Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-24

To the Editors Of the National htcltigcaceri
GENTLEMEN; When YOU published in your OK.
cellent paper the political letter OF distinguish
ed conntrymau, Robert G. Winthrop, you signal
lied the publication by your unqualified endorse
ment OF the authors sentiments, and bespoke for
It /" the attention of your readers everywhere.
Thus commended by your approval and enphas
lied by your eulogy have read Il with concern
corresponding with the solemnity Of the crisis, the
gravity Of the subject ard the national character
Of the writer; and had il been exclusively local in
Its object and effect could not feel myself per-
mitted to notice il otherwise than TO say that
concur with most OF il, and sympathze with the
fervid patriotism which pervades and animates the
whole of it. But as the Wing should be- and al
ways protested to be, national party, and az
therefore, IL must be the duty Of a Kentucky Wing
to do whatever it is the duty of Massachusetts,
Wing TO do on every question affecting the Union,
Mr.. Wnthrops address, ostensibly to the Wings
OF Massachusetts, must equally apply to all Ma
tional Wings in all the States
And he himself seems so to consider it, in re
cognisng, rs he does the Wings of Massachusetts,
as constituent elements of national party, and III
declaring, with admirable pathos he does de-
clare, that he would meyer give countenance to
any party which tends TO disorganization or dis
union" that he holds nothing within the range
OF political action to be paramount to the honor
OF Massachusetts and the integrity Of the Ameri
can Union" that he hoped that all Wings who had
separated would zone Of these days be found tlav-
ellng together again on the same old national
highway" and that the Republican party" with
which some Of them had fused, "had set the ex-
traofdinary example Of making up what they call
Republican platform out of Que narrow, section
al, anti-slavery plank This. seems like an inyoca.
ton to all Wings to reunitc on their ancient plat
form; and, In your Communications Of the entire
letter, you appear to put that interpretation upon
It, especially when You say a
ha pIicity nf TIA ula a,,l II. -
quence are well-calcuated to reanmate the genu- J
Inc Wing spirit wherever it may be dormar'
desponding. The organization to which ~ 0f
throp. belongs is truly characterized as win
ftoadf party; az one which rem consfifa7
claims contest upon a'- ..iiates and dis
the Constitution and ~ .agle idea, and regards
which would ~ -ae Union as above all else
perpetuata Ut risk its character or attempt to
fiSg~ lls existence by a rally Of the discordant
.,..ients Of other parties upon narrow section
ali-sue. In short, Mr., Winthrop's views are those
of a true statesman; and disclaming all sympathy
with the disorganizing sentiments Of agtators,
North and South the American Union being para
mount in his view, to all other considerations, he
has spoken the right mord IN tic right season.
In response to the sentiments thus uttered, with
but slight ground on the part of those whose edu-
cation and position naturally produce different
impression, every Wing heart, in every portion OF
the country, viii beat warmly and with redoubled
energy"
Candidly considering the spirit and context of
the letter and the tone Of your editorial notice OF
IT, am compelled to regard It az call on all who
have left the Wing party, rs well as those who nd
hero to il, in every section Of the Union, to re-
unite on the basis which the eminent author char
acterizes az [" the platform Of the Massachusetts,
Wings" And, thus regarding it. feel that it is
my duty as well as privilege, to suggest in brief
response, some of the reasons why cannot either
obey that call concur altogether with those who
stand on the " sectional platform"
On the fundamental doctrines of popular gov
eminent men have ever been divided into two
classes--one whose principles tend to unchecked
Democracy and Reorganization, the other to or.
ganc security and conservatism. These are the
natural parties in every Republics and, in all Time
those contradstincve qualities have characterized
and classified the antagonist politics under differ
er-lt phrases and titles shifting with accident and.
times. In our day and country these same ele.
ments have ever classified our people into two prn-
cipal parties, called Of late years Democrats and
Wings, more anciently known by other titles. In
the origin OF the constitution the same distinctive
principles divided the people into two opposing
parties, one against and the other in favor of its
adoption. Washington, our Pater Patria, was at
the head Of the latter; and in bis administration
and more emphatically in his Farewell Address,
the Father Of his Country" as think, illustrated
the true principles of American policy and union.
For the last forty years my political principles
have been essentially !" Washingtonian." Although
the Wing party like its antagonist sometimes con.
founded principle with policy and power with ex-
pediency, and in its decline, seemed to bow rath-
or too much popular passion, yet, as altogether
il was, in my Judgment, sounder and more national
and conservative than any other party of its day,
and approach more nearly the platform Of Wash.
ingtoD, was Wing, and in principle was an older
Wing, because an older man, than Mr.. Winthrop,
and, wAN either egotisn or disparagement,
may he 4 n nras hat hay avay ha.
50 consN ~ undertaking, and us dsin.erested.
Like him, court no preferment. | never sought
an Office, u1d have resigned several high places CT
public trust which had been conferred and decln-
ed many hono's which had been spontaneously
rendered. never gave a vote inconsistent with
my principles; nor have ever changed or compro
% missed any one OF them. Bat to uphold those prin-
cples have changed name and joined new
organization on a broader and more national plat.
form.
As an American citizen ] hold constitutional
union to be the first and congenial nationality to
be the second OF all American objects, and the
principles essential TO such union and nationality
the most important Of American principles. can
not, therefore, join any sectional organization, nor
remain in any party longer than | consider il to
be soundy constitutional and thoroughly national
Ia its principles and aims Leaders of the Wing
party, at last, catching the the contagon Of popu-
arity, began 10 degenerate, and as II mpaed by
a morbid sef-wiil, many seemed inclined 70 follow
in the footsteps of their spoils-hunting competitors
until finally they had become discordant aud too
'clansh. Considering the party tself as donation
allied by the sectional stritcs OF its leaders felt
that it had thereby become emasculated and hope
lesa, otherwise than negatively, of national power
or national good. Consistently with my principles
| could not remain longer spell-bound by a tradi-
ilonary name, il could hope for another organi-
zation more national In its spirit, and more com