The daily union., 1852-10-16
From the Lincoln nfe) Democrat
q AvaiIability''--A Chapter in WING History.

/
OF our Institutions OF government. have we been able 10
see any one point IN which the distinctive policy OF the
wings appears TO us 10 be IN accordance with these prn-
cples But we regarded the whig party as an hon
eel party and attributed The dissent OF It's leaders from
The policy OF The democratic party 10 sort OF limd
seryaye Tear OF the practical workings OF The progress
siye prncple ap
Nor do we now feel prepared 10 the whig party
as whole OF reckless disregard OF principle We can
see IN Mr.. Webster, and the numerous class OF wings
who JlnpahHe with him. evidence OF honesty in their
irm adherence 10 the principles (misaken principles
though we deem them TO be) which the parry long pro-
lessed and 70 which they long adhered both in prosperity
and adversely. ltstl ~
But we have arrived period in the history OF
parties 70 America when. apparently, every other princi
pie gives place To the single idea OF availability with the
great majority OF the whg patty.
This idea OF availability is not honest principle
Avalabhiy, n political paIance, is but single word
Tor the deiesable motto, The end usiifies the means
And how have the wings, OF large portion of them
beea brought 10 embrace idea and adopt cores
pending policy so much at variance with the consceu
uoushess OF which tsey used as patty to boast
Among the instruments which have contributed most
largely 10 the breaking down OF the wing party, frs, and
foremost we have the editor Of the New York Tribune
that prince OF wbig tacicians, Horace Greeley
We say the breaking down of the whig parly for any
party may be property considered broken up when
majority Of lis members abandon the principles and pol
ICY which have identified them with the name they have
borne such Is now the position OF the old whig party
The small minority who sill continue look upon the
availability. movements OF the las, few years in the
ight ~ which they are known 10 have been viewed by
Mt Clay, and in which they now viewed by the
greatest living wing statesman Daniel Webster il all
that now remains in possession OF any just claim to the
utle 'whig paIiy ana in whatever form, or under
whatever standard The seeding majority may rally, the
most significant title II can assume is that OF lhe avail
ability party"
Let embrace the political movements OF some four
or five years past in brief retrospective review.
One after another the distinctive features embracing the
principles of the democratic policy had been subjected 10
practical test in the administration of the government
and had secured the coDmendation OF immense ma
Jony OF The people, embracing all parties. The practical
development OF these distinctive features having
coanered and riumphany defeated the interested and
strenuous opposition of the wings, the result proves that
me American people, IN weighing The principles OF The
that fekt is iTrevocaby written asans them on the
bright page OF American history. 475 FHMa
In this state OF things, and at period when glorious
termination OF the Mexican had created unparal
leled confidence in the democratic administration OF the
government, II became al apparent 10 the whg
leaders who were ardeniy aspiring for political power
that their only chance rested the contingency OF
successful issue OF bold stroke of policy Rea ling
in unmisakabe characters the condemnation OF the for
mer course OF the party in The rejection OF It's principles
Tie idea naturally suggested itself that large OF
The community might be successfully duped by the nom.
lhatlon for the presidency oil the who had the
brightest laurels ~ the prosecution of the they
had condemned, with all It's abettos, In terms OF
measured yehemence. Little hazard on their pari was
encountered by such movement, General Taylor, in
The discharge OF his military duties had been re-
moved IRON The arena OF political strife, and as il was
impossible TO convict HIM of ever having understood the
principles OF whig policy, or OF having fully com.
mted 70 relation TO any set Of measures, and his cleo
bs wns 81 Consulted in the selection Of
cabinet and in the distribution OF the spos of victory
But another difficulty and serious one, stared
them IN the lace Up 10 this time the party had gener
ally acted consistently with lis avowej principles; and
now aud foremost before Them stood Henry CLAW an
acknowledged and universally respected exponent Of
whigeery Next, and In union. in heart aud purpose
" h Mr.. Clay stood Daniel Webster, aud then long
catalogue OF whig worthless who had too much con-
science themselves 10 dream that the universal whg
party could ever be induced 10 sacrifice the principles TO
which they had adhered for long series OF years,
through good fortune and through defeat, 10 the new idea
Of availability
But bya sysem OF tactics, not even yet fully under.
stood, march stolen upon The old sen,ines OF wbg
gerry, and The hero oil Buena Vista waved on the wh
banner. Clay was greyed aud dishearIened AMI Web.
ser, IN the bitterness oi his SOUL exclaimed thai the
inalion was one not III To be made Tie energy OF the
movement, and the popular enthusiasm, however, taught
them the uselesness oil resance and trusting that when
The popular storm should subslie tine and reflection
would bring back the party TO its old principles and rs
old leaders, the best they could do submit for the
time being TO be borne along by the resistiess tide
But II Webster was coercej into SUBMISSION to
The new whg platform OF availability" how were the
sturdy and honest making the rank and file oil the
party 10 be suddenly evoulionized in their feelings
and prendcesl Here a delicate quesion--a prob.
lem which none but Greeley could solve tie must assume
yfuOus Indignation al The political outrage pereTaed
by tbe nominating convention, aud thus hold The masses
ol The more conscientious wing voters IN suspense, wait
ng iof some new indication, tll in time might be gained
TO quiet conscience BY the scoring influence oil skfu
appliance OF every selfish consideration In due time the
great iactcian assumes sedae demeanor He
reasons bewllterlngy, and at length, with apparent
luctance concludes, on the WHOLE all things taken into
account, duiy prompts to the only available method OF
defeating The democratic nominee.
The Triumph oil Greeley's stralagem, as a necessary
consequence, resulted in constituting him. with his po
cal assocale--Seward-a sort OF political regency And
in this regency Messs Greeley and Seward have proved
themselves willy tactcans. Mr.. Clay saw through their
maneuvnng and anticipated their designs, bn could otter
no etiscBai resistance. lie bad already been made
political sacrhce on the altar OF availability, and he was
at length called from his earthly os before the
full measure OF his parys Ing alude had sparkled be
fore his eye, II has brmmed before that OF his
surviving compairiot
that his party would return once more 10 the path OF
political honor. He hoped-and the conscientious wings
ondy hoped-tha the whig party would rally on its old
principles, and stand by lis mightest leader in the
Baltimore Convention; preIelring the chances OF a
defeat, while honofably coniendIng for their own
faith, 10 victory 10 be gained By The Ia, Ii of y
selfish aud intriguing coalition. But not so with
Greeley and Seward. They had exulted in the
cess OF the former game, and they had found another
hero who IL is sail that Mr. Webster declares camel
be convicted before Jury of having been a whig
whose vanity ready 10 catch Al the bbe OF any
encouragement they could offer "Avaiabily' had
once ,rumphed and they did not see the dit
Gully when they had before encountered IN the con-
scenons senstlyeness OF part of their old partlsans
But the keen eye Of the New York regency din
Gully OF different character. Too well do they know
the character o the democratic party TO lose sight OF the
fact that they will not soon again, M any available
numbers be duped by whig straagem similar TO the
one the deaonpment OF which is before their eyes in
an enormously profgaie administration OF the govern.
ment What. then, is 10 be donel Why. think Greeley
& we can Afford sacrifice the of the South