Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-02
THE SILVER GRAY WINGS.

Some uncertainty has been manifested with
regard to the course which will be pursued by
those New York Wings who object to the ultra
ideas Of Mr.. Stewards friends. These gentle
men have been called the Silver Gray Wings,
and have been more conservative on the sub
ject of slavery than the rest Of the New York
Wings. They first exhibited themselves dur
ing Mr.. Fillmores administration by sustaining
him against attacks for signing the Fugitive
Slave law, and for his efforts to execute that
law.
But It has always been difficult, if not an
impossible task, to make anything like an esti-
maze of the SiversGray forces. In the begin
ming of their career, their delegates abandoned
the Wing Convention because Of resolution
which sustained Mr. Stewards course during
the compromise discussion which resulted in
the compromise measures of 1850 The Sill
yer Gray delegates acted, on the occasion we
refer to, under the lead of the Hon. Francis
Granger, and held meeting after their seces-
sion, which meeting called new convention.
That convention met at the time appointed
but it did not nominate separate and distinct
ticket, nor take any steps to form separate
and distinct organization. Since then it has
been known that there were moderate men in
the ranks Of the New York Wings who did not
wish to sustain Mr.. Seward or his followers,
but the number of them has been matter of
dispute; whilst the fact that they never have
made firm and decided stand against the
will of the Seward majority, has made it doubt
full whether they would ever summon up courage
TO do so.
Lately the Silver Grays Of New York have
resembled the Webster Wings of Massachu
sets. They have made no decided manifesto
ton by taking up fixed portion or by adher-
ing to definite platform. Since the passage
of the Nebraska bill change has been pro
ducsd in the North, and as Mr. Fillmore has
remained silent, and his former friends have
their old adversaries, there is a very general
belief that they have succombed, and have al
most if not entirely, disappeared. On the
other hand, many Of the Southern Wings main
tain the belief that they have not succeeded,
but that they viii use their diminished num-
bers to aid in beating back the threatened ir-
ruption of fanaticism. 1t is possible, perhaps,
that the Southern Wings may have some rea-
son for this confidence which is entitled to
more logical weight than can be accorded to
the lingering influence of former affiliations.
We cannot share in that confidence, although
we trust that our doubts may be proved to be
unfounded, by some visible and tangible result.
Since Mr.. Clay's death, We see but scant traces
of the Clay Wings, except in the Sodth and
West, although the Kentucky orator was re
garded with unbounded affection by the entire
Whig party. Since Mr.. Webster's death, the
Webster Wings have disappeared, although
the MASSACHUSETTS statesmen was regarded as
the Expounder Of the Constitution throughout
New England. Seeing these things, we fear
that Mr.. Fillmores friends cannot, or will not,
attempt to make head against the dangerous
spirit which has infused itself into all the ex.
isting Wing organizations Of the North. Even
when Mr.. Fillmore was President Of the United
States, they did not maintain themselves in
the State OF New York. New questions have
now arisen, and new combinations have been
formed. about which even Mr.. Fillmore's senti-
ments are not publicly known.
Under such circumstances, we cannot he
reasonably charged with improper prejudice or
unnecessary suspicious, when we express our
fears that the Silver Gray party has permitted
It's forces to disappear for want Of an effective
organization animated and made formidable
by firm and uncompromisng spirit In six
DAYS the New York elections will take place;
and as vet we have not seen the evidences OF
any concerted action against any Of the New
York wings to resist the combination Of factions
which has been made in that State with a view
TO the formation Of great sectional party. We
hope however, that we have reasoned badly in
This matter 1t would afford us sincere pleasure
10 know that there are multtudes Of Northern
and Northwestern wings who will aid in protect
ing the Constitution against the mad and dan
gerous spirit which is now abroad. If our
wishes could control our Judgment, We might
be convinced that the Silver Grays OF New
York constitute a considerable portion Of the
wing party Of New York, and that they are
animated by the stern resolve u make their
strength felt on the right side in the approach
ing election and throughout the pending crisis.
As german 10 the subject Of the foregoing
remarks, we append the following letter, which
we find in the Albany Express Of the Both Of
October. The editors Of the Express introduces
it by saying that they received it from a gen.
tleman who assured them that it was an au.
tbentic report Of private meeting, Of promi.
nent Silver Grays, held in Albany during the
last week. The letter is as follows;
"MR. EDwARDs:--The New York Herald,
and a number Of other papers in this State,
have been specializing Of late with reference TO
the actual position and probable action Of the
National Wings, or Silver Grays, as they are