Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-30
THE STATE OF PARTIES.


The following article from journal whose opin-
ions always command respect and attention. presents
a clear and, brief as it Is very comprehensive
view of the present state and feeling of the Wing
party:
!" The Wings Of the country are now calmly look
ing on at the contests which are raging in various
quarters amongst the members of the dominant
party These contests have commenced earlier than
we expected they would, and confined to no
one State The true course and policy OF the Wings
sufficiently plain to be generally acquesced IN
Upon the election of the new President they deter
mined to make no factous opposition to him or his
measures, bat to treat both with kindness and for
bearance. In doing this, however, we believe they
have abated not one ot or title of their determine
ton to cling to their and their principles and
to give them on all occasions firm and unfinchlng
support = any thing, we imagine, the W higs are
more united and more determined now than ever
they were Defeat has not disheartened them, be-
cause they are convinced that upon the mainte-
nance of the doctrines they espouse the welfare of
the country in great degree depends and the tenn
porary of politicians holding different views
cannot destroy the vitality of those doctrines. They
feel il, therefore, to be duty to themselves and
their country still to @lly unaar +he WIS a-e, .nd
still to trust IN goodness of their cause, and OF
IT'S fina trinmph--no matter what reyerses it may
occasionally encounter. The fire of persecution
never yet depressed the zeal of convinced that
they were right; nor can the disaster of Presden-
tial campaign destroy the ardor and constancy of
the Wing party. D-4lerandria Gazette
Just now, when our Democratic contemporaries
are singing TIE Deums over their recent escape from
Wing domination, or chanting funeral dirges, some
times little affected and perhaps little premature,
upon the political decease of the Wing party when
they join in congratulations upon the arrival of the
Millennium, when all the world are being gathered
into the harmonious fold of original democracy, it
may not be amiss in US mourners for the departed
to recall what the meaning of the word Wing is,
and SO in some sort TO pen line of its history by
way of an eptaph, and also to refresh the recoec-
ton of those who may have forgotten what the
origin of the abused appellation
We are informed by Ash, in his dictionary, that
the word Wing is derived from ,ehiggam, term
used in Scotland in driving horses ,ohiggamor, one
who drives horses. In 164s, a party of these peo-
pie marched to Edinburg to oppose King Charles
and hence the name was bestowed upon the party
opposed to the Court At first they did not recog-
Mise term applied CONTEMPORARY by the adherents
upon them from its use'by their opponents, and af
forwards by its association with brave deeds and pa
triotic sentiments for it is well known that in the
long struggle in England between the prerogatives
Of royalty and the rights of the people, those who
supported the Kings claims to divine right and to
arbitrary rule were denominated Tories, while the
Wings advocated an extension of popular rights and
If
sures. How the struggle between kingly and popu-
lar rights terminated it is unnecessary for us to
relate
So Ear, then, the Wings have no reason tn he
ashamed of tho n-ssia q .Aair -Anne nor nf their
predecessors who bore it. word will suffice to
remind all under what auspices and in support Of
what opinions it crossed the Atlantic to America.
From the inception Of the war of the Revolution,
the friends and supporters Of armed resistance to the
Kings power and in defence Unpopular rights, were
called Wings, and those who espoused the side of
the King and the Ministry we're called Tories.
Thus, in those stormy times, the Wings proved
themselves to be no recreants from the virtue and
courage Of their Scottish predecessors.
Were it appropriate at this time, we might pro-
coed to show that vince this same term has been Of
late years adopted by one Of the great political par
ties in this country, that party has been animated
by the same spirit Of opposition to the one-man
power; opposed to every attempt to trample down
popular rights and the public will, whether openly
or nsidiously; opposed to every scheme to subvert
the laws of nations and the laws Of the land and set
up in their place any fanatica aspiration or lawless
desire which may spring from corrupt ambition or
thirst for dishonest gain. And finally this party
has aimed while pursuing the paths Of peace, jus
tice, and national honor, to develop our riches,
elevate the national reputation, and, cultivating to
the full extent unmatched resources for great
ness and happiness to follow the road of wise pro-
gress to the command Of the worlds respect and ad
miration, through the Of enterprise and hon.
esty, private achievement and public virtue
The Mint purchases bullion at the following rates the
return TO be made in the coinage now issuing or in
gold:
:" For dollars Of Mexico, Peru Bolivia Chilli Brazil
(restamped and Spain for francs for silver coin Of the
United States other than the three cents the price paid
will be Sl.2l an ounce gross"
The Philadelphia and Baltimore Railroad Company i
preparing to proceed with erection Of bridge
over the Susqushanna river survey is already in pro
ess for the purpose Of ssceranng the best point for is
location
Judge LEGRASD learn from the Baltimore sun has
declined to accept the Office Of Solicitor Of the Treasury
uvna "A 4. n.