Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-04-09
Good Advice to an Old Line Wing.

Hon Mordecai Oliver, of Missouri, elected
to the House of Representatives as a Wing
on being arraigned by the Liberty Tribune
as deserter from the Wing party, has re
piled in a long and scathing letter He says
that when the house met, three parties unfurl-
cd their banners-the Democratic. the Know
Nothing, and the Black Republcan-but the
Whig banner was not there OF the Know
Nothings Mr. Oliver writes;
"The Know-NJthing party cxuits in the
ruin of the Wing party, boasts of having
DESTROYED it, SANDERS it in It's grave. and then
demands (if ! understand your article arieht)
the allegiance and support of the few survi-
wing Wings The powerless patriot might
be as justly accused of treason for refusing to
swear allegiance to the conquering invader of
his country, who had exterminated his race,
as Wing. for refusing fealty to the usurp-
ing organization which boasts of having the
blood Of the Wing party on its head And
here let ne observe that the KNOWN Nothing
platform has not even one single plank-the
know-Nothing creed one single article-of
the stern stuff of which the Whig platform
md Wing principles were composed. Though
Known Nothingism ~ has arisen On the ruins "
of the Wing party, it has not made use of
the stalwart timbers which bore it. and its
varying fortunes for so many eventful years.
At present these treasures lie neglected, .
waiting the hand of some mightier architect
than even q Sam" who built the fabric of
Known othingism in one night. Elected as
a Wing, | emphatically reject the new test of
Known NothiDgism and even if the majority
of those whose suffrages gave me a seat in
Congress have subsequently, joined the order,
and adhere to it, I deny their right to try me
by an ec-post tacto law"
Mr.. Oliver comes down Oh the doctrines of
Known Nothings in plain talk. He says
6 should he wanting in candor if [ with
held my convictions regarding the peculiar
doctrines of the Know-Nothing party These
doctrines arc qualified or unqualified hostility
to naturalized foreigners and Catholics, native
and foreign residing in the United States
Speaking simply as an American citizen, |
deem those doctrines absurd and perncious,
and If Incorporated into our laws, (Which
cannot be, however } fruitful of great evils
If Catholics be traitors, the proof Of their
guilt is not to be found on the pages of oar
history, and no vote of mine shall help to
make them traitors by branding them with
that opprobrious epithet. ] shrink from pro-
nouncing three millions Of men periurors and
traitors, without being able to allege one
over act in support of the appalling accusa-
ton"
Mr.. Oliver urges the Clay aDd Webster
Wings to join the Democrats in the following
way:
81 Do they want encouragement? IF they
do, let them hear the words of their own
loved, veneratcd Clay at Lexington, in 1850,
anticipating the ruin of the Wing party as
national organization. In substance he said
Whenever the Whig party shall become
merged into miserable sectional abolition
party, I will renounce it forever, and in the
future act with that party, regardless Of its
name which stands by the Constitution and
the Union Now, there can be no doubt of
the fact. that the Democratic party is nation
al: and [ assert my conviction to be, that it
is the only party in America that can over
throw abolitionism, uphold the Constitution
and the Union, and that it will do 50 if all
truly national patriots will pnsheath their
swords and rally under its ample banner, with
the high resolve to conquer, or to fall all gIo-
ricusly on the field Of strife