Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-09-03
WING PRINCIPLES.


eading Locofocos and pretended Wings,
hat so little is heard nowadays, of the
Did issues, upon which in times gone by the
TWO great parties of the country were divi-
led. It's asserted that Wing principles
are ''obsolete" and in proof Of the fact we
are pointed to the disjecta membra of an an
tiquated platform and asked with an air of
triumph, where is the Tariff, where is the
Bank, &C.? This effort to confound meas
ures with the principles upon which they
are based will be readily understood by men
who think. 1t is intended, however, for
class of men upon whom the locofocos de-
light to operate-men of untutored minds,
unaccustomed to nice distinctions and logl-
cal legerdemain, who alas too readily mis-
take the sleight of hand tricks of political
jugglers for sound reality and solid fact. In
this point of view, and no other, it may be
well enough briefly to expose its sophistry.
We cannot better illustrate the emptiness
of this cant about obsolete Wing principles
than by reference to the Tariff question:
The encouragement of home industry by
the protection of domestic manufactures has
ever been the cherished policy OF the great
American party. If there be any principle
moro thoroughly Wing than another, 1t is
that American enterprise and industry ought
to be stimulated and supported in prefer
ence to that of other nations. In accord
ance with this enlarged national policy the
Wings have always been the strenuous adj
vocates of a discriminating protective Tar
iG,while the Locofocos have ever been its
uncompromising opponents. Opposition has
triumphed and the most vigorous efforts OF
the friends of native industry have resulted
in defeat. Overwhelming antagonishc ma
iorities still stand in the way Of its success,
and hence it has ceased to be prominent
and practical issue. Superficial thinkers
may be led into error by this qmetus but
rejecting minds will perceive at once that
a cessation of futile endeavors in behalf Of
a particular measure involves no abandon
ment ofthe principle upon which 1t is based
We might, in like manner, show like alb
surdity of reasoning in regard to other Wing
measures. If the Wing party should even
get the entire administration of the govern
ment into their hands it will be found to Lo-
cotoco satisfaction that none of its princi-
pies are obsolete. At present they find
themselves burdened with the responsible
ties of office without the power to carry their
principles into practical operation-a posi-
ton which, III the language of another "can-
not result in any thing but political ruin to
the holders, unless their acts be dictated by
the maturest wisdom and boldest statesman
ship" That such has been the course OF
the present administration is manifest from
the facts that it has borne untarnished the
severest scrutiny of opponents and won not
only national APPROVAL, but almost universal
confidence, admiration and applause.
There are some principles firmly adhered
to by the Wing party, which the Locofocos
would gladly see numbered among the cob
solete.p We refer to those principles Of
mutual concession and compromise, for the
good Of the whole, upon which were found
ed the peace measures of the last Congress,
and which are to constitute the leading is
sues between the two parties in this State.
The prime effort is to smother the Compro-
mise, evade its discussion, or if forced into
some sort of a position, to share its triumphs
by assuming the halfway ground of acqui-
escence. But the game will not do. If the
Tariff, the Bank and other Wing principles
are forgotten, here is the plain, practical
question of the Compromise, in which not
only most important principles, but the har-
mony and salvation of the country is involv-
ed. To these measures the Wing party
stands pledged and on this ground the bat
tie is to be fought. Let it be distinctly UNI
derstood that all effort to divert the atten-
ton of the people from the issue before them
will be unayailing and foolish in the ex-
IRENE.
~ n
observe that some ofthe newspapers in Vir-
ginia, as we'll as others published farther
South, continue to apply the epithet "Submis-
sionists" to all who originally supported the
Compromise measures passed by Congress,
Yet it is fact that the editors of these pa
pers, and the comparatively few persons in
the State who agree with them in sentiment,
QUO ba o,l,y Dareopv 10 u,bo,o - rorot,