American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-08-23
For the american Union.
REFLECTIONS OF AN OLD LINE
..... WING.

without the faint Of scctionalism, A.
mercanism, or any other 'ism'--but an
humble deyotee of the patriotic, con-
servative, National American princi-
pies taught by the illustrious sage of
Ashland! From my earliest knowl-
edge of public affairs, l have watched
his career and studied his anteccdcnt
history. | have loved his many virtues,
admired his towering eloqucncc and
fealty to his country and her institu-
tons, and drank deep of his patriotic
counsels. | stood by him in N, when
he was slandercd and hunted down
like vile desperate, q filter subject
Tor his country's prison than her high
est honor-and in '4S when for availa-
bility he was ovcrslaughed by militia
ny chieftain. Notwithstanding that,
spurncd by military chieftain, repu-
dated by an ungratcful populace, his
giant mind, his syren voice were ever
truo to the great mission Of his life,
the salvation of his country and the
pcrpctuity Of her institutions.
Hitherto, in our dark and troubled
times, when fraternal discord has roll
cd her murky waves in angry conflict,
threatening to submcrgc our noble ship
of State in their mad career, the voice
of Ashland's Sage above the angry
storm was ever heard" thus far, no
farther shalt thou gothic discordant
elements are hushed, the storm sub
sides, peace and concord reign supreme.
But HENRY CLAY is gone. His work
Is done. That justice, So long with
held, was lavishcd on his tomb! And
now, so profound and universal is the
reverence of the parties of the day for
the virtues Of our own Harry Of the
West, that it is no ordinary honor to
be surviving Wing Of the pure Henry
Clay school unalloycd, uncontaminatcd
and unswallowcd by any Of the new
tangled parties or isms Of the day.
AS such, Mr.. Editor, and in view of
the tenderness and affection exhibited
towards us, and the enlarged States
manship and patriotism now universal
iy conceded to us and our great teach
or, by the present political parties, 1
ask and confidently expect of my fell
low-citizcns Of Virginia of all parties,
their deep and candid consideration of
a few reflections in respect to the APP
preaching Presidential election.
We have again fallen upon evil times,
and the giant Statesman is not here.
And because he is not here, little men
have undermined his work of peace
a Presidential candidate "for the
North as against the South" avowed-
ly so, is in the field, with large and
dangerous party supporting him. Not
much less obviously is Mr.. Buchanan
the candidate of the " South as against
the North" equally alarming to all
sound conservative National men,
Security to the South lies not in South
crn scctionalism--to the North not in
Northern fanaticism; but the most i'm
minent peril to the whole country, q
deadly daae to her institutions, lies be-
meath either. "No North, NO SOUTH"
is the only safe and reliable Statesman
ship.
Fremont is not to be thought of as a
candidate in Virginia. But Buchanan
is yet somewhat urged upon the people
as national candidate. Can any in
tclligcnt man, of any party, see in his
position aught but scctionalism of the
most alarming characteristic same
that bcgat the Northern organization
for this canvass, and now its counter
part?
The contest is said to be between
Fremont and Buchanan. So far as
geographical parties are concerned, this
10 undcniablc. Northern men with
Northern principles, and Southern men
with Northern principles, will all vote
for Fremont. Southern men with
Southern principles, and Northern men
with Southern principles, will all vote
for Buchanan. But our great Wing
teacher never taught us either North
crn or Southern principles, but only
simple National principles, knowing
"no North, no South, no East, no
West" The South seems to be a.
Harmed at the prospect of a Northern
administration. Should they not be
equally solicitous to avoid q Southern
one? IF the South cannot submit to
be governed by the North, do they
suppose that the North will submit to
be governed by the South? AS a
Southern man | would much prefer, Gf
the dire calamity do Gomez to see tho
Union rent asundcr by resistance to
Northern aggression, than by North
orn resistance to Southern aggression.
But, where is the evidence of Bu-
chanans scctionalism Is it in his
antcccdcnts? lie has no consistency
Of character upon which to build any
reasonable calculation. From the time
that he abused James Madison and the
Il