The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-09-24

maryland should approve the government OF
the majority by the mInority-for then only
are they likely tc carry the State. The
present aspect of the country seems to COM
mend it to the favorable consideration of all
democrats.
They approve of a tariff with specific duties
proposed by the President, and of a tariff
with advalorum duties prepared by Mr.. Cobb
his Secretary of the Treasury, at the same
time.
They think he Is right in proposing Bank
rupt law tor the Banks-by which in times
of distress, pressure will be crowded into
prostration, suspension into bankruptcy, a
crisis into moro cruel agony than heretofore.
policy likely to commend itself to our
Merchants two years after 1852.
They think it right that the expenditure of
the Government should swell from S54 ,000.-
600 in President Fillmore's last year and
ST. 900 600 in President Pierce's last year
TO ISL 900 900 in President Buchanau's first,
and to SS3 500, 900 in his second year, for
does it not all go in refreshing streams among
the faithful
Such are some of the public acts of this
administration.
There are others not perhaps intended to
be public but which adverse fate and family
quarrcls have made public, and they too meet
the "grand concurrence of the Maryland
Democrats The investigating committees
have widened the bases of the Maryland
Democratic platform.
1t embraces the sale of Fort Smelling reser-
walton, worth $400, 900, by the Secretary of
War. through unfit agents, to political parti-
zans, without notice, secretly and illegally,
and the retention of the Secretary in the
Cabinet.
1t embraces the purchase of Willett's Point
by the same Secretary, through political par
tizans, for 5000 900, which only few weeks
before he had refused at 500 900 as too ex.
travagant price under all the strange cir
cumstances detailed in Mr.. Haskin's report.
They approve of all the corruptions and
abuses exposed in the conduct of the Supern-
tendent of Public Printing and in the Navy
Department; the brokerage of political inAu-
ence to secure contracts the Scandalous
partition Of patronage in the Brook yn Navy
Yard among New York members OF Congress
known, allowed and enforced by the Secretary
of the Navy the live oak contracts the con-
tracts for machinery =; the purchase of coal
all made fund to be distributed by political
influence, irrespective of the public interest !;
the Patterson letter and its endorsement: the
commissions allowed out Of the profits by
Government contractors TO Agents influential
in getting them; the converting of Navy
Yards into reservoirs of votes for doubtful
districts. There other revelations of similar
character that have not diminished the conf
dcnce of Maryland Democrats in the integrity
and patriotism of this Administration.
But these things have destroyed it in the
minds Of honest men in Mary land, und
throughout the Union. Fall two-thirds of
the people of the United States, in my opinion,
are weary of democratic domination, and
anxious to expel them from power. So
were they in $50 and failed. a like failure
will wait on like policy: and disasters
which no tongue can tell, will plague US for
cur folly.
Success is the highest Of duties: for by i.
alone can we rescue the industry of the coun-
try from its present proSIration, the iron
interest from depress ion, the manufacturing
interests tlom ruin, the mechanical class from
penury by ii alone can we adjust the tariff
for the protection Of American labor against
foreign labor, our commerce against the
dangers Ut coast and river navigation, the
peace and honor OF the country against the
Cuban projects Of democratic aspirants,
and the legalization of the African slave
trace by the repeal Of the penal lawson the
stale pretext so fatal to the Missouri pacifca-
ton that they are an insult to Southern
men, slur on slavery in the States. By
success only can the Government be purged
| of the corruptions peryading it +: the squan-
derins of the peoples millions stopped; the
morals and character of the nation fully
represented in the officers by whom alone the
Government speaks.
How then can success be accomplished
In my judgement by the union of the whole
body of those opposed to the administration
of President Pierce and President Buchanan,
on some man of ability and character, not
offensive TO either the North or the South. -.
II that union be not effected, a democrat will
be elected President by the people in 1860
and to the country it is of no moment vino
that democrat may be for the system of the
democrats is worse than their worst man,
and stronger than their best man.
All agree to an union-but the mode Of
union which one prefers another repels.
The Americans are quite willing that the
Republicans shall turn Americans.
The Republicans seem 10 labor under the
delusion that the Americans may turn Re-
| publicans.
OF course everybody is willing that every.
body else should come over to his opinion. =
All hopes of union on such principles are
| bitter decisions.
| None is more anxious for this union of the
| Opposition than am. But to the Republican
party l will yield nothing, and with it have
\ and can have no connection. Nor am I so
wild as to suppose the Republicans will merge
themselves in the American party. But are
paper platforms of party jea,ousies to keep
apart whole people yearning after unity Of
action! We of Maryland can and ought to
| be willing to unite with all, in the North or
| in the South, who are willing to unite with
us. for the selection ola candidate who can be
elected over the Democratic candidate and
in opposition to the ruinous. agitating, and
corrupt policy of those now in power.
The Opposition are now largely in the
majority in the Free States: it has gained
greatly in the Slave States. Ifnnited, it will
be in the majority in every Free State and in
several Southern States. We cannot unite il
we are required to assent to principles or a
policy We reject We cannot suppose. the
men Of the North will be so unwise as to
exact as a condition Of union our assent to
the two resolutions of the hasty Philadelphia
platform Of 1856; for that is to ask assent to
resolutions in which the Southern Opposition
will not concur, and which do not relate to
any practical question likely to require
solution at present. If they will meet with
| us freely to agree on man, as the Wings,
North and South, did without platform,
then we can and ought to unite for many