Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-05-31

that reward which all other parties had
Justly refused them. Loud applause.
But further: we failed to find in the
doctrines of this now party any resem-
blance to the principles of the Wings. -
The pretcnce that narrow minded nativ-
ism was good Whiggery was foolish as it
was false; for we well knew how the
Wings of Maryland had expressly repu-
dated it in 1910, and how uniformly the
leading Wing statesmen had denounced
it. As Wings, it is true we had ever
claimed to be good Americans; so had
Democrats claimed to be and both with
good reason. The Americanism of the
olden time was a understanding SAVIOR in
our nostrils, but the odor Of this new
fashioned, bob-tailed, Know-nothing A
mericanism was --- what perhaps it
would be indelicate here to express. -
Laughter and applause. And as for
the intolerant spirit of that party, and
its war upon mems religion, we were bound
to.oppose it, not only as Wings not only
as Democrats, not only as patriots jealous
of the cornerstone of liberty, but | am
proud to say, as Southern Adrylanders,
anxious to preserve our soil untarnished
and the memories our forefathers unvio-
lated. Loud applause Sir, within
our district was the spot where the spirit
of liberation first looked up and was glad
where Americans first vowed that no man
should suffer for his religions sake, where
that grain of mustard seed was first
planted which has since become the
greatest among herbs, and overshadows
our prosperity and peace 1t was an
insult to men born and reared amid such
associations to imagine that they would
desert principle for which their ances-
tors had contended during two long CEN
turtles, for the sake of helping a set of
broken down politicians into office. [Ap-
plause
But, sir, this new party was not less
opposed TO our taste than to our princi-
pies. As Wings, we had never been
used to secret conclaves. As Wings, we
had never demeaned ourselves to the use
of grips and signs, and slang phrases.
and catch-words and low mannuyering.
What we did, we did openly and above
board. Surely it was hardly to be ex-
pected that, after twenty-five years bold
action III the open daylight, we should
consent to assemble like owls and bats,
and consult together amid the shades Of
night in empty barns and cavcrns of the
earth by the Pickering light of penny
candles. Laughter and applause. r
Hence it was that we let Sam slide"
Hence it was that as soon as bis real
character became known to the people of
Southern Maryland, they rose mp like
one man to rebuke the insult offered to
their patriotism.
In the meantime, the Democratic par
ty stood firm and unwavering, presenting
the only organized opposition to these
new heresies. From one end Of the
country to the other it occupied the same
attitude and fought the same fght-at
first with doubtful success, but always
boldly, always heroically. Applause.
The truth, as it always viii, eventually
prevailed; and Sam has been a sorry
champion from the day when he lay upon
his back in the Old Dominion, with the
foot Of Virginia Democracy on his breast
Sir, it is for this unhinching course that
the Democratic party entitled itself to
our gratitude and support Applause. !
But the great, irresistible consideration
which at this crisis has brought us into
this company, is the position Of the Dem
ocratic party on the question Of Slavery
Applause. Sir, there are no people
more devoted to the mainteDancc Of
constitutional rights in this behalf than
the people Of Southern Maryland, nor
are any others more deeply interested in
their preservation Had we been ten
fold as bitter in our preiudces as we
were, we could not have failed to appre-
ciate the splendid efforts Of leading Dem
ocratic statesmen, who hayo almost sac
rificed their own interests in maintaining
our rights, and measuring out equal
justice to every section of the confedera-
cy. When we'saw the Democracy stand
ing up to the principle Of the Kansas
bill--the principle Of the essential sove-
reignty Of the people--thc principle Of
the equal rights of all the people of the
States to the territories Of this Union
and all this too for the sake Of the naked
truth and abstract right Of that princi-
ciple, with no prospect Of sectional adj
vantage, what Wing with the true grit
in him could longer stand aloof? what
Wing tue 10 his arm professed 1,riactples, |
could longer withhold his aid Sir, |
Harry Clay himself--that Hyperion of
Whigs--had he lived would have been
first 70 leap the ditch for, much as he
loved his party he loved his country
more. Loud applause. Sir, we may,
it is true, be sometimes grossly Inisrep- (
resented on the floor Of Congress. Men
protesting to reflect our sentiments may
continue to play into the hands Of our
enemies, and occasionally little bands of
traitors may come TO the surface like the
unfortunate creatures who recently put
their fingers into the fire with Mr. r =.
Blair. Laughter and applause But
such sowing Of the wind will gather in
the whirlwind Of the sewers. ! appre-
bend that the people of Maryland are as
trnc to the South as any other Southern
State. i apprchcnd that they win go as
far as any other in vindicating not only
the rights but even the preudices Of
their section. IL is because they hold
thcse views that they mean to strengthen
the hands of the only national party
which konestly Intends and has tht