The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-01
THE POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE WING
PARTY.

The time for the National Wing Convention
is not yet fixed Some doubt whether such a
Convention will be held at oil but we do not
agree with them. Politicians at Washington
may hesitate the party is decided Many
State Conventions have already appointed
delegates, and the Wing Press seems unani-
nous
AS to the candidates, there is less trouble
from personal preferences than we find among
Democrats Only three are mentioned-Fill-
more Scott, and Webster, and their friends, are
severally forbearing towards each other, stu
diousy avoiding comparisons calculated to pro-
woke incurable animosities To this remark
the letter of Mr.. Clay furnishes an exception,
expressing, rs it does, doubts of the ability of
either Webster or Scott, to discharge the du-
ties of the Presidential Office with Il wisdom
and energy equal to those displayed by the
present Administration.
All three substantially occupy the same posi-
ton in relation to the Compromise and Fugitive
! Law, only that of Gen. Scott not having been
demonstrated by acts, or defined authoritatively
by his own words, has enough uncertainty about
it to give him the benefit of doubt in the
eyes of those Northern men, whose maxim is to
choose the least Of evils. For this reason he
is the flvorte of the Northern Wings, as Mr..
! Fillmore is of the Southern Mr. Webster is
not the first choice of either but in the event
of a fixed disagreement between the two sec.
| tons may slip into the candidature.
The fear that Mr. Fillmore might be utterly
rejected by the Wings of New York, is all that
throws cloud over the prospects of his nomi
nation. Could the Convention persuade ITSELF
that he would have at least an equal chance
with the Democratic candidate, of obtaining
the vote of the State, it would nominate him
With Fillmore or Webster for the standard
bearer, the Wing party could go into the Presi-
dental contest without any platform Their
acts have not been done in corner No words
could make their principles and policy better
known than they are. The South could trust
them--tbe North could not deceive itself in re-
lation to them. The supporters of either would
by that act demonstrate beyond doubt their
loyalty to the Compromise and Fugitive Law.
But Southern Wings are anxious for success
Patronage has almost as many attractions for
them as principle. They cannot shut their
eyes to the fact that these, their special favor
ties, are of doubtful political standing at the
North-that probably neither could command
the full Wing strength of that section. VIVA,
shall they do Accept General Scott? The
politicians would not hesitate, but could they
rally the masses of the Southern Wings in hi
support And what to them is more import
ant, could they maintain their own position II
home, under such leadership! With Scot,
underlined and unpledged, as Taylor was
never But give them a platform satsiactor
to the Slave Power, let the General plant him
self on that, and they would be safe Con
sulting Southern sentiment however, the
might divest their candidate of his strength i
the North, and so lose all that induced then
to accept him in the place of Fillmore or Wei
stcr.
Meantime an attempt is to be made to sat
isfy the South, by indirect information concern
ing Gen. SCOTS opinions which, it is hoped
may disarm the jealousy of one section wthou
provoking the displeasure of the other In Con
gress there are Southern men, who affirm posi-
lively the adherence of the General to tn,
Compromise and no Northern member denies
it. There are Southern newspapers that dc
the same, and no Northern newspaper dene,
it, The most explicit testimony we have is thai
of Washington correspondent of the Nash
UiHe Banner, which we copy from the Balti
more Sun.
GEN Scott and The Compromie-The Gen.
erals Position Dcfned-A Washington cores
poudent of the Nashville Banner recently haG
an interview with Gen. Scott who, it is alleged
is indignant at the charge made in some OF
the newspapers that his position in regard I,
the Compromise measures ~ ambiguous. Ac
cordng to this writer, Gen Scott in his q
yersation with him, said
" How can any one doubt my past OF present
support OF the Compromise measures Did
not, at the first meeting of the friends of the
Union held in Castle Garden, New York, pub
lciy proclaim my approval of them AIT q
period, too. when but few in that city adyo
Gated the proprcty of their adoption. Anc
immediately after my perusal of Mr. Clay,
first great speech in their defence, made in
the Senate OF the United States. did not ST
down at my residence in the city Of New York
and write u him in substance as follows
! 81 have, in my day and generation Tough
battles which have gained for our common