The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-10-03
OLD LINE WINGS AND wHIGGERY


There is said to be progress in everything,
even photography, syutax and prosody. The
lexicon of the last century is literary curl
osity, in more respects than one. The very
meaning of some words has undergone n
change, and the true office of the lexicogra-
pher being to give the true, practical, present
meaning o. word, he must have no scruples
about former usage and custom. y few
thoughts are suggested by the caption ofthis
article. What did Wing aud Whiggery FORM
erly mean! We understood that he who OPP.
posed radical and aguiran views in politics
who discountenanced the corrupt and prolli-
gate administration of Martin Van Buren,
who advocated the great American system
originated and embodied by Henry Clay
who was afraid of sectional men and section.
al issues-who loved the Union and the coun.
try for the good Of the people, who, as
n matter of course, strove against this mod
ern spurious democracy, he tcas chig, and
be believed in whiggery He was by neces-
sity national man, and sound upon all ma.
tional issues, by whomsoever introduced or
advocated.
In the organization of the present Amer.
can party, very many of this class, not liking
some of the rules and regulations, failed to
identify themselves in The movement. They
were thousand fold more nearly identified
in principle with the American party than
with the sham democracy of the present day.
They differed in form from one, and in prn-
ciple from the other. They had no candidate
for the Presidency, and what were they to
do! The main body stood aloof under the
lead of that venerable institution, the Nation
al Iuielgencer. The Baltimore Convention
brought them into line under the flag of Fill.
more and the Union, where they had success
fully fought in 1913, and had redeemed the
nation from the dangers OF 'squatter sover-
eighty" rs promulgated in the Nicholson let.
ter, and from the mischievous and fanatical
tendencies Of sham democracy. But before
this event happened, certain men defined their
position, and came out for Buchanan MS sold
line Why's" Among these pretenders and
renegadcs from national whiggcry,is Senator
Pcarce, Of Maryland. lie coolIy lays aside
his long lnveteratc hostility towards dcmoc-
racy aud their policy, and walks over to them,
because he WAS once Wing. He says Fill
more sis nst national man and free from
sectional prejudice" But he adds-"llis
wise and patriotic conduct while President,
which recommended him so strongly TO the
Wings of the South, is regarded by the ma.
jori,y ut the North, as fatal objection to
him. 1t is not moderation and cancellation
they DESIRE" &c. "rhey want an instrument
to punish the South" "Mr. Fillmore is too
national for this purpose"
After summing up the argument in this
manner, Mr.. Pierce concludes not to support
Fillmore. Strange logic for q Southern man,
and IN old line Wing. He says that Duch.
anan's "inclinations are generally conserva-
tive; that he numbers among his prominent
supporters many gentlemen of talents and
patriotic character" &c., and therefore he
supports him. Not that he is actually con-
sorvntive, but his "inclnu,ions" are that way
and it his inclinations arc not quite strong
enough, then we must rely on the ''many gen.
tlcmen of talents and patriotic character"
who support him. That is, il the President
should 90 wrong, we would have the conso.
alton of knowing that some of his friends
were sound and conservative!
This reasoning answers Senator Pearce.-
Next week we may notice Senator Jones'
course.