Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-25
THE RICHMOND WING AND sARATO-
GA CONVENTION.

The Richmond Wing says that the Saratoga
convention was an assemblage of northern peo-
pie without distinction Of party-that it was
not gotten up as convention of Whigs-and
that it was not composed of Wings more than
of Democrats. The Whig makes these state
ments in order to counterfeit the efforts, which
il says, have been made in some quarters to
produce the impression that the Saratoga con-
yention was composed exclusively Of Wigs.
II such efforts have been made they cannot
be sustained The Saratoga convention was
not composed exclusively Of Whigs; but any
one who has watched the process of selecting
delegates to that convention, and scrutinized
their action at Saratoga, must admit that pc
cular responsibility rests upon the Wing party
Of New York. 1t is true that the call for the
convention was general, and without distinc-
ton of party but, then, prominent Wings ad
of New York to send delegates to it. Free
sellers and Abolitionists responded to the call,
in company with an insignificant number of
unsteady Democrats. No prominent Demo
crat had any agency in the matter. The pri
mary meetings we're composed principally OF
Wings, and members of the Wing party pre-
ponderated greatly in the delegations and in
the convention.
The proceedings Of the convention we're reg
ulated BY the Wing majority, and the action OF
the convention was shaped and moulded b,
prominent Wing leaders. The resolutions
which were adopted were reported by Horace
Greelv, leading Wing editor; and the only
amendment to them that was even considered,
was the one which was adopted on the motion
of Mr. Raymond, another leading Wing editor
of the Seward school. The Freesoil and Abo,
lition elements undertook to report resolutions
and to offer amendments; but they were over
whelmed by the clamors of the Wing majority,
which succeeded in arranging every thing &C
cording to its wishes.
1t is clear, therefore, that although the Sara
toga convention was not composed exclusively
Of Whigs, yet the Wings of New York are re-
sponsible for the success of the attempt t.
convene such body, and are responsible for
the fanatical character of the resolutions which
it adopted. It was wing scheme, designed
and charried out by the followers Of Senator
Seward, the design being to gain freesoil and
abolition support, and to paralyze the silver
grays by adjourning to the 26th of August
until after the meeting Of the regular Wing
State convention. When the regular whig
State convention meets, the silver-greys will
he told that they must sustain series Of fanat-
ical resolutions, and consent to the nomination
of regular anti-slavery ticket, to prevent
the formation Of Fusion party. Then when
the members Of the Saratoga convention re.
assemble at Auburn, they will be told that the
regular Wing ticket and the regular Wing plat
form are thoroughly anti-Nebraska; that they
cannot possibly hope to accomplish anything
without supporting the " big nominees; and that
oil win be lost If they make separate nomina-
iona and construct new organization. Some
of the duped fanatics may object, but their
objections will avail nothing against the Wing
majority which viii control the Auburn conven.
ton.
This is the real character and true purpose
Of the Saratoga movement. II was and is a
Wing scheme and the Richmond Whig is
mistaken in saying that the convention was no,
composed of Wings more than Of Democrats
There may have been a few recent backsliders
from the Democratic faith in the Saratoga con-
vention but we do not know Of any. The
names published by the Richmond Wing to
sustain its assertion, belong to members Of the
old Freesoil party--to men who abandoned the
Democratic party in ls4s, erected the Buffalo
platform and thereby caused the election General
Taylor to the presidency. The national Demo
Gratis Of New York held their convention some
time since, and, without hesitation or division
endorsed the Nebraska bill. 0fcourse they've
not even included in the call for the Saratogs
convention for, although the call was withou
respect TO party, il was only addressed TO thos'
who desired to press the repeal Of that portion
Of the Nebraska bill which repeats the anti
slavery restriction Of the Missouri act. Tn,
national Democrats were not therefore invited
-
col. BENTON AND THE PRESIDENCY
The defeat Of Colonel Benton and his part
IN Missouri, has drawn from his freesoil friend
groans OF gony. All the anti-slavery journal
Of the north have come forward TO expires
fearful regrets, and to offer heartfelt condo
lence. They say that great man and an emf
nent patriot has been stricken down, for hi
fidelity TO the cause Of freedom and some Q
them declare that he must not be suffered to re
main fallen. They want TO pick him up, set hin
On his legs, and enter him for the next Presider
tial race. They say that hois as nmble and a
strong as ever he wns, and as for his virtue
they vow that no ancient Roman was NOR
pure and more incorruptible. As will be seel
by the following resolutions he has been for
mally announced as candidate for the Presi
dency:
We learn from the Argus that at the anti
Nebraska meeting recently held in Canton, s,
Lawrence county preston King ofFarad a.