The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-18
From the Harrisburg Union.
The Doctrine or Availability.

In the nomination of General Scott the wings have
again reaflrmed the doctrine OF g availability" They
have sacrificed honor. friendship. prncplesin fact.
everything that IS vauabeto introduce another Mex
lean hero before the people to captivale them with
the glory OF arms and blind them 10 his unhtness
for civil ONCE by the success il not the brancy OF his
military exploits In 1870, they brought out Gen Harri
son, but he bad served the country in several civil
paclles and had al least idea OF the duties he
70 perform fatal honor for him! The wing office
hunters worried him to death In 1874, they tried an
eminent statesman--one whom the whole country ad-
miIed, and to whom the wing party was deyoedly at
tached That campaign was contested upon principle
and the glorious democracy triunphed. Conscious oil
their weakness, the wings nominated In lS4S the hero OF
war they bitterly opposed The war was popular
the gratitude of the people elected him, Fatal honor to
him. Ii is said that he died OF cherries and cold milk
And no doubt the physicians affixed learned name to
bis disease, but the wing office hunters worried him 10
death. They gave him no peace day or night.
He confessed his unhtness He surrendered his power
TO his cabinet ocers and pretty business they made OF
IT, Clayton commenced schemlng for the succession and
Crawford and Meredith set 10 work 10 page the treas
ury. In 1852 they had Fillmore and Webster before
them. The wings united in commenting Fillmores ad-
minstraon He had endeavored to suppress the slavery
agitation. He rebuked the Bostonans when they sue
cessfully resisted the law He made great buster with
the law in vain TO punish the Gorsuch murderers. He
was IN favor OF maintaining the law-he friend OF
the constilullon-he was a Union mamie acquiesced
in the inaiy of the compromise measures, He
was all the wings wished. and yet they laid him
on the shelf. Then there was Webster, with his
splendid abilities and undoubted patriotism Against
the abollonists Of his own State he raised his potent
voice. They rejected him from Faneuil Hall, but he
rose to subimiiy before the people He entered the
field and North and South his powerful logic and mag.
nj cent eloquence used to bring back the aenated
affections OF the people Of the Union But they laid him
on the shelf too. Why this done Is Gen. Scott
the choice OF the intelligence OF the wing party They
were convinced that with Fillmore or Webster they
would stand no chance because the campaign would be
fought upon principle but they had times past succeed
ed with "coon skins and 'hard CIDER" and Trough
and Ready, and they hope again 10 succeed with ''old
hasy,' with the aud of the '.soup boys"
What is 10 be the fate of this government? Is il 10
continue AS blessing to unborn ages, is it TO perish
another evidence of the instability of all human systems
Every four years it takes new life from the voice OF
mighty and still growing people. By the judgment oil
the people the destines OF the Union committed 10
one man, who, il he chose, could destroy the Union
Let not sleep ancied security and suppose that there
is danger from mans ambition corruption During
the late slavery agitation the Union shaken to lis
centre. Some men proessed no apprehension because
| they wished for dissolution; the thoughtless tel
none; but where is the intelligent who does no
know that the fabric trembled TO its foundation
The surrender OF principles TO mere availability ind
well TO analyze 1t maness tendency to that genera
immortality which has preceded the downfall of re
publics Men support principles from conviction anC
patriotism but if they indifferent about principles
they only stimulated by love of office, lust for pow
interest and dollars, the OF dissipation profit
gacy, and vice.
To guard liberties from encroachment is the frs
duty of freemen. sincere devotion to principles is thu
of saety-for he who does what he thinks
TO be right, will hesitate change his opinion fol-
the good OF his country.