot Proviso during the last Presidential
campaign, and the bitter anathemas that
the presses and stumpers Of that party pour
ed out against Gen. Cass and his support
ers? And where is the whig party now
upon this question? They have adopted
this same doctrine Of non intervention which
they SO bitterly and vehemenhy denounced.
It will be remembered with what anxiety
the wings streve to shuttle off the entire re-
sponsibility of the Fugitive Law upon the
Democrats, and with what bitterness they
denounced that law But has not time and
the recommendations of the President tend
ed greatly to soften their asperity and calm
their troubled spirits? No one, in view Of
these rapid strides Of whiggery, can for
moment doubt its progressive tendency!