The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-09-06
THE WHIGS READ OUT or THE DEMO-
CRATIC PARTY.

We subioin an article from the Richmond
Enquirer, the leading organ of the democratic
party in the Southern States, to which we i'll.
vite the attention of the old-line Wings of our
Parish. If it is not as complimentary to the
wings rs they might desire, it is at least re
markable for its candor. The wings osSGir-
ginia, who had supported Mr.. Wise against
the American candidate in Virginia, no doubt
claimed to be members of the Democratic
party, and entitled to their share of the spoils
Of victory. They had u right to expect this of
those whom they had placed in power. They
had been courted, fattercd and caressed. MIR.
Wise even boosted that he owed his e|ectiont to
them, and eulogized them as a noble and pa
triotic band of citizens. After the election
was over, however, the Richmond Enquirer,
without mincing words, proceeded to read the
oldline Wings out of the Democratic party.
That paper says "A person with Wing CON
victions can not consistently andhonestly pro
ress to be of the Democratic party. A person
with Wing convictions can not be admitted
into the Democratic organization, without, to
some extent c%orruptnag its integrity ant de
dauchiin!g its principles" This is quite a satire
upon that part Of Senator Bonjamin's speech,
in which he contends that the principles of the
Wing and Democratic parties were identical
in 1850. To those Wings who are laboring
under this delusion, we commend the subjoined
article. They will learn from it, the terms Oh
which they arc admitted into the Democratic
fold. They will be most cordially received
when their votes are needed they will be
lauded in unstinted terms; they will be com
plimentcd and courted to secure the ascendancy
of the Democracy but when they expect to b'
treated as equals in the division of the spoils
they will be complacently told that their con
nection with the Democratic party has had tn
effect of corrnpting its integrity and debauch
ing its principles" But read the article:
"As some persons seem to have mistaken
both the motive and object of our appeals II
old-linc Wings, it is proper that we should &C
quit ourselves of the unjust accusations t
which such misconstruction exposes us. w
invite no man of Wing principles to join til
Democratic party. Such an overture woul
be as insulting to him as unjust to our party
A person with Wing convictions can not cor
sistcntly and honestly profess to be OF tn
Democratic party. A person with Wing cor
~victions call not he admitted into the Demo
| cratic organization, without, to some eNtcn'
corrupting its integrity and debalching it
principles. We have q creed which constitute
, a test Of Democracy and to which no VIII
can honestly subscribe, because it is absolutel
irrcconcilab!e with the principles he p%rofesse!
An advocate Of protective tariffs and of federi
, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT can not consistently enter a
organization based upon the principles OF fire
trade, strict construction and State rights an
if VIC consent to such an association, it wi
. not be long before the Democratic party
{ DESTROYED by its allies. We object to tusiol
3 because it is consistent neither with personf
, nor political honesty. An alliance betwee
! independent political organizations is anotle
and q very different thing, 1t is not only a
j, lowablc, but in certain emergencies may b
, essential to the best interests of the %conntr.
l Such an emergency is the present which d
mands, not a fusion of all parties in the Sontl
but a cooperation of good men for the sake
the Constitution and the Union. We ask II
: Wing to renounce his principles, except frol
an honest conviction of Judgment. We invit
no Wing to CONF into the Democratic part,
unless he chooses voluntarily, and from cor
%viction to abjnrc his ancient faith, and to pr
TESS allegiance to our peculiar plntform!"