Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-15
"DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND OR THE
NORTHERN WINGS We. THE FUSION

"DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND OR THE
NORTHERN WINGS vs. THE FUSION
lists.
The subject that chiefly occupies the atten-
ton Of the northern journals, is the approach
ing Saratoga convention" the object Of which
is to combine, amalgamate, and fuse into one
political organization all who oppose the Ne
braska BILL favor the repeal of the Fugitive
Slave law, and desire to check the growth of
what the abolitionists delight to call "the
slave power" At first the idea took wonder,
fully. 1t spread like an epidemic, and grew
like SNOWFALL. 1t promised so much to so
many people, that it won general favor.
Broken-down politicians, who despaired Of ever
being recruited, revamped, and revivi6ed, have
most magically risen up from their graves.
They rose as suddenly and miraculously as did
the dry bones of the valley at the word of the
Prophet. Broken down organizations, refreshed
by the same hopes, have sprung up with the
same alacrity, and bounded forward to that
great fusion that promises rewards and honors
that these old organizations have no longer the
power to confer. Wings we're among the first
to sing hosannahs to it. The freesoilers re-
garded it with degree of affection that they
could only feel towards being sprung from
their own loins. All unsound politicians of
every clique, coterie, hue, and stripe, looked
forward to it as great paradise, in which they
were to be happy for ever more.
One of the first to approve and commend
the fusion was the Albany Register, leading
wing paper of New York. A few days glided
by-the Register had, no doubt, awaited itself of
those days to reflect and consult with promi,
nent wings, and it withdrew its support from
the meditated fusion. Although its objects
are at present precisely the objects of the free
sellers, it became alarmed lest, the fusion being
formed, the abolitionists and freesoilers should
get the ascendancy and carry off all the plum
der. Presently another wing paper backed the
Register in its new position, then another and
another, until now the wing press ofthe north,
as a general thing, repudiates the Saratoga
convention. They declare that the wings have
nothing to gain but everything to lose by it.
The Register was mild, modest, and cautious,
wherit first renowned the Saratoga conven-
ton. But few weeks have emboldened it
even to high degree of temerity. 1t speaks
in its last issue in the following brave terms Of
the much talked.of Saratoga convention:
From present Appearances this convention
viii be made up Of exceedingly varied and in
congruous materials. Motley" will be the
word we opine when the convention shall come
together, that is, always supposing that the
delegates generally attend. There will be a
stormy time too we venture to predict. The
reconciliation of opinions such as will be repre-.
sented there, will be, if such thing shall take
place, such an exhibition as the world has never
yet witnessed. There will be all sorts fpoliti-
cians all sorts of religienists men Of all parties
and all sects and ofal colors, except such rs are
said to have been recently discovered in the
interior Of Africa, whose complexion is blue,
we do not think they will be represented, though,
doubtless a good many people will look some.
what blue before the convention adjourns.
Philosophers of old, we're looking for ages
and looked in vain for two things, first, univer-
sal solvent that should resolve every metal and
every stone into gold and second the elixir of
life that should prevent the young from growing
old, and restore the dilapidated and failing ener.
gies Of age to the vivacity, the beauty and the
vigor ofyUuth. The political and religionists
who conceived the notion Of the Saratoga con-
vention seem to be acting upon the same princi.
pie with those ancient philosophers. They ap-
pear 10 think that they have discovered in the
antl-slavery sentiment, not only the universal
solvent that shall resolve all the various polti-
cal theories and opinions however discordant
into one, that shall, in the moral and political
world, be what gold is among the metals, but
also the elixir of life that shall put renewed
vitality into and restore TO q healthy vigor the
dilapidated fortunes of broken down and effete
politcians-and this convention is called for
the purpose of trying the experiment Of the
efficacy of this wonderful discovery. We of
course do not intend to calculate the result, but
if the experiment succeeds it will be new
thing under the sun; whearas, if it fails, il will
not be the first humbug into which sensible
man have been unwittingly drawn, and the ex.
plosion Of which has astonished and mortified
them"
That will do pretty well But, now that it
seems TO be understood, that the northern whig
party, as a party will not 60 into this fusion,
and is indeed beginning to ridicule and abuse it,
we would respectfully inquire in what its su.
perior pretensions consist. The wings, by con.
fession, have the same objects in view that are
professed by the fusionists. They both desire
to repeal the Nebraska bill, and the Fugitive
Slave law, and to inhibit by congressional in
the extension Of slavery into the |
Territories. They have precisely the same oh.
jects, designs, and purposes. Again, while the
northern wings are averse to merging them
selves in the fusion, they are cleverly endeavor-
ing to decoy the fasionists into their own ranks |
Should they succeed, they viii then be in the |
ascendency and viii have the disposal Of the
spoils, should so unholy an alliance be yicto.
rious.
The only scruple that the wings feel is
scruple about giving up their old name. They
think that the name fwhig is more respecta.
BILE and attractive than that Of fusionist and |
that by retaining that name they will be en-
abled still further TO deude and impose on the
Ubioa Of the soutb Tho northprp yvb;,s no