Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-16
From the Somerset Qnd.) Union
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN w. CRIsFIELD

| SPEECH OF HON. JOHN w. CRIsFIELD.
We take great pleasure in laying before our
readers the following authentic report of the
speech of the Hon. John W. Crisfeld, when
called on by the Democratic procession on
| Tuesday night last, and commend it to the
calm, careful, and dispassonate consideration
Of all the old line Wings of the county:
| Mr.. CRIsFIELD, after acknowledg ing the COM
pliment their presence and call implied, which,
he said, was as unexpected as 1t was I'M
merited, and expressing his thanks, proceeded,
in substance to say: That they all knew his an.
tecedents that it was we'll known he had al
ways been Wing, and under all circum.
stances, as we'll in the darkest hours of defeat
as in the hour of triumph, had stood under the
banner Of that party, proud to do battle in its
support. He had done so, because the lead
ing principles of that party and the doctrines
it proclaimed were just and patriotic, and had
the unqualified approval OF his heart and judg-
ment. These principles, in his opinion, so
just, so conservative, so consistent with the
| Constitution, had been so long cherished, and
so ardently loved, that he could no more shake
them off or change them than he could change
his opinions of religion or of morals. And he
| felt sure that no one expected him to do it.
He reavowed them, and declared that as they
had been the rulers of his political conduct in
the past, so they would be in the future, when
ever, from the state of parties and the condi-
ton of the country, those principles should be
in issue. But unfortunately that was not now ;
the Wing party was not party to this fight
| Wing principles are not in issue; and Wing can
didates were not and would not be in the field.
New parties had been formed, new issues had
| been joined and upon these all Southern men
| could stand side by side. The real contest
now was between Southern rights and North
| ern tanaticism. In this state OF circumstances,
he felt it to be his solemn duty to lay aside
ancient prejudices, and fraternize with that
| party now organized, and in the field, which,
in his judgment, offers the best guarantee OF
its own success and of safety for our national
and domestic institutions and in the perform
ance of this duty, after dispassionately exam
lining the whole subject, he had come to the
determination, now for the first time publicly
! announced, to give his support-his cordial
and energetic support-to the nominees Of the
Cincinnati Congention.
Mr.. c. said he would briefly assign some of
the reasons which had brought him to this de.
termination.
He could not support Mr.. Fillmore. He was
supporter of his Administration he thought
it one of the purest and best which had trans
pired in his time; and If it could be restored,
as he thought it was he would prefer it over
all others. lie had, too, been an ardent ad-
| mrer of Mr. Fillmore personally, and if he
| could regard him now as he formerly had, he
would perhaps prefer him for the high office
! which he once filled, over all others. But he
had changed The painful conclusion had been
forced upon him that Mr. Fillmore was not now
what he had been. He had become a member
of secret political organization, dangerous in
its tendency, destructive Of the freedom of po-
litcal opinion, and at war with the theory of
mans capacity for self-government-a organi-
cation proscriptive in its character and in
tolerant of religious freedom, which enforced
its jesuitical policy by oaths not authorized by
law and demoralzng in their tendency. He
is, as we are informed, "a member in good
standing of Council No. III" in western New
York. If this be so, as few will doubt, it is a
sad truth. It's discovery crimsoned his cheek
with shame. In allowing himself to be placed
in this position, Mr.. Fillmore has been unjust
to himself, and reckless of his own fame But
this is not all he has nnwhigged himself; he
has become member of an organization which
boasts Of having arisen upon the ruins. and in
spite of the opposition, OF the Wing party, and
faith that it is not responsible for the obnoxious
errors and violated pledges of that party. He
consorts with Andrew Jackson Donelson, the
deiamer Of his Administration and the reviler
of the Wing party-a Democrat Of the stamp
most odious TO Wings; and he now demands
Of us as Wings, our support of this extraor-
binary and anomalous association. At this
moment he is carrying the banner of those
who conspired for the destruction of the Wing
party. With these facts before him, he could
not recognise Mr.. Fillmore as a Wing; he had
disrobed himself of that title he is an alien
from the fold, and had not shadow Of claim
based on old party associations, to the support
of the few who still remain constant to the
ancient faith.
But if he we're willing, in consideration of
his services, to overlook these serious obiec.
tons to Mr.. Fillmore, he could not support
him without also supporting Mr. Donelson
The two are indissolubly blended; and he
would not vote for Mr. Doneson. He had not
single qualification to recommend him for
the high place for which he is nominated; and
TO old Wings, he is perhaps the most objec-
tionable man who could be named. For his
own part he was not willing to vote for any
man for Vice President whom he would be un-
willing to trust as President. He had not for
gotten the blasted fruits of the Wing triumph
of 1910. Who would be willing to see Mr..
Donelson President? No one, he would ven.
ture to say; and yet, if the Fillmore ticket pre-.
walls, he may and probably will, be. Twice
have the Wings carried the Presidential cleo
ton, and on both occasions, scarcely had the
shout of triumph ceased to re.echo before they
were called upon to mourn the death of their
President What right have we to calculate
upon exemption from like calamity in the
next Presidential term2 What guarantee have
we that Mr.. Fillmore will not also be taken? ?
and if he should be, who is not appalled, at the
idea of the duties Of that high station devov.
ing on Mr.. Donelson? Who does not tremble
at the thought of entrusting him with the whole
power Of this Government; Of placing in his
hands its army and its navy; Of committing to
his management its foreign policy; and Of
leaving TO his charge the settlement of the
perilous questions Of domestic policy which at
this moment are rudely agitating the Union Of
these States, and threatening dissolution? He
could not vote for Mr. Donelson. and &c apy