Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-19

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 dispassionate consideration
of all the old line Wings of the county:
Mr.. CRIsFIELD, after acknowledging the com
pliment their presence and call implied, which,
he said, was as unexpected as it was I'M
merited, and expressing his thanks proceeded,
in substance to say: That they all knew his an.
tecedents that it was well known he had al
ways been Whig and under oil 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 I'D judy
ment. These principles, in his opinion, so
Just, 30 conservative, 80 consistent with the
Constitution, had been SO long cherished, and
SO ardently loved, that he could no more shake
them of 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-
lion of the country, those principles should be
in issue. But unfortunately that was not now
the Wing party was not a party to this fight !;
Wing principles are not in issue; and Wing can
didales 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 dispassonately 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 Concention.
Mr.. c. said he would briefly assign some Of
the reasons which had brought him 10 this de.
termination.
He could not support Mr.. Fillmore. He was
a supporter of his Administration; he thought
it one of the purest and best which had trans
pred in his time; and if it could be restored,
as he thought it was, he would prefer it over
all others. He had, too, been an ardent ad-
mirer 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 ne 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 member
of secret political organization, dangerous in
~ a., 20
ltical opinion, and at war with the theory Of
mans capacity for elfgovernment--an organi-
cation proscriptive in its character and in
tolerant of religious freedom, which enforced
its jesuitical policy by oaths not authorized BY
law and demoralizing in their tendency. He
is, as we are informed, "a member in good
standing Of Council No. IT." in western New
York. If this be so, as few will doubt it is a
sad truth. Its 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 unwhigged himself; he
has become a member of an organization which
boasts of having arisen upon the ruins. and in
spite of the opposition, OF the Wing party, and
proclaims, in its well considered confession Of
faith, that it is not responsible for the obnoxious
errors and violated pledges of that party. He
consorts with Andrew jackson Donelson, the
delamer 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 carving 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, 10 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 objec-
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.. Donelson He had not
a single qualification to recommend him for
the high place for which he is nomnaied; and
TO old Wings he is perhaps the most obiec-
tionablc 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. II 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 elec-
ton, and on both occasions, scarcely had The
shout of triumph ceased to reecho 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 term? What guarantee have
we that Mr.. Fillmore will not also be taken2
and if he should be, who is not appalled, at the
idea Of the duties of that high station devolv-
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
perious questions of domestic policy which at
this moment are rudely agirating the Union of
these States, and threatening dissolution? He
could not vote for Mr.. Doneson; and If any
one should twit him for supporting Mr. Buch-
anan because he is q Democrat, Mr.. c. would
just remind him that Mr.. Donelson, also, is a
Democrat, with the stain of Know NJ thingism
and incapacity superadded.
But if he waived these considerations, there