The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-09-30

81 Kneg-N aaAna.n., q Gallan, zsnn, July :. lss5

them upon the kind invitation OF the committee 10 unite
with them in the ceremonies OF the day and to commune
with them freely that subject which now constitu-
ted the leading topic of the day have embraced the OPP
The state persons who are believed 10 belong
nothing party have endeavored make the impression
that connected with the order, or at least sympa-
thized with them In their purposes or objects
What need had iellowctzens, to enter no secret IN
tgues and midnight cabas for the formation Of anew POI
litieal party2 had been united in close ana intimate
connection with the democratic party from tho period when
the of General Jackson first connected with The
presidency was in the legislature OF 1922, when he WAS
first nominated and concurred in IT, WAS there and in
toduced the resolutions of 1927 renomnatng him for that
high Office after be had been beaten by John Quincy
Adams fought under the banner OF that party through
both terms of the Jackson administration, through that
of Mr. Van Buren,, of James X. Polk, and far through
that of Franklin Pierce Thus Identified with the demo-
cratic party for than quarter of century, and hay
ing devoted TO it the prime OF my life expanding as much
of my labor and perhaps any other ON
the stage of action in sustaining it against all attacks
pey again repeat the question, what need had TO desire
the formation of new party? Not surely any dis
satisfaction with its principles and doctrines for had as
sisted in the formation and had the honor to report the
very platform which President Pierce was nominated
on which he was elected and which, notwithstanding
some complaints the distribution of the patron
age of his Office he is noby and periodically administer
ing the great and important concerns OF the nations
platform sound conservative and NATIONAL that the
late Philadelphia Accommodating convention compelled
pay to it the reluctant homage Of quoting some OF its
precise expressions and shrink from rendering any
issue the democratic party either the principles of
their platform the greatest subject OF the day on the
laion under it, So far from rendering any such issue
they expressly declare that it the best guarantee Of
common justice and of future peace to abide BY. (he
very words used in the democratic platform at Baltimore
and in Tennessee) sand maintain the existing laws the
subject Of slavery. passed mainly by the democratic
party in Congress after many hard strugges final
and conclusive settlement OF that subject in spirit and
substance What high and unbounded compliment to
the democratic party Ito that party which Jefferson
founded which jackson settled and matured, which Polk
illustrated by long series of brilliant achievements and
which franklin Pierce and bis cabinet zealousy and
faithfully endeavoring to perpetuate.
Now, there are two three things IN connection with
this Substituting, midnight movement that have chal-
lenged my especial surprise The first is that amy
democrat mot disappointed ofce-sceker) should have
thought of deserving his party the ogits highest
Triumphant moment when it had survived, not 10 say
subdued all other partesat moment when it had
ried, and was still carrying the country to such pitch of
prosperity to make it truly the wonder of the whole world
Why il looks to like soldier deserving his army after
all the battles have been fought and oil its victories have
been won! DESERVING not in the dark and bloody hour
OF conflict but when the loud notes of the anthem "Ie
DeaD' Laudanaus proclaim all danger to be passed. and
that nothing remains but to the vctors with unfad-
ing laues And yet there is another spectacle still
stranger than this 1t is that any democrat mot dsap-
pointed oce-seeker aforesaid for of him take
count but as Of mercenary SWiss fighting only his pay
that Democrat repeat after reading the pro-
eeedngs Of the Philadelphia know-nothng convention
aScerainDg the number prescnt-from what States they
came-how many lodged voting at all-how many openly
seeded and rebecd against the patform-how many
those who, by their absence, permitted the platform to
pass only to hoodwnk the southern men, Who even
having voted for it, have since returned home
and given the platform such construction as to
admit the repeal Of the fgitive-slave law the Kansas
and Nebraska law and the rejection of all States which
shall tolerate slavery. Any democrat who will look into
all these facts and who will then turn and read the
broad and plain admission that if the know-nothngs
should into power they would feel bound establish
the same principles and to maintain the very same laws
that the democratic party have enacted the great and
absorbing questions of the day. and then not instantly
Withdraw from this midnight faction, and return his
own better and mehonored party hold TO be fatally and
irretrieynbly lost
But there yet third spectacle that challenges our es-
pecia wonderthe readiness with which the members
the whg party have either actually entered into this
scheme, stood silently and approvingy by without
word Of open rebuke or opposition
s'Pleased to the last, they crop the Aow'ry food
And lick the hand just raised to shed their bloodl'
They saw two Of the know-nothing papers dsputinc
whether man might not remain wing and yet also be-
come know-nothing No. said he, who finally became,
par excellence, tie official organ serve two
masters. He must be either the the other. lie
cannot be both That know nohingsm was making its
grand advent into the world strike down and super
sede every other party that it emerging from
the chaos and corrupons of both of the old political
ties The corruptons of both the old political parties
1t was democrat, turned to be know-nothing who
made the FOUL insulting charge. TWAS whig meamor-
back this Parhan arrow into the camp of his former
rades and yet to hsgood day wing known who
stepped forward to rebuke repel the ca4ge The
same idea ebodened by mpunity is to be found in
~ every organ and knownohng speech of the day until
it may be safely assumed the general sentiment and ar
gument Of that party that the corruptons the old par
ties have created political necessity that they should 90
down in their rottenness and that the party
should rise pure and replendcnt their ruins Had this
charge been made by of party whose position
might raise presumption that he might know something
Justify his accusation would have permitted single
day pass head without the rebuke and
the most explicit denial Coming however, MS it does
from former wing editor who does not know and never
did know fact to sustain his charge against demo-
cratic party do not choose to let the occasion with
out entering distinct and emphatic protest against he
charge. For the age in which have livedor that yip-
orous but yrtuons western population with which have
associaedfor that noble and honorable with which
have Acted protest that there is no. one word Of truth
in the accusation For thirty yeers have been familiar
with the caucuses conventions resolves and other pro-
ceedgs OF the democratic party in its national action
IN the State OF Tennessee and affirm Of honor
that never Knew proposition to be submitted to the
consideration to be sanctioned by the democratic par
ty, which, if now fully published the world would not
stand the test of sound and healthy morality. do
pretend to doubt that many of the wings could make the
solemn averments about the action of the whg par
~ its caucuses conventions, and other party consulta
tons. only express my establishment that they have
not yet done my astonishment that warm
and devoted friend has yet forward to res
cue the fame of Hugh Lawson White, Mr.. Webster
and Mr. Clay from this bold charge of corruption in the
wing party; my establishment that living statesmen, who
wearing the senatorial honors bestowed upon them
by the whg party, should have demanded rcaxt OF
tbe cbarua of my establishment that the ipai
Yidual members OF the wing party, whether
country aspiring TO party honors but still jealous OF
their honor and integrity men and wings, have
forward and denied this charge of corruptonhat
they have not said to these nownothng organs