The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-05-25
From aie Cfereiand Daily Forest City
The Late whig Party.

The 0yerw 0etmtng route sustained Dy the wing
party last fall crushed it. Under its old organiza-
ton and name it can recover possession of the
Government. 1t organized in 1929. eliminated in
1910, and fell 10 1858. At the election of Gen.
Harrison it reached its utmost altitude. His
death was the sigal for its decline. The apostacy
Of Tyler crippled its energies. The equiyocal
attitude of Clay. inls44s the slavery question,
created dstrust. discord deserton and defeat, al
though the struggle with its great antagonist, was
close, doubtful and desperate.
Four years later national convention assem-
bled at Philadelphia. nomination was made un-
derinsense excitement, and stern protest, and The
convention adjourned. embittered and ferocIous
towards each other. The anti slavery excltement
grew stropger, more rampant and formidaole.-.
When the campaign closed, the whig ranks were
further fhinned BY free soil deseItion, and demor-
alized weakened and aenatedby the causes which
produced the schism, The party however was
victorious, opponents had also lost by division, feud
and insurrection in its ranks. But its intestine
quarrel was only personal, and therefore Temporal
ny. The breecL Immediately healed; but with
the wings it grow out Of great vital principles
The desertefs neyer returned. but set up for them
dent restored confidence in the shattered ranks of
the party in The North but sowed discord in ths
South. He died during critical and exciting
period, while party was arrayed against itself on
the slavery question. His successor repudiated
his policy and threw himself into the arms of the
South, prescribing anti-slayery wings and reward
ing pro-slavery locolocos and silves greys. He
sought to make the perpetuity of the Union an
issue, and saving it test of party featy. He
triedtobnild up Union, party mannedby whigs sand
oficered by locotocos. New planks were intro
duced into the party creed. The fugitive law
became the touch stone, and woe to him who re-
fused 10 swallow it. But the scheme miseratly
fniied. @
Instead of allaying agitation, feeoneiling alena-
ted friends, reclaning stray members and healing
the f,nliy quarrel, the politely of Mr.. Fillmore
.-sasy deepened the wound, widened the breach
loosened the party cement and demoralized the
whole organization.
The representatives ofthe party met for the last
time in national counsel at Baltimore. Jealousy,
bad blood, suspicion and autagonism mani Tested it.
selffrom the moment they met. A desperate and
prolonged contest ensued. The anti slavery was
pi.ted against the pro-slavery wing. Nhe South
carried the platform and the North the candidate
most unfortunate result. Neither wing wns sat-
ished. Scott was repugnant to the South. The
platform was odious to the North.
Each section rejoiced not over what it had gain
led, but grieved over what it had lost. The party
went into the campaigu dishear and apatheiic.
"a considerable division of our Northern forces re-
go tl-x ,lck
form. They fired their pieces for Hale. Anoth-
er class Of Northeners-the cottonocracy and silver
greys-eiiher deserted outright to the enemy OF
threw away their ammunition on dead lion. In
the South the work of insurreciien, treason and
desertion was equally alarming and general. In
several sonthern States the day against Scott
by default. The old whig party seemed com
. plstIy broken up aud dissolved.
With the route of the party its possession Of
the Government passed into the hands of its OPP
sponenfs. The great center bond that held it to
gether. during the last campaign is therefore brok.
zen. The interests of some, the pride of others,
and the affection of large masses for its nationality
caused the old guard to make a last desperate
effort TO maintain i;s ground against foes withoul
and traitors within. A Waterloobattel was fought
and w ateri0O defeated suffered.
New issues, new organizations must spring ur
hereafter. Old appeliations will die out. The
contest about principles, has virtually ceased.-
The only tangible difference between the old par
ties is, that the Democrats have secured wha
the Wings have lost-the offices; and the masses
who neither hold, seek or desire them. repar,
Office holding with profound indifferencs. O,
the Tariff, Public Lands, Improvement of River
and Harbors, State Rights, Slavery and all othe
prominent topics of agitation and disputes politi
Clans array themseiveson opposite sides withou, h
slightest regard 10 their party relevancy. Part,
names mean nothing, point 10 nothing, aud ar
only the memorials Of past conflict
Both the old parties have lived long enough
They i1ure become petrifactons, fossil remaius 4
once living bodies. The Democratic party he'll
together during the last four years, because it ha
no line of policy, no responsibility. no unanimity
principles. Its various factions pursued their re
speetiys courses. without let or hndrance N
test but name. no object but spoil was require
from it's yotaries. But these exotic factions an
fag--ends are 10 possession ofthe ship of State
A different coursemust be stated,a tangible line
policy must be marked out. The whole party mus
toe,he scratch. This can be doneby falling back o
conservative ground. = The various progressiy
ideas entertained by fragments of the party mu
be dropped or else the party will be rent assunde
by intestine feuds, and tumblsd to pieces by di:
cordant forces. Already the administration ha
f4llen back onthe ground iatey occupied by FIJI
more. The government has changed bands' br
not policy. There are new rulers but cid rules
lks same tame IRON new hddte. ~
asses F-