The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-09-24
Appeal Of the Wings of Detroit to the
Wings of Michigan. af p .-5li.

a great, conservative, national and once
triumphant party, desire to address to
you few words of warning and of exhor-
tation, in view of the causes which endan-
ger the perpetuity of the government, dis
turbs the repose of the country, and
threaten to eradicate from the national
mind that sentiment of unity which has
hitherto made US one people.
Though disbanded by the death of our
parliamentary leaders, reduced in number
by detection in our ranks, dishcartened by
the political infidelty of some of our cho-
sen instrumentalities, we believe there still
islumbers in the bosom of our party SEN
timent which will cordially respond to
every note of appeal coming in the name
OF that revolutionary watchword which
did so much to sustain our fathers during
the long struggle which interviewed be-
tween the Battle of Bunker Hill and the
termination of the siege of Yorktown, in
the surrender of LORD CoRNwALL1s
p 1t is to the scattered but living men,
hers of that national and gallant band who
wept for their country at the defeat of
Henry Clay in 1874, that we make this
brief address,
Being ourselves among the number of
those who joined the whg standard, no
less from an ardent alteration Of two men;
one distinguished above all others for his
power OF marshalling the hosts which en-
;ered the ranks Of his friends, and the 9TH
er for massiYeness of intellect which gave
breadth and solitude to the party commen-
surate with the constitution of our coun-
try, than from sincere conviction that their
views of the officers of a revenue tariff OF
national currency, and Of the principle
which should govern the administration of
public affairs, as well US Congress; if car
ried into effect, would have promoted the
prosperity of the citizens and increased
the ability of the Government.
These convictions enable US to retrace
our party history with just sentiment OF
pride, embittered only by the regret, that
we failed to estamp our principles upOu
the government and the country, and to
require, with becoming manifestation OF
gratitude, those eminent men who inspired
it with those great attributes which chal-
lenged the admiration, secured the support
and confidence, of much of the talent and
intelligence of the country
Whilst we still approve of the measure
advocated by the champions Of the good
old whig cause, reaffirmed in the acts ofour
national conventions; whilst we revere the
memory of those who have departed in the
faith, leaving us the fragrance of their gool
names, and the influence of their great ex.
ample; and whilst we admire and would
humbly initiate the example of our great
men, both in the past history of the party
and IN the recent acts of some of its dis
tlnguished members we would fain have
you remember that tleresis only left for us
the duty of choosing between an effort to
reorganlZe and reconstruct the wh;g par-
ty, or to abandon onr duty IS citizens in
refusing to vote in the coming election, or
to merge ourselves in violation of all our
antecedents, into party sectional in its
organization and dangerous in its tcnden-
ciss, or that of boldly taking sides in the
present campaign with our ancient but
national opponent, the democratic party
AS whigs-as men, having the warm
ingS of Washington in our memorics-as
citizens knowing cur own history, so as
TO distinguish between the powerlessness
of population, as seen during the con-
tinuancc of the confederation, and the
might and majesty of q people, us organ
lied under o.'r glorious constitution; as in
tei'igeps aad patriotic freenen, knowing
the impossibilitics OF reconstruatng such
another political Fabric, ii We permit this
one to be ruthlessIy destroyed, we warn
You against an alliance with any party
OF men, republicans or otherwise in name,
who seem ready to do acts that wi.l ,inev-
itably loosen the bonds that now hold US
together as u nation, and constitute US
one people
Whatever our whig friends in other
States of the Union may, in the circum-
stances by which they are surrounded, con-
clude TO do, for ourselves in the absence
of an unalloyed whis organization, after
a careful survey of the signs which mark
the political horizon OF the country-ins
view ofthc temperament of our people, w hen
excited to exaspernlion by the designs ef
the demagogue, and Of the danger that
acts may be done by them, ander the in
tluenee Of a Temporary alteration of judy
ment, however patriotic the motives of the
actors, which will cause the stars of our
cherished confederation to ge down in an
endless political night, and the Gag of our
Union to be sustained in fraternal blood
we deem it to be q paramount duty to
leave untried no honorable means which
may contribute to the defeat of the repub-
lican ticket, and thereby preserve to our
selves an independent existence, ready for
future action and entitled to glorious tri-
uniph, when our now excited and deluded
friends shall resume their wonted deliber-
alton, and renew the allegiance to- that
CONSERVATIVE party which. has hither look
ed npon the United States as one country,
ony hos an,rrnved i, illuuipa lattnrs