The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-07

consent to be drawn. Now, what maintain IT,
that those men who do the work, and submit to
the sacrifices, and give and receive the hard blows
in party conflicts have claims upon the party for
whatever emoluments and honors il has to bestow
do not mean that any party claim can compen-
safe for the want Of proper qualifications faithfully
and diligently to discharge the duties Of the of
flee TO which a citizen may aspire; but what
mean ia, that where there are such qualifications,
| the men who have mingled in the party contests
are to be preferred in the distribution of official
| stations. Fidelity TO its own members is an in
gredient in party organization indispensable to il
existence. Let any party strike out this principle,
and declare that individual services and sacrifices
give claims upon party for preferment and
it will coon see that none will perform services and
| make sacrifices for it, The avowal of such de-
termination by any party would be annuncia-
| ton of its dissolution. Es- E..-,'. ......
Thus far, Mr.. Editor, we do not, am sure, dis
agree. But now propose to make personal ap-
plication Of these remarks. The w hig party dis
regarded the principle to which referred in no :
minatng General HARRISON and rejecting Mr..
CLAY. We succeeded in electing our candidates,
but the Wing party was weakened; its power for
accomplishing great objects by force of its organ
cation was diminished. Careful observers the
result, and depored it. In 1914 the pristine vgor
Of the party restored by the nomination of Mr..
| CLAY; the exertions to elect him were powerful
| they were healthful--they were invigorating; but
the party was defeated in the State of New York
owing to causes not necessary TO cnumerate. But
after that election the party united and never
| better able to do good service to the country.
Then came the nomination Of lS4S of General
| TAYLOR. In making this nomination, the princi
pie of party fidelity sacrificed; General TAy-
Lon had no claims whatever on the Wing party
With deep reluctance the nomination accept.
ed by the party; and again, owing to divisions in
the Democratic ranks in the State of New York.
the Wing nominee was elected. This nomination
| relaxed and weakened party ties, and produced
hcart-burnngs and distrust .
Now we come to the nomination of June, 1852,
by which General ScoTT's name was put before the
| country.
Three names were before the convention. Cen
| eral SCOTT was always nolninally VINO, but
clud ed by position from taking any part in party
conflicts. Mr.. FILLMORE was the actual President
Mr.. WEBSTER and Mr.. CLAY, for the last twenty
years, have been confessedly the leaders of the
Wing party-doing the most service-giving and
| receiving the hardest blows in that service. Mr..
CLAY was not in condition to be candidate; and
Mr.. WEBSTER, therefore, the man entitled
upon party principles to receive the nomination.
| years of public service had rendered him the
greatest American statesman, and the old
| est and most conspicuous Wing then the
stage of action. Neither of his competitors could
compare with him in the amount and value of
services he had rendered his country and the party.
| II not doubted that Mr.. WEBSTER deserved the
| nomination he had worked long, assduously,
and faithfully to deserve the honors of his party,
and to qualify himself for the highest distinction
that party could confer upon him. He has gone
with unsurpassed ability through the various pre-
| lminary official grades. In the natural course of
| things it the last time his country could re-
ward him. Under these circumstances his claim
was rejected be was thrown out and laid on the
| shelf. a.' .'."..
| Now what affirm, with great respect, ID that
this act, proving that infdelity to party obli-
cations is not temporary, but the settled rule, vir-
tually dssolves the Wing party. No man fit to
counsel, to guide, ard lead that party will ever more
connect his fortunes with that party. 1t ia ended
If General ScoTr is elected, ts existence may be
prolonged in dying state, but it is nevertheless
to die If General ScoTT not elected the party
ia not only ended but disgraccd; it can never more
hold up its head under the name which it has long
| borne with honor and with pride.
| What will follow Precisely what was intended
by those who have deliberately placed the party in
this position. There will be Freesol or Abolition
party established as the great party of the free
| States, and another party in favor of Southern
Rights. This is a certain consequence Of the pre-
sent state Of things. leave it to others to suggest
the remedy, if indeed there be any remedy. To
me it seems that the case to irremediable.
The Wing party decides that party services
and sacrifices, however great and distinguished,
can be rewarded by the highest honor in the gift
of the people; the service entitled to that honor
must be performed in the camp. The CLAWS and
the WEBsTERs of party, if any such there shall
be, must be content to have the highest aspirations
of their ambition gratified by an appointment I'm
der a military chieftain But there will be no
CLAWS and WEBsTERs in future time; there is no.
thing to excite and crafty high ambition in the
| path of the statesman.
What prompts the soldier on the field OF battle to
the highest deeds of daring for bis country? Pr-
marly, of course the love of that country but the
desire of official promotion is, all know. not
without powerful influence in producing the re-.
suits. The army is organized body for the
protection and defence of the country; but let it be
understood that deeds of valorou5 and high emprise
are not to be rewarded by official promotion, and
| how efficient will your army be? What conques is
| will it win? We must deal with men as they are.
General SooTr has done great military services
for his country; he deserves richly deserves, the
| position the head OF that army, which he holds;
| l was in favor Of creating higher position-the
office of Lieutenant General-that he might be
promoted to it. Suppose provision had been made
by law for that Office, once filled by WAsHlNeToN;
and then suppose that the President and Senate
had, upon consultation, come to the conclusion that
DANIEL WEBSTER, as q reward for his civil SER
vices, be made Lieutenant General. How would
| the Conqueror of Mexico have rclished that nomi.
naton' Very much, l imagine, as the greatest
statesman of the country would relish his nomina.
ton to the Presidency.
| am very much afraid that my friend General
scorr, in the event supposed, would ask-"Where
| shall go?" And if he could answer this question
satisfactorily to himself would decide that he had
served the country as long patriotism required,
and was at liberty to resign.
| As to Mr.. WEBSTER himself, nothing becomes
him, in my judgment, but profound silence. What
can he say? 1t is poor consolation to tell him that
he is too elevated for the Office; that the people