The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-05-19

the Vice Presidency.
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~ few years ago the too credulous
people of this country were led to believe that
the question of slavery, which bad been lis
tracing the country for years. was forever
settled by the Compromise Measures which
Congress had then just agreed upon
There were apparently good reasons then for
entertaining this belief The Wing and
Democratic parties had formally, in con-
venton in 1852, declared those measures
iinaiity. a Democratic President had
pledged himself TO uphold them during his
term of office, and leading men in both par ties
among whom was the immortal Clay -had
declared, in card published by them, that
they would support no man for President or
Vice President, or for any State Legislature
who was not known to be opposed to the
rc"epenng of the vcXed question of slavery.
Who could have supposed that. in less than
three months from the reading of President
Picrce's first Annual Message in December.
1858, this whole question would be re opened
Who could have dreamed of such an event g
And yet it came to pass. No one asked for
it; no State Legislature petitioned for it; but
dcmagoguc for his own policical aggrandize.
mcnt conceived the horrible, the tra.orous
idea, and unblushingly preached it upon the
floor Of the U. S. Senate.
The Kansas and Nebraska bill, with its
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, is the
| child OF Democratic parents. II was concci-
we'd in the brain OLA democrat, assisted in its
birth BY democrats, and baptiscd by demo-
cratic President. 1t, and its twin brother
Lecompton, with all the ills the country
has suffered in consequence of them the
hoodshrd in Kansas, and the fanatical raid
Of John Brown into Virginia, are all properly
chargeable to democratic demagogueism.
That this RET opening of the slavery agitation
led to the formation OF great Northern
Sectional Party, the promu CATION of whose
extreme views has, in turn, resulted by a
natural process, in the adoption of equally
extreme southern dogmas, is proposition
requiring no labored argument to prove
| The late Char lesion Convention affords abLn.
dant evidence that this is war of sections,
not parties.
There the southern minority arrays itself
against the Northern majority, and charges
that majority with hercsy as foul as that of
the Republicans. Douglas and Squattcr Sow
ereignty are denounced as equal in atrocity
and fideousness to Seward and Popular Sow
ereisnty. Thus the war RACES in the heart Of
the democratic party; and thus, but that the
interests OF the lerters Of that party would
have suffered thereby, would this war have
ragged long ere this; for nothing but the " co.
heslvc power of public p!under" has kept it
from disruption so long.
Now, in view of this lamentaLlc condition
of the country, divided as it is against itself
and in minent peril in the hands OF the DEM
agogucs, who now have control of 1t, where
are We've Of Maryland, particularly, stu.
ated between both the contcnding factions
where arc we. and I'll conservative men every
where, who believe that the mission of the
American Republic is yet unfuliled, to take
positions
AS Maryland Americans, where can we
take position, but in the ranks of the Const-
tutional Union party? What other course
would be so consistent with the principles
inculcated by the third degree Of the Ameri-
can party? As Old Line Clay Wings, union.
loving Wings, whose garments have been pre-.
served unspoted, where can we so properly
stand, as under the Bell and Everett banner
of the Constitutional Union party?
There could not have been found in all this
great country, two men more cminenty wor-
thy of the confidence and support of conser-
vatiye Wings and Americans, and all ha,ers
of factions, than John Bell and Edward Ever
EFT. Their names are synonymous with pat
riotism and political integrity. No blot, or
stain, has, or can be found upon either o.
them.
The sole argument used by the Scctonaists
North and South against them is that il" they
are Fossils, respectable old gentlemen, very
good men, but can create no enthusiasm,
among the masses"
Is there nothing about long life of Rcpub.
l'can virtue and political integrity to excite
enthusiasm Have the masses ia lien to
that dreadful depth of depravity that nothing
but political demagoguesm can make them
enthusiastic =? Is that the estimate you place
upon the honest yeomanry, and hard listed
mechanics Of America, Messieurs Republican
and Democratic agtators We do not so rate
them, and we think they will not be so rated
n~TSomo prophnt fnt of b;c ovrp ponpt ru