Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-07-02
The Old Line Wings.


1t is gratifying to notice that in various sec
tions of the country the Old Line Wings are
speaking out their preferences for and their de-
termination to support Willard Fillmore in the
coming election. We can call to mind but few
old-lne Wing papers that have not indicated
such preference, and many of them, with the
American ticket at the masthead, are battling
nobly in its behalf We have never entertained
a doubt that the great body Of the Wings would
come into the support of Mr. Fillmore, organ
lied or not organized, Convention or no Con-
yention. There are doubtless few exceptions
here and there, among the leaders, but the
masses who neither expect nor desire any re-
ward for their services; who will act from higher
and nobler impulses. we verify believe cannot be
driven or seduced into cooperation with the
Democratic party, especially for the election OF
James Buchanan. The disciples of Henry Clay
those who loved their great leader while he
lived and cherish his memory still, can never,
without an oblivion of the past as remarkable as
IL would be dissraceful, strike hands with their
old enemy for the purpose OF defeating Willard
Fillmore, in whose integrity and patriotism Mr..
Clay placed tine highest confidence, and eleva-
ting James Buchanan who Mr.. Clay distrusted
but generously forebore to destroy.
Whilst we feel this confidence in the DISPOSE
ton and intentions of the old-line Wings, rs a
whole, we are not ignorant of the fact, that there
are some who aspire to lead them back to or
ganization for the deliberate purpose OF transfer
ring them bodily to the Democracy, and we
deem it kindly service to warn them OF the
plot. This desire and design we have seen man
Tested in various quarters, and we caution the
Wings who prefer Mr.. Fillmore to watch, with
an argus eye, the movements of the politicians,
if they do not wish to be "sold" to the Democ-
racy. That the effort will be made, not only IN
the National Convention, if one should assemble,
but in the Virginia Convention that is to meet
in Richmond, on the 18th instant, we do not
entertain doubt. 1t will be falsely assumed
that the contest is to be between Buchanan and
Fremont, and that in order to save the country
from the reign of Black Repubcanism it is the
duty of Wings TO cooperate with the Democrat
ic party, and if the Convention should peradven-
ture be chiefly composed of aspiring politicians the
result may be very different from that which the
Wings generally desire and anticipate. In such
an event the Wings who participated in the pri
mary meetings and appointed delegates to the
Convention, will be regarded as committed, and
expected to support Buchanan against then
wishes and their better judgments. Those
Wings, therefore, who prefer to see the party
organized in support of Mr.. Fillmore, will per-
ceive at once the necessity of sending delegates
to the Convention who will represent their SEN
timents. Otherwise they may be committed to
a line of policy that they do not approve.
We are glad to see the movement for the re-
organization of the Wing party, and do not de-
sign by these remarks to discourage the effort
Our only object is to secure, if possible, fair
representation of Wing sentiment, in which
event we have no fears as to the result.