M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-09-04

being unable 70 atteHd, he seat letter IL
(which he defined his own position Fon The
Presidential question; and avowed his in-
tentiou to vote for Mr.. Buchanan. We give
liz below.
ttFe BoToE, Saturday Aug. 3, 1885,
GEETLEMEN:-UpOn my return last even.
Ting, aftefa short absence from The city, !
found your letter fthe ,3Oih ult., inviting
me to take part il the proceedings of The
Wings Of Maine, assembled in mass meet
ling.
1appreciale most highly the ;houoT and
kindness OF this invitation, and should have
had true pleasure in accepting It. The wings
of Maine composed at all times so important
division OF the great national party, which
under tina: name, with or without official
power, as a responsible administration or as
only an organized opinion, has done SO much
for our cOuntry,--Our whole country ,--lnd
your responsibilities at this moment are so
vast and peculiar, that | acknowledge
an anxiety to see,-not wait TO hear, With
what noble bearing you meet the demands Of
the times. II the tried legions, 10 whom il
is committed TO suam the frontier OF the Un'
ion, ialler now, who, anywhere. can be trus-
tied? .,.... .
NV engagements, however, and the neces.
ily or expediency Of sustaining from all
speech requiring much effort, will prevent
my being with you. Aud yet, invited to
sha.e in your councils, aud grateful Tor such
distinction, cannot wholly decline my own
opinions on one of the duties Of the wings in
what you well describe as "the present cri'
sis in the political affairs uf the country. y
| cannot now, and need not pause TO eabor.
ate or defend them. What i think, and
what have decided TO do, permit, me in the
brie fest and plainest expression to tell you.
The first duty, then, Of wings, not merely
as patriots and as citizens,-loving, wilh a
large and equal love our whole native land,-
but as wings, and because we are wings, is TO
unite with some organization Of our country
men TO defeat and dissolve the new geograph.
ical party, calling ilsell Republican. This is
our Grst duty. It won "a more exactly ex-
press my opinion to day, that at this moment
il is ol,t only duty. Certainly, at least, it
comorehends or suspends all Others; and in
/ nv judgement, The question for each and
eyery. one of us is, not whether this candi-
date or that candidate would be our choice;
not whether there is some good talk in the
worst platform, and some bad !alkin the best
platform; not whether ibis mans ambition,
or that mans servility, or bodness, OF lanai.
icism, or violence, is responsible for putting
tie wild waters in this uproar;--but Just this
by what vote can do most TO prevent the
madness of the times from working its mad.
est act.-the very ecstacy Of It's Madness -
the permanent formation and the actual pres.
ent triumph of party which knows one
lfcfAmerica only to hate and dread it,
s,nm whose uncOnsecrated and revolutionary
hammer fifteen stars arc erased or have fallen;
in whose national anthem the old aud en-.
deared airs of The. EUtaw Springs, and the
Kings Mountain. and Yorktown, aud those,
latter, of New Orleans, ami Buena Vista,
and Chsputepec. breathe no more. To this
duty, 10 this question, all others seem to stand
for the present postponed and seconda-
And whyP Because, according to our
creed, II is only the united America which
can peacefully, gradually safely, Improve, Iiit
I'D and bless with all social and persona and
civil blessings. al the races and all the con-
ditiuns which compose our various family
lit is such all America, only whose arm can
guard our flag, develop our resources, extend
our trade--and fill the measure oil our glory;
and because, according to our convictions,
the triumphs Of such party puts that Un-
ion 10 danger. That is my reason. And for
YOU, and for me, and for all OF us, in whose
rega Ids the Union possesses such a value, and
10 whose fears il seems menaced BY such dan
ger, il is reason enough. Believing the no.
Bile ship Of state to be within bali cables
length of the lee shore OF rock, in gale OF
wind, our first business is to put her about,
and crowd her off in;o the deep, open sea-
That done we can regulate the stowage o.
her lower tier of powder, and select her
cruising ground, and bring her officers 10
court-martial at our leisure. .rt l -.
Ii there are any in Maine--and among the
wings Of Maine hope there is not one-but
il there are any, in whose hearts strong pas
sions, vaulting ambition. jealousy oil men OF
sections, unTeasoning and impatient philan-
thropy. or whatever else have tumedlO hate
or cOdness the fraternal blood and quenched
the spirit OF national life at its source; with
whom the union Of Slave States and Free
States under the actual Constitution is a
curse, hindrance, a Teproach; with these oI
course our view OF duty and the reason Of il
are stumbling block and fuolishness. Tc
such YOU can have nothing to say, and from
such you can have nothing to hope. But il
there are those again who love the Union as
we love it, and prize it as we prize it; whc
regard itas we do, not merely as a vast in
stramentality for the protection of our om
merce and navigation; and for achieving
power, eminence and name among the sover
egns OF the earth--but as means of i'm
i proving the material lot, and elevating th,
moral and mental nature, and insuring TN
personal happiness Of the millions of many
distant generations; if there are those wht
J lhihk thus justly of it-and yet hug the ia
!, tai delusion that, because it is necessarily i'm
mortal. that it will thrive without care;--
that anything created by mans will is abov
or stronger than His will; that because tn
reason aud virtues Of our age of reason an
! virtue could build it, the passions aud stipu
stions Of day Of frenzy cannot pull il down
il such there are amongyou, to them addres
yourselves, with all The eamestness and all til
10 eloauence OF men who feel that some create
8 interest is at stake, and some mightieT caus
10 hearing, than ever yet tongue has pleade
o. or trumpet proclaimed. II such minds ali
% hearts are reached, all is safe. But how sps
IS cious and how manifold are the sophisms b
Is which they are courted? q 's..a .
III Tbav hear and thew read much ridirnle's