Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-03
TROUBLE IN THE wIGwAm-THE
NEW YORK COALITION.

prepared to expect--a strong and bitter resent
ment towards the unprincipled managers who
brought together in fraternal harmony the
Wings and Abolitionists of the Empire State.
It evidently thinks that the Wing party has
been sold by its own chosen nominees, Myron
ID. Clark and others, to the Saratoga Fusion
lists. No sooner were these candidates nomi-
mated by the Wing Convention, than they de-
clared their adhesion to the Fusion platform
by accepting the proffered support of the Fu-
sionists, under that platform. The Courier re-
CARDS this as fraud. 1t asks:
"Who absolved the Wing candidates from
their allegiance to Wing principles and Wing
policy as set forth by the Wing Convention
which put them in nomination? What polit-
cal morality is it that permits representative
trust to be thus pitched aside at pleasure?
How is this conduct to be reconciled with the
rules of good faith as ordinarily apprehended?
Are we to understand that this is party ma
nGuvre? Shall we set it down as one Of those
doings which willy men call stratagem, but
plain men trick? Is the success of which the
Tribune speaks--the whole State coming over
to our side'-is it the reward of a betrayal of
old established Wing principles? Was this
success an inducement to the candidates to
nn-Whig themselves by joining hands with
! those who would, if possible, sink the Wing
party out of sight forever? What concord
ought there to be between genuine representa-
tives of Wing principles, and w. G. Bryant and
John Jay, committed What league can be
made with such men that can be called Wing
league, or what alliance that can be called
Wing alliance? What issue can be decided
with these candidates that can be called a
proper Wing issue? What victory can be
achieved that can be claimed as a Wing vic
tOry2
"Under the management of our candidates,
we have practically in this State the same flu.
sion of the Wing party with the Freesoiers as
has been carried out in Vermont. The Wing
party, if their act is sanctioned, virtually parts
with its identity; it merges itself into larger
and different combination. This never could
have been effected in the convention itself
where all shades Of the party are represented,
without most serious trouble, if at all; but it is
now, as it "a hoped, accomplished through the
independent action of the candidates, without
disturbance or obstruction. We do not care to
conjecture what the result may be, or to test
the actual basis of the hcoes in which the Tn
Dune exults. We are not 50 easily dazzled as
our neighbor; and success, even If we could be
assured oft, could not blind us to the sacrifice
Of principle. Circumstances may perhaps
make political misconduct gainful, bit can
hardlymake it respectable. Ifthere is any virtue
in principle, that virtue sticks in dark promise
as in bright promise, in adversely as well as
in prosperity. AS for ourselves we recognize
the true consistent stable Wing sentiment in
the Wing platform of resolutions set forth at
Syracuse, and there we mean to abide. The
candidates may drasc off TO other ground, bat
noe shall not JolloD.p
We would not willingly do injustice to any
journal, but we cannot help suspecting that the
Indignation Of the Courier is not occasioned
SO much by the turpitude of the transaction,
as by the probable loss to which il viii subject
its party. One sentence in the above extract
from the Courier is suggestive and significant
tits that in which it says: The Wing party,
if their act (meaning the act of the Wing can.
didates) is sanctioned, virtually parts with its
identity IL merges itself into larger and
different combination" This is, no doubt, the
key to the COurier's indignation. 1t is unwil-
ling TO see the sceptre depart from Judah and
the law-giver from between her feet II is un-
willing to see the Wing party placed under the
dominion of the Fusionists Of Saratoga, and
thus lose, even in the event Of victory, the dis
tribution Of the spoils. 1t is unwilling, too, to
see a change made in the name of its party.
The Courier undertakes to state the differ
ence between the platform made at Saratoga
by the Fusionists, and the platform made at Sy-
racuse by the Wings; and claims for the latter
a moderation not allowed to the former It
says:
"This heterogeneous, gathering Of Adolf
iionists, Democrats, and Wings, adopted a Sc
ries of resolutions not only eondemnatory Of
the repeal Of the Missouri compromise, but
pledging itself 10 certain future action, 10 wit |:
an incorporating resistance for all time TO
an addition TO the number Of slaveholding
States. Five weeks afterwards, the Wing con-
vention met and unanimously adopted series
Of resolutions likewise condemning the Ne
brasia BILL but framed expressly so as not 10
pledge the party TO any positive course in refer
ence to new slave States; thus leaving the party
20 decide at discretion on each case as it should
arise
Now this is all moonshine-there is no real
difference between the two platforms. Both
conventions were animated by the same senti-
ments and influenced by the same motives.
They were both alike completely abolitionized.
The acknowledged Abolitionists at Saratoga
were bold enough to express themselves in un-
mistakable language, while the Wings were so
sneaking as to use language intended to de-
ceive, but which has signally failed in doing SO.
This is the only difference between the two
platforms.
If the Courier was deceived, it must have
been innocent even 10 childishness, and unSus'
pecting even to imbecility. Where we're its
eyes2 where its political sagacity and foresight
Every body butthe Courier knew that the Wing
convention so constructed its platform as to
satisfy the Saratoga Fusionists and the whole
band Of Abolitionists. Everybody knew there
was an understanding between them. 1t is
therefore simply ridiculous 10 bear the Courier
talk ut this late hour about mutual privity.'