Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-01
The Wing Party.

ity IN name may become extinct; but the
great principle, opposition to an overshad-
owing Executive, which gave il being, must
! survive, while true Republicanism has 20.
tary Richmond Wing.
I'VE copy from The American:
TRIUMPH OF WHfG PRrNcIpLE.-The
speech of the Hon. Mr.. Stanton of Tennes-
see. delivered before the Young Mems
Democratic Society, of New York, Is a dis
|tinct recognition of the original principle
upon which the Wing party was founded.
There are those, we are aware, who regard
the Whig party as reaching back to aperiod
Hhen it was identified with what was, IN
1.-THE classification Of the day, called federsf-
ism, but such supposltion has been always
Iccntradicted by the circumstances under
which the Wing party Of 1882 took its name
and organization. The reason for the name
was an exposition of the principles ofthose
who assumed it. The men who opposed
1.-The proclamation and removal of the depos-
Iits-who condemned the doctrine of pro-
scriptlon for opinions sake-were united by
single principle, that Of restricting the a.
buse Of Executive power. 1t is obvious,
that since Federalism consisted in an hon.
est belief that anarchy was more dangerous
than consolidation, and that The Federal gov.
eminent was entitled to the benefit of all
constitutional constructions as against the
States or people it must follow that no mem. :
Der of that party-eyen if its organization
had not been destroyed by the Munroe fu-
sion-could have joined party for the lin
itation of Executive power without at the
same time surrenderng the doctrine Of the
Federal party. The platform Of the Whig
party was Republican. twas the platform
Of Magma Charta; Of the Judges of Charles
Stuart; of the pilgrims oil Plymouth OF the
Hast gun at Yorktown. Years have passed
the original principle of Wing organiza-
ton has been forgotten except by few
Stimulated by ambition or inspired by RI
valry, its leaders may have combined with
its sole and heroic doctrine certain meas
ures in their opinion essential TO the pros
perlty of the people. They may have ad.
vocated these measures until in the heat OF
the conflict, they have perhaps lost sight OF
| their peculiar and original principle. They
triumphed in the force of that principle
They held at bay the most popular man this
country has ever known, armed with the
whole patronage of the government. In
the name Of Limitation and reform they tri-
umphed over his willy and venal successor.
But then came victory with its usual effects.
The administration could not effect those
radical changes in the distribution of pa
tronage, in the surrender Of power which
all felt to be so necessary. The policy of
the country settled itself upon systems ad-
verse to those recommended by the Wings.
At the present time, the Executive-or the
Regency--so far forgetting the restrictions
of the Constitution as to interfere in the 10.
cal affairs of the States, removed a public
officer for contumacious refusal 10 surren-
der his own opinions. and execute the will
of those from whom he drew his salary
Instantly, not only the Wing principle, but
the Wing spirit, arose in the bosoms OF
those who were thus prescribed for opinions,
and who were thus required to be the min
ions of Executive will. Bronson, like Du-
ane, threw off the livery of Office, and re.
nounced the wages of servitude. OCon-
nor avowed the same opinions that had lost
Bronson his appointment, and demanded
his own removal. A strong party OF disln.
terested and patriotic men rallied against
the principle of Executive dictation, and are
now determined to reduce that Department
of the Government within the limits assign
ed it by the Constitution. The speech Of
Mr.. Stanton is distinct vindication Of tie
Wing principle to which We have referred.
It SAYS the Executive is arrogant the Ex-
ecutive is oppressive; the Executive is
faithless; the Executive has violated its
pledges. We say nothing in relation to
General Pierce, who happens to be the pin
upon which the Executive mantle hangs at
present. We are neither surprised or graf
flied at 1t. If all be true as charged, we
would rather forego party triumph than
rejoice at the dishonor of our country
But all these things have ever been the char
acteristics of the Crown. No people were
ever free who trusted to the discretion Of
"a single person" as the Ironsides Of Crom-
well used always to call the Executive
We may fancy, because our Government
is called ''a Republic" that the abuse of
Executive power is impossible. Mexico
has preserved the name under every form
of despotism anarchy, and bigotry. George
Washington and Martin Van Buren, have
|, administered our Government-Aaron Burr
came within one vote Of filling the same
station.
The great object of every political con-
ventlon is to discover some nominee so OBJ
scure that his opponents can find out moth
ing against him. What guarantee is there
that some future President may not like the
Pratorian nominees of the latter Roman
Empire, be weak, faithIess, and ignorant,
and that after dishonoring the nation BY his
deeds, it may be compelled by force to ex-
pei him from the high place that be occu-
pies? We are therefore gratifed to per.
ceive the manly condemnation of the Exec
with him. Whether thsy are right or wrong
matters comparatively little. They have
shown the courage to defy the power, and
to despise the power of the patronage ofthe
Executive. This augurs well for constitu-
tional liberty, and although Mr.. Stanton
says "that he can see clearly why Dem
ocrat cannot be Whig," and "knows no
reason why patriotic Whig may not be
Democrat we can tell him that whilst We
may be inclined TO reverse the terms Of his
proposition, We cannot see how either pa
triotic Whig or Democrat can avoid being
a Republican, and in that character oppo.
sing every violation of trust and restraining
every ALTERATION of power.
@- "Dear sir,' said a gentleman 10
hard drinker, edo stop TOPPING or you will
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