The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-20
THE WING PARTY.


The New York Express twhg) thinks it rather oIninous
Of the fate Of the whg party the old whg States
which the homes Clay aud Webster il has been viz
tuay abandoned the whig in Congress from Mas
saohusets having deserted the protective system and in
Kentucky refusal having been made cali whg State
convention"
II is certainly 'ominouss when Massachusetts,
sending to the Senate Of the United States who
are committed the overthrow Of the very constitution
they have obey aud protecthat constitution
in defending which, in the last years of his life Daniel
Webster acquired immortal renown We seek in vain for
similar spectacle till the home Of Henry Clay.
There we find that Mr. Carrot Davis who resides in the
district which Mr. Clay long represented in Congress- is
industriously organizing know-nothing party in tho
hope Of making himself President of the United States
Henry Clay and Daniel Webster the leaders Of the
whg party They for many years the conspic-
nous and formidable opponents Of the democratic party
and its doctrines They made the wing party national
Upon one question they often enabled to do good to
their common country and that resisting northern
and southern extremists Their example did much TO keep
down INSCRIPTIONS in the whig party and to keep
back sectional schemes always less cherished BY
their northern adherents Mr. Webster when he threw
himself against Massachusetts, intolerance accomplished
mighty results singe-handed he resisted and pat
his own organization He raised up champions to
help the good cause and when he Stood like giant in
the midst Of the tempest abashed and patriot
ism triumphed. Their Everett Choate Winthrop, Ash
num- did fear 10 do right Then there were New Eng
land wing papers that corned and scoed the abolition
lists But when Webster died. he said himself the days
of the wing party numbered 1t too, if his
captains and generals into the grave with hnlso
silent they been from that sad day But he left
the stage the leaders of abolitonsm long lurking in the
back ground came forward and took their places
tiers of the wing party and at this day they rule with
high and daring hand. Such the value of ONE
great party and such the weakness Of that party when
it lost him.
Henry Cays death has been followed by results scarcely
less extraordinary 1t preposerous to suppose that the
whig leaders Of Virginia would have dared to sell them
selves society he alive their leader and
their oracle Nor would the whole South be with
midnight cabals led by wing politicians. He would see
his duty in such crisis, and discharge it, Especially
would his proud soul revolt ut the sight of his party in
the South trucking northern aboonists and tradu
cling the only men in the free States who stand by the
rights Of the South But he is gone and the spirit of his
party seems to have gone with him.
Great necessary this retrospect shows, to
every party, and especially to party that cannot boast
any enduring principles But the democratic party is
strong ITSELF because the seeds of its being bear perpe
ual fruit and wholly die Defeated at present
in several of the great States it maintains its organization
in every State county, township school district of the
Union and is defiant of disaster and regardless Of
minority as ii is confident of ultimate success.