The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-03

that respect for the Constitution and the Union
which would infringe on no right OF the slave
States. Sat uerbum. You would be greatly odi-
fed by some Of the newspapers I find In my
mail. This winthrop says a Western loco
foco print, is the follow who sold himself to the
South last year by voting against the wilmot
Proviso.' The wilmot proviso,' cries a South
ern sheet, call 1t not 30. but rather the Vim
throp Propiso. for Mr.. winthrop moved II two
years before Mr.. wilmot thought Of It'll"
The Presidential possibilities OF 1S4s had long
boon an engrossing topic OF conversation. MIR.
Winthrop. we are told, was decidedly OF the
opinion that, In the exis Ing condition OF
public affairs, the Democrats would win an
easy victory, should the Wing nominee be
Clay, Webster, or Judge McLean. There is lit
tie doubt that he was right, yet the Webster
Wings mover forgave him for preferring the
success OF his party to the nomination OF the
"Godlike DAN" The only chance for the
Wings, in his judgment, was to run an untried
man whose name would excite popular sym.
patty outside OF politics. His personal
preference was for Gen. Scott, with whom he
had grown intimate during his residence in
Washington, but he realized that the enthu-
siasm aroused by Gen. Taylor's Mexican cam.
paign rendered him a safer candidate. With the
latter his acquaintance was then slight, but he
had formed q high opinion of his patriotism and
unselishness. Out OF regard for Mr.. Webster.
however. he rofrained from any public expros-
sion Of his views, and declined in advance To be
elected a delegate TO the Philadelphia Conven-
ton. From time to time he noticed that his
own name figured as . possible candidate for
the vice.Presidency on the Taylor ticket, but he
considered this newspaper gossip until, In the
latter part Of January, John s. Pendleton of
Virginia came to, him to offer the unanimous
support OF tho delegation from that State
IL the Speaker would consent to the use Of his
name. This proposal Mr.. Winthrop at once do
clined, on the ground that 1t would be sound
policy for the friends Of Gen. Taylor not to
couple him with any particular man at the out
set. but rather to leave the Vice-Presidency open
until the last moment for different candidates
to hang their hopes upon. In giving this advice
he made a single exception. expressing tho be.
lief that, II Webster could then be persuaded to
waive his claims and take the second place, q
Taylor and Webster ticket would afford the best
assurance of victory. We need not point out
that, owing to the revolt Of the New York Barn.
burners against the Democratic nominee, and
to the carly death Of President Taylor, either
Mr.. Winthrop or Mr.. Webster would. had he
accepted the nomination for Vice-President
have had nearly three years in the White House.
1t Is we'll known that tho friends OF Clay and
Webster expressed great dissatisfaction at Gen.
Taylor's nomination. They each considered
themselves aggrieved by the preference given to
a successful soldier; but, from Mr.. winthrop's
point Of view, the deliverance Of the country
from tho incubus Of q Democratic: Administra-
ton was the real duty Of the hour. and all in.
dividual ambitions, however justified at other
times, should have given way to it. To him
the disparaRing remarks attributed to Webster
concerning Taylor ga nomination not 1T to be
made" y seemed more than injudicious.
He believed that II Webster, instead Of
finally according q tardy and lukewarm
support to Taylor's candidacy. had ad-
vocated it generously at the outset. he
would, beyond a doubt, have received an offer
of tho secretaryship of State. and with it an
unrivailed opportunity Of service to his coun-
try, to say nothing Of an escape from the Senate
before the debates on the Compromise. which
which were to be fatal to his influence. As
matters stood. a local schism was threatened,
Mr.. Webster's immediate supporters (mostly in
and about BOSTON, becoming known as web
ster Wings" while the main body of the party
in the State. headed by Mr.. Winthrop, were
often styled Massachusetts Wings" Tho
Free-Soilers awaited themselves Of the breach.
and endeavored to widen It by insinuatinR that
some Of Mr.. Webster's friends, and specifically
Mr.. Winthrop. had not been loyal to him.
We have shown how littlo basis there wal
for tho imputation. During the campaign, al
though Mr.. Winthrop doomed it inconsisten
with the office of Speaker TO take an active par -,
he made a few speeches. one of them at the
!, Wing State Convention in Worcester and an.
other at Faneuil Hall on the night before the
|, general election. Many years afterward he
, learned for the frat time that his Worcester
speech had received high from
Abraham Lincoln. who was among his audience.
> The keynote Of these speech 8 was struck in q
letter declining an invitation to address a meet
. ing in New York, from which We find the fol
, lowing extract in the book before US: THE
t Wings OF the Union" he wrote, can elect
0 Gen. Taylor President Of tho republic II they
4 will. They can elect nobody else. The only
other result they can accomplish 10 the success
of Gen. Cass. II any Of them see At to adopt the
5 latter of these two alternatives. they may de
t nounce whom they please az being no true
Wings; they will convict nobody but them
selves. AS the fairly selected nominee of Tho
National Convention, In which the Wing party
tho whole WhiR party. and nothing but tn,
Wing party. was represented. Gen. Taylor is. il
my Judgment. entitled to the support Of all whit
recognize party organization. As an avowec
Q Whig-nonet tho less likely to DO a true Wing. d,
firm Wing. or a wise Wing. because he hal
@ confessed himself not to DO an ultra whig-
r he has a right, as l think. to tho support OF al
who have voluntarily united In q convention
which has declared him its candidate. But, a
an honest man Of 0potless character, sterling
10 integrity, strong sense. indomitable courage
tried patriotism. ana just principles. he has fl
n higher claims upon us all. / believe him to b
all this. and more than all this. We have hal
some touches OF his quality, which cannot b
h mistaken. Under him, I believe We shall hav
a peaceful. virtuous, patriotic. and ~constitu
tional Administrations. And II any acciden
should befall him (which Heaven AVERT, you
n own Willard Fillmore will carry out such a.
IS Administration to its Legitimate completion"
vi.
Some of Mr.. winthrop's private letters. writ
d ten between Gen. TAylor's election and his inau
g~uration. throw light upon the political histor
y of tho period. For instance, under date of Dec
y IL. ls4s, we read; "As to newspaper sugge,
n tions of my going into tho Cabinet. or TO London
ir the former l should not care for and the latte
r. will end In smoke. as things in London are ap
8. to do. The very rumor OF such a likelihoo
10 would defeat 1t. there arc 60 many confictin
claims. Besides the one you mention, / hav