Washington sentinel., 1853-10-16
From the Celt of October 81

simultaneously with the democratic party the
opposition TO Jackson led by Henry Clay, Daniel
Webster, and others less eminent, took the name
of Whigs--the party term for the patriots of the
War of Independence, when the American loyal
lists were called Tories. On his death-bed, Mr.
Webster predicted the death of the whg party, on
the 3rd of March, 1853" saying apparently justi
fled by the facts. The old national and high tariff
party bank certainly is dead and its living repre-
sentatives, though they may bear the name of their
fathers, are very different men.
In lS4z an event occurred which wounded,
dangerously, if not mortally the old democratic
party. That event was, the nomination, at Buffalo,
of Martin Van Buren for reelection president,
and of the son Of John Quincy Adams, for vice.
president. Our more recently naturaliZed readers
may not know that Mr. Van Buren,, the elder, elect
ed through General Jacksons influence in 81 and
defeated by General Harrison in 40 was set aside
by his party in IA for Mr.. Polk and in AS, for
General Cass. Failing once of reelection when
nominated, failing twice afterwards of nomina-
tion, Mr. Van Buren was nevertheless desirous to
serve second term president, and apparently
resolved either to be elected, TO prevent any
other person of his party from being so. Hence,
the Buffalo convention and platform of 1877, and
the consequent tri-party struggle of that year But
the malcontents were not confined to any
party. In Massachusetts for example, some Of its
chief accessions, like Mr. Henry Wilson, athe
Natck CobblcF,n We're from the whig ranks, while
there and elsewhere certain ultra abotonists like
into ''frecsoilers." Thus, between the odds and
ends Of both parties, and of every faction this pie
bald hobby was begotten, and so, with Van Buren,
and Adams AT the reins, Hale Seward, and a
Douglas, on its lank and convenient back, il made
the tour of the greater part of the Union
As To the choice between the old whig and dem
ocratc parties we have nothing to say. If we
have written more Of the latter than ofits rival il
was in order 10 show, by contrast the Improperly
OF forming third party under the old name, and
the dangers TO be apprehended, from the bad prin-
cples profcssed, and the untrustworthy leader OF
that third party.
understand it, is that prirafe judgement Gke Re
test Of aics, and ,chosoerer feels he o5ey a,c
Of congress, ought TO resist H. AT first sight this
looks like necessary consequence of democracy
and SO II would be of dfsorganfsed democracy.
But there IS such thing among us as a Constitu-
non, which even democracy must obey there is
also, thank God, a religion, which educates many
in obedience 10 the laws; there is besides in the
hearts OF most men, vital reverence for the illus
trous ancestors Of our liberties and laws. While
these powers exist upon the continent the Partisan
democracy OF the freesoilers never can overspread
the land Still, they have adopted a taking princ-
pie principle fiattering TO human pride and pas
SION, principle long abroad in the world, and
which mistakes its own echoes from the hollow
places of civilization, for the applause and adhc-
SION OF the age Most naturally did Hale and
forestl, Mezaros, and Cochrane, meet and frater-
nize on the same platform Anarchists are not
aitogether incapable of union among themselves
nay we nave very high authority for believing,
that there is a sort of union and harmony even
in hell.
In our humble opinion the most serious danger
70 be feared from Freesoism is that il must