The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-07-28
For the Clarion.
For the Clarion.
Letter from an Old Line WING.
To the Pilot:

Letter from an Old Line Nhig.
To the Pilot;
In my former letters / have shown that
the Wings have never entertained a single
political sentiment In common with you.-
That while we opposed secession we never
re-echoed a sentiment OF yours. We were
Influenced by policy widely different. by
aims altogether dissimilar. You were, al
that time ragged crew of dirty abolition
lists, and any respectable Northern mer-
chant would as soon have been found asso-
ciating with you at the Five Points, as we
been heard to defend your course. Have
you changed either your moral or political
opinions. Have you since that time desert
ed your principles so as to commend you 70
the association you seek. IL so, point out the
change. have seen no political inconslst-
ency, no change in your moral code Of
which to accuse you. A diabolical hatred
If the Southern people, coupled with to-
tai disregard for the obligations Of the con-
stitution, characterized you then. Now the
plumber Of the one and the rending Of the
other so far from satiating seems only to
have increased the malice and whettcd the
appetite for more spoils, more plumber. No
one will pretend TO deny that you have been
as true to your principles as the needle TO
the pole. You are singularly unfortunate
consistency, which in other men Is es-
teemed a virtue, in you becomes a crime.
We of the Wing party have ever been in
fiuencedby moral and political opinions di-
rectly the opposite Of yours. We felt the
good OF our whole country to be the highest
consideration. Our respectability and fair
fame as next in estimation, and last the care
of personal or private fortune. Everywhere,
among every people the universal voice OF
mankind has in every age stigmatized the
man who for private gain would sacrifice
his character or country, rs a villain; and Il
has ever been regarded as the quintescence
OF all that is despicable, base and degrading
in human nature; but when so assaulted, you
have the consolation of knowing that IL Is
prompted ne little by the contempt and ha-
tired of those whom you plumber az by those
moral principles against which you are ar
rayed, proof Of the necessity for progress
in moral ideas. The system of ethics should
be overturned, since mankind will only
cease to apply to your party such epithcts-
when the christian religion is forgotten and
the philosophy Of Paley shall give way TO a
new moral code, based upon virtues
hitherto mistaken by the world for crimes.
The signers of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence had a decent regard for the opin-
ions of mankind. The man who does not
have it, is capable OF any thing, will do any
thing, but for the restraints of law. You
press, uninvited, to another mans table and
glory in the shame Of pocketing his spoons
This defiance Of, and outrage against public
Gecency, now leads to official position and
emoluments; but IT, az In former times, and
in all other countries it led to the pillory or
the halter, you might desist, but what then
would influence you to decency-your sense
of honor, the sense of duty TO society, which
you do not possess, or the certainty Of the
certainty of the enforcement Of the crimii-
nal law.
Men may join your ranks, but not true
Wings at least he cannot remain a Wing
The whole nature of the man must be
changed, he must be born anew and
regenerated by baptism ia the
Shiny pools of political corruption lac
may then come forth a fitting instrument to
use i'm working out your policy. You need
not fear either his desertion or his treach-
cry. No party will have him. No person
will believe him, he has lost even the power
to betray. What words will describe the
moral abyss into which he is plunged who
is too vile for the meanest villainy. You
have tried them and invariably found them
true. Should such again offer take him
quickly, without question as to his lunacy
or knavery, in either event he is yours until
death. Hug him with your fondest embrace;
introduce him to the chosen fair whose eb-
ony beauty adorns and whose odor sweetens
your legislative halls, your public festivals
and your popular assemblies.
Until the successful achievement Of that
moral revolution towards which your party
has made such rapid progress, you will find
no security against Invective and denunci-
alton. The only prohibitory rule recogni-
zed or enforced beng based upon reasons
not applicable in your case. Where there Is
no character to asperse-no pride TO offend
no sensibilities to wound, language can
do no injury and is not forbidden.
What words could make Morgan blush
How would you touch so as TO offend the
sensibilities of Ames, Alcorn, Gibbs and
Coats? You might kill, but how else could
you disturb the digestion OF an Ostrich.
OLD LINE WING.