The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-09
THE MOVEMENT.


combination of Wings, Free Democrats, and
members of the Democratic Party Disguised
by the pro-slavery policy of the Administration.
To this combination, the name, Republican, has
been applied, as to permanent Party. But,
the question asked, both by those who favor
and oppose it, is, can it be considered perma-
nent Party? VIII the diverse elements com
posing it, now that the elections are over, and
no immediate occasion is offered for its united
action, cohere, or fall apart under the reaction
of old afiinities? Do the masses Of Wings and
Democrats, who have been brought for once to
act together by a common feeling of indigna-
ton against the Nebraska outrage, understand
clearly enough the necessity of organizing a
permanent system of measures against the
Slave Power, to induce them to continue their
alliance, and to fuse themselves with those who
have been hitherto designated as Free Demo
Gratis, into Party, which, while neglecting nc
interest of the country, will always regard the
issues between Freedom and Slavery as of par
amount importance? AS matter of fact, such
a Party is organized in nearly all the free
States. The Free Soil or Free Democratic or
ganization is substituted by the Republican
Party: but will the majority of those who have
been acting with it, and secured it unexampled
triumphs, continue Republican" or be hence
forth known again as Wings and Democrats?
Southern politicians of all factions predict
short life for this formidable political combina-
ton. The Washington Union points with com
placency to what it styles the true Democratic
Party in the free States, overwhelmed for a
time, but still united and determined. Let the
storm of passion pass, and the " sober second
thought" of the People will bring back the
deserters from It's ranks, and again restore its
ascendency. Such is its hope.
On the other hand, the Washington htelli-
gencer secretly congratulates itself that the
Wing Party has yet name and an organi-
cation in Massachusetts,, New York, and
Pennsylvania. A nucleus is thus maintained,
around which, in the tranquillized future, there
may be q rapid accretion of Wing elements,
which will be separated from the discordant
materials with which they are now fused, until
once more the country win be blessed with a
National Wing Party. The following extract
from the Baltimore american shows with what
confidence the Southern Wings calculate on a
of the old Wing organization:
"Whilst we have regretted the completely OF
Wings in these fusions, we have viewed their
conduct moro in the light of concessions to the
exaggerated feeling of hostility to slavery occa-
h. ho of oh 10 rs
the evidence of determination to push to an eX-
IRENE the existing sectional excitement. With
that view we think the action Of the Congress OF
1866 will be far from meeting the expectations
of the ultra anti-slavery men who are now crow
ing so Justify in the hope that their most violent
measures are to be unhesitatingly affirmed. We
have at least equal faith, and far more hope i'll
the succeeding Congress, than in that which will
assemble in December next. Opposition to the
Administration rather than to the South will be
its prominent aspect, and the South, by stu
diOusly refusing to introduce any exciting issue,
will have it in her power to control the course
of events in a larger degree than may at this
time appear possible"
Unquestionably, the conduct of the Wing
leaders in the three States named, has given
eounfepance TO these speculations. The Balti-
mdres 4msricdn remembers, that many years
ago the Wing Party of Massachusetts,, through
a State Convention, took as decided Ant-Sla-
very ground as at its last Convention; and yet
that same party subsequently followed the lead
of Daniel Webster, acquiesced in the COmpro-
mise of $780, and voted for a Presidential can
ddate pledged to the extreme PrO-Slavcry pol
pf no Rol4 Yla pf
remembers that the New York Wings were
guilty ofsimilar gross inconsistencies and that
what has happened, may happen again. 1--WE
view their conduct now more in the light of
concession TO the exaggerated feeling of hostility
to Slavery. occasioned by the passage of the
Nebraska bill, than as the evidence of deter
mination to push TO an extreme the existing
sectional excitement" The refusal of the New
York Wing Convention to entertain any propo-
sition in relation to the Fugitive Act, and the
peculiar nOn-committal language of the resolu-
ton respecting the admission of slave States,
merely asserting a right, but forbearing to de-
clare duty, give countenance to the views of
the american.
The effect of maintaining the Wing organi-
cation in Massachusetts,, New York, and Penn
sylyania, will not, we fear, be confined to those
States. Its tendency will be to keep alive Wing
prejudices and sympathies in other States and
to retard, if not prevent in them a complete
fusion of parties.
We but glance at the donbts that hang over
the Future. Let us look at some of the en-
couraging indications.
Many of the most influential journals of the
Wing Party are committed to the policy of a
Peoples Party, or the Republican movement.
The Keaaebec (Me) Journal Classics the
members of the Legislature as Republicans
and Locos, or Administration men, remarking
"The tern Republican has come to have a
well-deiined meaning, and informs every one
that the person thus designated sympathizes
with and belongs to the new fusion movement,
or Peoples party, that is springing up through
out the free States, to resist the encroachments
of Slavery and maintain the rights of the North.
This name has already been adopted in this
State, to some extent The county conventions
of Franklin, composed of the Wings as a BODY
the Free-Soilers, and Morrill, men, are united
into one party under this name. In several
other localities in this State the name has been
adopted by town and representative caucuses
and several Of the leading newspapers have
recommended it,
In another article, going into the subject
at length, after estimating the proportions OF
Wings, Free-Soilers, and Democrats, who voted
for Morrill,, constituting the Republican Party
it proceeds
at would seem, therefore, that no Whin
need to be very much alarmed to find himself
in such company, or ashamed to array himself
cordially under the Republican banner, or fight
mantully for the principles which are inscribed
on Its folds. And when we consider