Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-09-19
WING National Convention.

We give to-day, portion Of the speeches at
the Wing National Convention in Baltimore, and
the final proceedings, with the exception of the
resolutions which we published yesterday under
the telegraphic head:
REMARKS OF Mr.. BATES.
Hon. Edward Bates, on taking the chair, re-
marked that this was great day, and he hoped
il might not be belittled by his presence as the
presiding officer of the Convention. 1t had been
said that this was the anniversary Of the delivery
of Washington's Farewell Address; and he con-
fdently believed it was the day Of the regenera-
ton, and reinvigoration, and regeneration OF the
glorious old Wing party. We had been called
old-line Wings, and he was not exactly sure whe-
ther that was was not correct designation;
for his own part, he would not call himself ttne
but dot, full point, period laughter T.
whenever the proposition was made to him to
abandon the opinions of the fathers of the repub-
lie, and adopt the new-hnged inventions OF the
! present day.
| This was not an ancient nation, but it was a
vast nation and worthy colleague of his who
now occupied seat upon the platform had just
/ arrived here from the far West, after journey
| OF nine and forty hours. This was a great and
prosperous nation, and yet there have been men
| in the country who have talked about the sew
cred, lacerated, and bleeding fragments Of this
confedsracy
4 Inc w HlR parry HOW UCSupieu bunI pO-
| sition of man whs has lived to read his own
obituary, and to experience the truth of the old
maxim. which declares that nothing should be
1 said eHithe dead but what is good. It was now
their duty to re-organize, and re-animate, and re-
inspirit themselves for the glorious contest that
lay before them; but let not him that buckleth on
Ills armor boast himself as he that putteth it off
| after he has won the victory.
This assemblage was an evidence that the Wing
4 NV Uaa hppinninu itself That
| the case with regard to the section from which he
| came For the last thirty-fve years they had
been contending against overpowering numbers,
| until their political adversaries had got to be so
strong and triumphant, that, ceasing to fear the
4 Wings, they warred upon each other, and thus the
/ Wings obtained a temporary victory by the I'M
wise conduct OF their adversaries In the mean
4 time the bonds of parties had become weakened,
and instead of legislation for the common good,
schemes of personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT absorbed the
attention of politicians.
The elements of power and wealth had been
brought into requisition, and the condition of the
political world had become corrupt Under these
circumstances, what was the Office of the Wing
party? That party was the body guard of the
| Constitution. Cheers. Whether it was weak
or strong, whether in victory or defeat, its honor
and glory has been untarnished and its illustrious
leaders have descended to the tomb, with names
that shall animate US in all coming contests, and
shall be held in grateful remembrance by poster
ity.
But whether in the majority or minority the
Wing party had done good service to the country;
they had lifted up warning voice against the in
novations of the present day, and had asked those
who had been intristed with government TO con
slider the origin of their power and the necessary
results of their measures. 1t was the case with all
parties that when they were weak and needed
prot ection, they looked at the principles upon
which the fabric of our government had been
erected but when they grew g:eat and prosper
GUS, they were apt to forget these fundamental
maxims and tread in new and untried paths.
Mr.. B. then proceeded to allude to the bugbears
which had been conured up, and the fatal conse-
quences which had been predicted, as the natural
and legitimate result of the success of particular
party in the coming campaign. 1t had been con-
dently asserted in some parts of the United States
that the Union was in danger. That was the old
cry, that the integrity of the Union was put in
jeopardy by party strife; but he believed it not
His father fought at Yorktown, and there were no
doubt many present whose ancestors took part in
the glorious struggle of the Revolution and shout
dered their muskets in the days that tried mems
souls and he had no doubt the sons would prove
themselves worthy of their sires. [Great applause
He did not and could not believe in these forebo-
dings.
This Government would not be worthy of our
veneraton and affection if it could not resist these
disturbing influences. What would be the per-
manency of government which could not resist
the occasional ebullition of party passions Weak
indeed would 1t be; but such was not the nature
of our Government. He believed in the eternity
of the glorious principles Of the Wing party.
Cheers He was confident that this Government
was this day the strongest Government upon the
face of the globe-stronger far than any desPot-
ism in Europe. He alluded to the case of France,
a L 4
into despotism, and had elected an Emperor.
Such was the danger of an unrestrained Democra-
cy; it had no element of permanency in it. But
the glorious foundation of Wing principles is
| proud in the fact, that every man can read his
rights and duties written in book. That was
| the great principle that our fathers fought to
| secure and establishment for what the huctuatng
and temporary passions of men may desire, which
will to. morrow tear down what they have to-day
| built up. Such was not the government that our
fathers gave their blood to establish.
This assembly had not met to discuss the prin-
| ciples of the Wing party. Everybody knew what
| those were. He believed those present were hon.
est and true, or they would not be here, for the
! Wing party had undergone fltrating process
| Laughter. They were weak, and from necessity
had been brought back to first principles, and to
obey the injunctions of Washington. Their edifce
had not been destroyed, but the scaffolding had
only been torn away; the materials still remained
| and the foundation was still firm and mistaken !;
and he had confident hopes that they would build
up more stately palace than ever before, and one
which should be more comfortable abode than
our fathers had.
But he had not come here 10 battle, but to work.
| TSeveral voices exclaimed GO on |" He had come
a thousand miles to attend this meeting, and, If
necessary, he would have gone three thousand
more. [Cheers. He had come here to work.
| lie could not expect that this Convention could
nominate a candidate Of its own Who would be
elected That would be hopeless task They
had not come here for offices or for honors; but
their object was to select for the good of all some