The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-10-07
An Old Lime Whig
speaks
Address OF Hon. William Id.
Reed, before the DemOc-
raCy OF Philadelphia

On Monday evening, Sept. 26th, an immense
concourse. OF Democrats assembled at JaYne's
Hall, when speeches were made by Benz H.
Brewster, w H. Witte, VIM. B. Reed and
others. The speech of Mr. Reed is one of
great interest, as he was a strong Whig until
within short time and is a man OF great ability
and extensive requirements
! .ur Chairman and FeLlo,o citizeus-It is
now more than two years since l have opened
my lips on the subject of domestic politics, and
[ it any one has come here tonight expecting me
to say word about the wretched local SQUAD
bles that-If we may believe the newspapers-
are agltatlng the Democratic party, he will be
disappointed. But if it will do any good-ifi it
will strengthen any feeble heart, Or trembling
knees, 10 have the earnest cordial, and | hope
dlslnterested testimony of one who has looked
on the home incidents OF the past two years
from a distance, and therefore cooy and with
out prejudice, to the patriotism, integrity and
ability Of the administration OF Mr.. Buchanan,
(applauSe,) that testimony shall not be withheld.
| now abstain from discussing the important
question whether the Collector Of this Port-a
gentleman Of an entirely rreproachabIe private
Characters tyrant or not. l Isave such
matters TO those VINO have taste for them. and
with the expression OF my fixed belief that niue
tenths OF the respectable DemoclatC voters OF
tins City regard such strife and such questions
precisely as | do-and that the real question for
them, as patriots, 10 consider and decide, Is how
the Administration the General Government is
worthy Of support, and by what means the IN
tegrity OF that party, on whose success, IN my
poor Judgment, the stability OF the Union de-
pends, is to be preserved. Immense ap-
| Plause.l
| am quite conscious that in appearing here
tonight l expose nyselfto the impuation or
/ the recollection that once was a Wing, and
very recently an ofIiceholier. beg it to be
understood tnat | never lose sight of either.
When | remember ! once was Wing, recall
DAYS when what was called the Wing party
did not think its whole end and aim the slavery
questlon-when Mr.. Webster who was called
pretty good wing, supported Fugitive Slave
Law for the protection Of Southern property "a
gainst Northern fanaticism-when Mr.. Clayton
pronounced the Missouri sill unconstitutional
when MI Clay, as late as 1850 announced ii
to be his doctrine, land we Wings were very
apt to take his notions as law that a territorial
Legislature could not interfere with slavery, or
rather with the tenure of slave pfoperty-the
Presidents doctrine exactly-when Winfield
Scott, whom Nj. Buchanan is now censured
for employing on an errand specially suited to
him, was Wing candidate, and when the boun-
GarY Treaty of IS46-which the organs Of the
Peoples party are denouncng the President for
making-was ratified by the votes Of IS Dem
ocrats and % Old Line Wings, among whom
find such names as Berrien, and John M. Clay
tor, and John Davis, and William l.. Dayton,
then a Whig) and George Evans, and Reverdy
johnson, and Daniel Webster. These are re-
collections that come thronging back when
am taunted with having been a Whig and
they teach me one other lesson of respect fol
the memory of ancient friendships, and OF utter
adherence of that lniquitous, ungentemanly
facility which permits men without scruple
or blush, 10 diSparage and defame those whom
they once pretended to love, and in the sun
shine OF whose patronage (Which for them seem
ed ineXhaustible) they were so glad to bask.
leave it to you, gentlemen, to make the appIi-
cation. (Ap?lause.)
How and why / ceased 10 be a Whig-ant
with what welcome ] united myself with tht
Democratic party, you all know as well as
can tell you. picked up yesterday speec!
of Senator Toombs and find there descrip
; ton of this process of change with which in
r considerate people often reproach me, which i
most accurate. Let me read it TO you. 1t tell
nv tale for me, and that of thousands like me
When the Wing party of the North marches
. over in body to the Abolition camp, elthe
directly and openly, or coVertly and secretl,
through the American organization, ve:.
large portion OF the old Wings saw that duty
: patriotism, the safety of themselves and countr.
, required them TO sustain the Democratic party
/ and they immediately united with it. ZAP
s plause.)
: But have been an office holder! The Presl
j.. dent of the United States thought ut, yieldin
!. 10 an impulse which no one found fault with, t
d select me for high and responsible duty. How
t | discharged that duty it is not for me to say
. but this say, that if any success attended lh
y mission with which l was honored- il was be
cause the Government at Washington, and espe