Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-16


much unjust censurc from the adhcrcn1 Of tina
party. am not 80 nsrnslble 20 public opinion
to permit the attacks which have been made
upon my motives 10 pass without notice.
fou, la this as La every other instance In which
have attracted public notice, have treated ms
courteously, and though, doubiloss, many ana.
llgn Suggestions may have been made TO you IN
regard 10 me, you have ab~tained from impcach.
ing my motives or attacking my course. have
no paper, however, IN the State 10 aid or defend
me, and no cabalistc couDcils--ia Wora combi-
nation-to promote my interest and secure my
election.
Your very useful paper ciroulaiss extensively
in my district, and am induced 10 believe that
you will with pleasure afford ma the use Of IL
columns to set forth some 81 the reasons BY which
am governed in pursuing the course have been
compelled, by sense Of duty, TO adopt.
! am non, sper, wing, deeply convinced Of
the conservative tendency and influence Of wing
principles. The more ! study them, the more
thoroughly am satisfied that the principles Of
government which Henry Clay always main
tanned throughout his long and glorious career
are tho true principles Of our Constitution. and
must sooner or later prevail over all opposition
The greater portion Of my life has been spent in
defending these acknowledgements fcebly, yet
most earnestly. In times Of prosperity TO our
cause / have r,joieed; in times Of adversely
have mourned; but never have dreamed Of de-
serting the sold paths" Of political safety, and
that would not support and carry out the political
faith of our great republican Ihig fathers.
No, sir; am SO welded to the doctrines OF
Washington and Clay, SO determined TO defend
them to the last extremity, that, come what may
to me personally, will adhere to my position
and defend my coIors though all my former COM
rades shall flee Or fall, and ''feave me solitary
and alone, amdthe jeers and taunts OF my OPP
ponents.'
lam aware that the wing party is now dis
banded, but wing principles and wing measures
are not. on that account, less dear To me. On
the contrary, / cherish them STILL and urge their
adoption and support upon others with the
greater zeal and earnestness because of the dam
ger which threatens our country.
We are threatened in every section with ruin
by the influence of factions and the triumph OF
combinations which are founded upon dogmas
repudiated by or unknown to our fathers.
Abolitonism and notification, the offspring Of
the different extremes of the Union, are now in
harmonious combination at the North; and the
conservative people of the South are invoked,
under deusive guise, to join the unholy alliance.
We are told, in language as deceptive as pau-
sibe, that it matters not what mans political
principles are-whether he supports wing mea-
sures or democratic measures-ifhe will only join
the neo party he shall be supported for Office as
the friend Of "American principles" Now
really, this looks little too much like ''putting
. on the turban and turning Turk for the sake Of
tered except upon principles? and are not either
wing principles or democratic principles right
fusion Of different politics and different poll
tciaHs in the democratic party has long beeD an
objection urged to that party by the wings. But
now il seems we are called upon to Join in an
effort to out Herod Herod, and win the bad re-
nown of carrying the principle of combination
further than it has ever been carried before in
order to obtain office. Verify, can acquiesce in
no such movement. That there are good con-
sentative men in the democratic party none can
doubt. And it is equally true that in both parties
there mere time who aim more at per-
sonal promotion than at the good of their country
Now, if we look to the leaders of this new organ
zation we shall not fail to perceive that some Of
them arc such as have often changed their party
relations, and taken position where the chance OF
promotion was best. is it not little strange, my
dear sirs, that /, who have never, in or out of
Congress, deserted or renowned one single wing
prnciple--who have always adhered to the for
tunes of my party-should be read out OF the
communion now by certain ne,cly-constituted ex-
Founders ofwhig orthodoxy, while such gentlemen
as MIR. ]. B. Sheppard, Mr.. VIM. X. Kane, and
Mr.. David Reid are received into full fellowship
and made leaders by men with whom they have
no political principles in unison' Has Mr.
Sheppard ever renowned his democratic creed'
Has MIR. Kane' or has Mr.. Reid' Not at all
SO far as am informed. Then, how can they
be regarded as better worthy of wing support
The new organization have often published to
the world as one of their principles that they
pudiate the doctrine of availability in the selection
of candidates for Office. How, then, does it hap
pen that in democratic districts they have thus
far in our State selected democrats, although
wings belong to their party' Ifavailability is no
part Of their creed, then why not nominate know
nothing wings in the Edecomb and Wake dis
trictsi
Pure as they profess to be, scornful of the cor
ruption of the old parties, it does nevertheless
seem that though on purity they are bent, they
shave frugal mind" and resort much to
araiiability TO obtain office any other party.
But secret, political oath-bound associations
are always dangerous to liberty, and can never
be justified in free country. The Jacobin clubs
(secret political societies) ruined France at the
period Of the first French revolution. Lafayette
distinctly charged them with it, and all the world
now admits the business of the charge. Yet they
called themselves the only true Freachnien, and
put all to death who did not agree with them,
when they had them in their power. Republican
liberty, under the auspices of Lafayette, dnwned
upon France, and for a brief season illumined
the political horizon with the brightest hopes. In
an evil hour secret societies like those now
sting among us) were established, and by their
dreadful influence liberty destroyed, and
upon its ruins the reign Of terror arose; which,
while il lasted, filled ~he uorld with consterna-
ton, and France itself with blood, and tears and
Democratic clubs were formed III our own coun-
try during the Administration of Washington,
and but for the sublime moral courage and re-
sistless influence of the Father Of his Country,
they would have forced us into a war with Eng
land, and into all the frantic schemes of conquest
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the leaders Of the French
revolution.
Washington has warned his countrymen against
such societies in his Farewell Address
Some of the objects aimed at by this new party
approve. ] am now, and have been for years,
opposed 10 the influx of foreign paupers and
foreign criminals into our country have already
made that manifest by my course in Congress.
But will not consent to any system or policy
which would exclude all foreigners from our
shores. The good shall never by me be indis-
crminately prescribed nth the bad. When an
oppressed exile from land Of despotism is driven
upon our shores, if he be a man Of virtue, will
receive him with generous hospitality and well
come him now, our forefathers were wont to
welcome such, TO the "land Of the free and the
asylum Of the oppressed"
N