The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-05-07

with him in the amount and value of pub
lie services rendered He had worked
long, assiduously. and faithfully to de-
serve the honors Of his party, and to
qualify himself for the highest distinc-
ton that party could bestow upon him.
He must receive its nomination row Or
never, as he was then upwards of sixty
years of age, and his vigorous constitu-
ton had shown signs Of decay. lie cn-
gagged in the campaign, however, with
the hope and the vigor Of youth, writing
letters to his friends. circulating large
pamphlet editions of his speeches, and
entertaining at his table those through
whose influence he hoped to receive the
Southern support necessary to secure his
success.
President Fillmore. meanwhile, WAS
quietly but steadily using the patronage
of the Federal government to secure the
election of delegates to the Wing Ma
tional Convention friendly to his nomi-
nation. Mr.. Webster counted on the
support of the Presidents friends, but
he never received from Mr.. Fillmore any
pledges that it would be given. On the
contrary, the leading oilce-holders as
serted, weeks prior to the assembling Of
the convention, that the contest had al
ready been nrrrowed down to 4 question,
between Fillmore and Scott. Mr.. Sew
ards friends were of the same opinion,
only way to defeat the nomination of
Fillmore.
When the convention was organized,
and proceeded to ballot General Scott
had one hundred and thirty-four votes,
Mr.. Fillmore one hundred and thirty
three, and Mr.. Webster twenty-nine,
ern delegate. Not a Southern vote was
given to him, despite all the promises
made, but Mr.. Fillmore received the en-
tire Southern strength. The balloting
was continued for several days, without
any change and even the eloquence of
Rufus Choate failed to secure the vote
of single Southern delegate for his
cherished friend. Mr.. Choate then went
to Washington, hoping to move Mr.. Fill
more; bat the President ''made no sign"
and Mr.. Webster saw that the Presi-
dency, to which he had 50 long aspired,
was to pass beyond his reach. He was
saddened by the disappointment, and es-
pecially wounded when he was informed
that Mr.. Clay had advised the Southern
delegates to support Mr.. Fillmore.
A nomination was finally made on the
tifty-third ballot, when twenty-eight del
egates from Pennsylvania changed their
votes from Fillmore to General Scott
That evening, party of enthusiastic
Wings at Washington, after serenading
President Fillmore. marched to the resi-
dence of Mr.. Webster The band per
formed several patriotic airs, but some
time elapsed before Mr.. Webster appear
ed, wearing 4 long dressing gown, and
looking sad and weary. He said but Il
few words, making 40 allusion to Gen
eral Scott, and when, III conclusion, he
said that for one he should sleep well
and rise with the lark the next morning
and babe them good night. the serena
ders retired as if they had had funeral
sermon preached to them. Thenceforth
Mr.. Webster was a disappointed, heart
stricken man. and he retired to Marsh
field, profoundly disguised with the in
sincerity Of politicians.
The nomination of General Scott gave
the death blow to the Wing party, which
had SO long contributed to the peace and
the glory of the United States. The
name Of Wings (derived from the Scotch
word whiggamore, one who drives
horses was bestowed. in 1913, on an
armed party which marched to Edin
burgh to oppose Charles l.: and it was
subsequently adopted i'll England by
those who asserted the rights Of the peo
pie in opposition to the prerogatives of
lantic to the thirteen colonies which were
struggling for their independence, and
the defenders Of popular rights called
themselves Wings, while those who 10y
ally adhered to the crown were denomi-
mated tories. Later, the name Viii. had
been adopted by those who desired, while
MI ln -
national honor, to develop the industrial
resources of the Republic, to elevate the
National reputation, and to command
the respect and admiration of the world
through the means of enterprise and hon
esty, private achievement and public vir-
tue. Had its leaders possessed the cour-
age to grapple with the slavery question
and to present some scheme for gradual
compensated emancipation, the Wing
party might have continued to direct our
unmatched resources for national great
ness, happiness, and glory.
Mr.. Buchanan was unusually active in
his opposition to the Wing ticket Il
should regard SCOTS election. he wrote
to friend, "as one Of the greatest ca
lamities which could betall the country.
his patriotism or his integrity; but he is
vain beyond any man | have ever known;
and. what is remarkable i'll a vain man.
he is obstinate and self-willed and I'M
yielding. His judgment, except i'll con-
Quoting a campaign i'll the field, is per-
verse and unsound and when, added to
all this, we consider that, if elected at
all. it will be under the auspices of Sew
ard and his abolition associates. fear
for the fate of this Union.'
The Wings were greatly embarrassed
by General Scott, who persisted in max
ing campaign speeches, some of which
did him great harm. Their mass meet
ings proved failures, notably one on the
battle ground of Niagara, but they en-
deavored to atone for these diScouraging
events by profuse distribution Of popu-
lar literature. Large editions were cir
culated of tract by Horace Greeley. en-
titled Why am I Il Wing =: and of cam
paign lives of "Old Chepultcpec, pub
lished in English, in French, and i'll Ger
man. But the people were no longer to
be led by the spirit stirring strains of the
drum and file, and General Scott re-
ceived only the electoral votes Of MaSsa-
chusetts, Vermont. Kentucky, and Ten