Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-09-11

meridian splendor. |, too, fellow citizens,
though nothing more than an humble, private
man, who never in the whole course of his
| life has presented himself for the suffrages
of his fellow men, have had afull measure
of villifcation and abuse on account of my
opinions, but seeking only to do what be-
lieved to be my duty, looking only to the
honor the prosperity and the preservation of
our glorious Union. 1 have been sustained
by the conviction of rectitade of purpose,
and in no slight degree by the example Of
my father.
| Felow-citzens, educated beneath the
shades of Ashland, the son, the partner, and
the trusted friend of Henry Clay, to be a
Whig was part of my natsire. So long as
there was a Wing party in existence, so long
as there was a Whig banner in the field, /
was ready to follow il. believe now that
the principles taught by Clay and by Web
ster were true principles, and expect always
to follow them and by them square my polit-
ical life But there is no longer a Whig par
ty. Why it was destroyed is question we
may well ask; and it is not so difficult to an
swer Although in the opinion of the great
leader of the party it was better to be right
than be President, the politicians and Office
necessary to their very existence that they
should also bs successful, and Immediately
successful. From the day that the idea be-
came prevalent that availability, regardless Of
principle was a prime consideration in the
choice of candidate for the Presidency, the
fate of the party was sealed. 1t was not all
at once that this idea was received:-it was
inaugurated in 1910, when Gen. Harrison
was chosen as the candidate of the Wings
He was good man, patriot, and good
Wing; but it was neither his personal quail
ties nor his Whiggery that caused him to be
elected in preference to the man to whom
the party was more indebted than to all other
men, who was indeed the Incarnation and en-
bodiment of its principles. 1t was not that
the civil qualifications of General Harrison
were beyond those of any other Individuals;
it was fellow citizens, mainly on account of
the military reputation which he had achiev-
ed on the battle field, that he vas chosen and
chosen because it was believed that inasmuch
as the gunpowder of New Orleans had not
only gained great and g.orions victory, but
had also elected President, that of Tippe-
canoe would also accomplish like results
! They were not deceived; General Harrison
was elected. He was cordially supported by
Mr.. Clay, because he did not hesitate to avow
genuine Whig principles. Providence in its
wisdom permitted him to hold the renS OF
government but a very short time. The Vice
President by the accident of his death be-
came the President, and so administered his
high charge that his name is bye-word for
treachery. This, fellow-cilizens, was the
first phase Of the military experience Of the
Whig party. They were successful; but
their victory was barren victory; like dead
sea fruits, it turned to ashes.
The year 1913 saw the idea that available
ity and success were preferable to all else car
ried to its fullest extent by the Wing party.
The convention at Philadelphia, passing over
the claims of mr. Clay, selected as its candi-
date for the Presidency man who refused to
own himself Whig; who told them that he
j intended to run, no matter whom they might
nominate; and the convention, with admira-
ble subserviency to the principle of availa-
bility, was content to take the plume Of the
military chieftain in lieu of the principle, and
actually refused even to put forth platform
OF old Wing doctrines.
What was the result ? Providence .gain
interposed, and second tire in less than
ten years, Vice President became Presi-
dent by accident, and not by the voice of the
people.
Not content with the high rebukes ii had
received, third time in 1852 the Wing par
ty determined to try tie experiment of mill
tary availabiIity;-and third time it sig
!, nally failed; this time not by the interposi-
ton of Providence, but by the will of the
people. Fellow-citizens the Wing party
was disorganized and destroyed, not becanse
the principles Of its old leaders were false, but
? because the politicians and Office seekers
> would no longer follow them, but adopted
: availability and success atall hazard as their
! motto.
Fellow citizens, at the risk of wearyins
you by telling you truths which you al
r know as we'll as l. have ventured to cal
your attention to the concluding chapter o
the yet unwritten history Of one the creates
! political parties our country has ever known
. 1t has not been without purpose that have
done so. Since the defeat of General Scot
/ in 1852, there has been no longer an organi
zed Whg party in the land; and although
o there are hundreds of thousands of true ole
line Wings, Wings upon principle, in tn,
country, deserted by their leaders, utterl,
:: disorganized, with no candidates of their owl
y to vote for, they are perplexed to make tina
choice between the other parties which thei
duty as citizens requires them to make TO
the good of their country.
Fellow citizens, | wish it to be distinct,
understood-I wish it TO be distinctly pres
ent to your minds-that am not making t
you aspeech for the purpose of advocating
% the principles OF the Know Nothing, the Re
l. publican, or the Democratic parties; there
~c +bo,. I full
,t there is neither to which have given in m,
:, adhesion. Ny party was the Whig party
l. Whig principles are now my principles, ant
ID | expect always TO maintain them. Bat w
| have no longer Wing party, or Wing can
Of didates for whom to cast our votes. w
l- Wings from principle are forced to one Q
two alternatives; either to fold our arms an
ID take no part In this contest in which we are
at much interested as anybody else, or we mus
~ max choice between the parties who DO pres
ie ent candidates for the suffrage of the natior
he Owning not the slightest allegiance to eithe
n of them, we owe duty and an allegianc
We higher and above that which belongs to an
e, party whatsoever. We owe our duty to ou
,h country, and it is now especially necessar
IN that we should act for the salvation of tn
ne very Union itself. With the Union as abov
p all parties constantly in view, propose
nd consider the claim OF each to our suffrages.
The Know Nothing, or so-ealled America
th party presents itself first to our attention, b,
.e, cause it is mainly composed of those wh
o. once were Wings; we are naturally attracte
Is to it by the ties of old association with i
IL members; it has presented as its candida
of for the highest Office man wfo once az
lie ministered the government as Wing, in
ut manner which had the applause of the GOO
to men of all parties. Standing upon VIII
nd platform, surrounded 10y the best and able
it, Whig men, sustained in his great trial
m, the Union men OF all parties, il would hay
ne been a marvellous thing had he acted othe
nd wise than he did. They tell us he is suh
cient platform for us ! | tell you, fellow
to citizens, that no man is in himself sufficie
In nlatfnrm Cor freeman What IRE his nri