The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-08-25
What need then is there for the further con-

tinuance Of sectional agitation. and for keep.
ing itup by mischicvous sectional organiza.
ton 2 What immediate end do they pro.
pose to accomplish What tangible obiec,
have they in view! They have not now that
moral element which gave them strength in
1856. They can now take no higher attitude
than that of combination of ambitious
aspirants and greedy offre-seek ers. who,
having tasted The sweets of power, and its
substantial rewards, in many of the States,
are painting for the more splendid prize of a
national victory, and FOR that purpose are
diligently tanning the fires of sectional hate
which every true patriot should wish to have
eXtinguished.
QUALIFICATIONS OF MR.. LINCOLN.
So far as the claims and qualifications OF
candidates are concerned we surely need not
shrink from comparison with the Republican
party. For the first time in the history OF
the country, great party has nominated for
the Presidency man unknown. even by
name. to a majority of the people Mr..
Lincoln. we admit is a respectable man, a
respectable lawyer, and as popular speaker,
of probably more than average ability but
what a meagre catalogue is this Of claims for
the highest office Nothing whatever is
known OF his executive or administrative
capacity nothing Of his views as to the great
question Of foreign and domestic policy which
are likely to arise in the conduct of the Gov
ernment-nolhins as to his knowledge of the
great interests and relations of the country.
lie served hut a single term in the House Of
Representatives. and there earned no con.
Spicuous distinction. His nomination was
cXtorted from the Chicago Convention by the
force of local pressure. and presents the most
glaring example of the pitiful doctrine of
availability that the political annals of the
country have ever shown. His claims for
the Office Of President of the United States
rest upon the fact that. in a popular contest
before the people Of illinois. with Mr.. Doug
las he sustained himself with energy and fair
ability. Nor need we do more than advert to
the fact. which is another illustration of the
sectional character Of the Republican organi-
cation, that their candidate for President is
taken from the extreme Northwest, nd their
candidate for the Vice Presidency is taken
from the extreme Northeast. What means
can they have for knowing or ascrrtaining the
qualifications Of persons TO fill the Federal
offices in the Southern S,atesl
MR.. BELL AND Mr.. EVERETT.
The candidates presented by the Constitu-
tional Union party have every possible claim
upon the confidence and support OF the Amer
lean people. There is little need of setting
forth these claims in detail and by particulars,
for to suppose any one ignorent OF the merits
and services of John Bell and Edward Everett
is to suppose him ignorant of the history of
the country during the last thirty years -
Both have been distinguished influential
members of both branches Of Congress. Mr.
Bell has been speaker Of the House of Repre-
Scntatives and Secretary of War. Mr.
Everett has been Governor Of Massachusetts,
Minister to Great Britain, and Secretary of
State. Both are men of gre political cXpe
rience. and both have proved their fitness for
the highest trusts. Both are animated by
the spirit OF a generous and comprehensive
patriotism. OF all Southern statesman, none
is more popular at the North than Mr.. Bell !:
Of all Northern statesmen, none is more
endeared to the people of the South than Mr.
Everett.
DUTIES OF THE PEOPLE.
Such fellow citizens. are few of the most
ohvio2s arguments in behalf of the candidates
of the Constitutional Union party. We can
not disguise it from you that we look forward
to the future with grave anxiety. This is
natural, when we consider excitabilly of the
American people, and the inhammatory char
actcr of the political issues which now divide
them. Surely great dangers lie in the path
on which we are moving. Our appeal is to
the patriotism, the wisdom and the conscience
of the country to leave these perilons edges of
sectional strife, and thus avoid these dangers
We would fain recall the American people to
fresh sense Of the aficctionate and fraternal
is,lp, hrn, 10
Address of tie Father Of his Country.
There are men now living who, when this
address first appeared were of an age to com
prcnend its spirit, and to be touched by its
courselS; what change have they lived to
witness in the sentiments entertained towards
each other by the alenated sections OF our
once united country. And how do our alter
ed hearts and averted faces vindica,e the pro-
phelc sagacity of Washington We readily
admit that there have been grave faults OH
both sides, let us not employ ourselves in the
ungraclous office of comparing Offences and
weighing provocations. but let US open wide
the arms of reconciliation. and cease to use
the language OF reproach. The blessing pro-
missed to the peace-makers shall rest upon all
who address themselves to this hcneticcnt
work. We wish to preserve the orion. and
transmit it to our children. and Uuion
animated by the life blood of a paternal spirit,
without which it is q shadow and not sub
stance.
Let us revive in the hearts of our country.
men the prophetic declaration of the patriot
Clay, in his memorab speech before the Ken.
lucky Legislature, when he was called, in
1850, to breathe ont his life in the last grand
effort to give peace to distracted country:
Is | may he asked, as I have been asked
when would consent to dissolution Of the
Union. ] answer, Never .Nercr' Never!
1.-THE agitation in regard to the
| fugitive slave law should continue and increase
and become alarming, it will lead to the for
nation Of two new parties one for the Union
and the other against the Union,
and the platform of that Union party will be
THE UNION. THE CONSTITUTION. AND THE En-.
.roRCEMENT OF THE LAWS. And if it should
I've necessary to form such party, and ii
should be accordingly formed. | announce
myself in this place a member Of that party
1choierer may be its component elements. -"
The time so elo9ucntly and graphically
predicted has arrived. That Union party is
now organized. 1t appeals to the country.
men of Washington and Clay for their sup.
port. 1t enreats them to gather in serried
phalanX around the Union and the Uonstilu.
ton, and defend them from the fierce assaults
of sectionalism whencesoever they may come
and, by the election of our national and
patriotic candidates, to preserve for our sons
the glorious heritage bcqucathcd us by our
/ Il.