Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-07-17
Virginia Whig Convention.


convention of old-line Wings was held at
Richmond, Virginia, on yesterday, as will
be seen from report Of their proceedings in
another column. We draw the inference from
what is published by telegraphic despatch,
that this convention will adopt similar line
of policy to that of the Maryland Wings, and
sustain Messrs Fillmore and Donelson, as a
choice between this and the Buchanan and
Breckenridge ticket. Tho convention is formed
only of those Wings who acknowledge no
other political ties or affinties, and hence their
action will be governed solely by those consid-
erations which, in their judgment, should in
fluence party that is compelled to choose be-
tween what they may regard as evils.
Although the Wing party proper is not
strong enough to elevate to the Presidency
candidate belonging to that organization, it is
doubtless true, that in many Of the States it
holds the balance of power, as in Virginia and
for this reason the action of the old-line Wings
has been looked to with great interest. No
one can fail to have observed with what Joy
and exultation the Richmond Enquirer and
Washington Union have occasionally an
nounced the adhesion of an old line Wig to
the Cincinnati nominations; nor has it failed
to excite surprise, to read the fulsome fattery
those presses have recently lavished upon the
patriotism of party, which in the days of its
power and influence, they had charged with
every species of political iniquity, and every
description of political peridy!
BY such means these presses have supposed
they could secure the votes and influence Of
the old-in0 Wigs, whose acknowledged
leader they had vilifed, traduced and denoun-
ced, in language Of the utmost bitterness, and
in terms ev~n unworthy of the most reckless
partisan press. Flattery and compliments to
the original and faithful adherents of the pa
triotic Sage of Ashland, are now substituted
for ISLANDERS and falsehoods against that leader
whilst living The uery men who, dozen
years ago, would have travelled thousand
miles on foot to see Henry Clay gibbeted upon
a maleactor's scaffold, now fawn upon, Aatter
and beseech his friends to aid the man who
was the vilest, meanest, and wickedest Of his
traducers, to reach the Presidency!
1t is not for us to give counsel to the old-line
Whigs-we never cast vote, nor advanced an
argument, to aid Henry Clay's elevation to the
Presidency-and yet we never uttered nor en-
tertained an opinion distressing his honor,
chivalry, patriotism, or truth. But we may be
allowed to say to them, that if we ever under
stood anything Of Wing principles and policy,
we do not find either in the Cincinnati plat
form on which Mr.. Buchanan stands-nor do we
know anything in Mr.. Ruchanans present
opinions approximating those which the Wing
party have hitherto advocated.
In saying this, we would not have the in
ference drawn that the American platform, in
our judgment, contains any principle, which
has ever been made the basis Of the Wing
creed, -on the contrary, old issues have ceas-
ed to exist, and aew Issues have arisen, on
which the American and anti-American par
ties have divided, --on these new issues alone,
parties have been formed and candidates have
been selected. We do hold, however that if
the old-line Wings maintain, as heretofore, a
conservative policy on national questions, they
will insure the adoption Of a conservative poll
cy, in deciding the present political contest, in
favor Of Fillmore and DoDelson
The foreign policy Of the American party is,
to maintain peace with all nations, if it can be
maintained upon honorable terms, and not to
involve the nation in unnecessary conflicts, by
assuming the right to regulate the affairs Of all
the world, and 'the rest Of mankind ~ Its
domestic policy is, TO maintain tho Union at
all hazards, to preserve the integrity Of the
sovereign States,-to administer the govern
ment with rigid impartiality towards all sec
TONS OF the country,-to quiet all sectional
agitation, Ito remedy the defects in our laws
Of naturalization, prevent the Importation
OF foreign paupers and convicts,-to advance
the commercial, agricultural, and manufactur-
ing interests of the nation, by all constitutional
means, and TO render the United States Of
America, theImost prosperous, most happy,
most independent most enlightened country
upon the earth, beacon light to all other