Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-01-21
Speech OF MR.. BREoKENRIDGE,

: Z
Mr.. Breckenridge, who, rising was recelFed
with deafening cheers spoke as follows;
Mr. President and gentlemen: am not ln the
habit of apologzing for being unprepared respond
to sentiments offered on occasions like this because
whenever leone to public meeting hold myself
bound to take my proper share IN the proceedings.
desire however to say to you, that after what you
have heard tonight and in viewzcf what you may
expect to hear, shall detan you very short time.
In response to the sentiment just proposed, am
sorry that it is not in my power to say that kentuc-
XIV may be welcomed to-day into the family OF DEM
ocratic States. 1 hope, however, that the time is
not distant when can say When we think OF
her orgin-when remember that she was born
in the democratic fold-that her infancy was rocked
in the democratic crade-t increases our regret that
in afterlife she led off by that great man, whose
genius was so brilliant that it seemed the true fire
from Heaven. Loud cheering.l She followed his
principles and his person she adhered to him with
constant fidelity and in all the elements of courage
honor, and greatness he worthy of her love-
He is gone and now an opportunity is afforded her
to remember the principles which ushered her into
political being lChecrs And allow me to say to you
gentlemen, that she has gallant body OF dem
ocrats struggled in a minority; and they
hope the day is not far distant when she will take
her original and appropriate place in the republican
column, and when she will embrace once more
never again to abandon-the principles that marked
the epoch of her origin. Tremendous cheering1
Gentlemen, have little to say in regard to the oc-
casion which we have met to celebrate, and yet L
must say a word that occurs to me. 1t was
well said by the gentleman from California that Gen.
,JackSon's history may be viewed in double aspect
military and civil. The achievement which we
have met to commemorate tonight was perhaps the
most remarkable in the annals of our military histo
ry. 1t was there that of the West-the people
Of the valley of the Missssippi-were taught to I'M
derstand that of genius could, out OF raw ma
terials and rude clements, create by his own genius
and WILL power competent to repel the veterans OF
England. Loud Cheers And If, hereafter, it shall
be their fortune to be engaged in any future contest
why the blood of their ancestors will quicken in the
veins of their descendants, who will not bear the
thought Of falling short of the renown which was
achieved upon the plains of New Orleans. Cheers
Therefore, that act of jackson and his militia
will, in any future war, be worth an army to the
United States of America Renewed Cheers
But gentlemen, from the resolutions which were
read o-nght and from the character of the speech
es which have been made, L presume that tins Is
political meeting too and that is not out OF order
to refer to the civil as well to the military serv
ces of Andrew jackson Gentlemen, to my mind
he was greater hero in civil than in military life
I Loud cheering What is it tonight that makes
YOU respond enthusiastically to the mention OF
his name. What is it that springs up in the heart
of every American when the name OF jackson is
Why, it is the fact that when he was !
in the presidential chair and when monopolies and
faction, and power ank talent combined to pcrpctu
ate the most gantc abuses, and arrayed themselves
against the liberties of his country, the Old Hero,
almost alone, noby defended the passes OF the con-
sttuton until the people to his rescue. Grcat
and prolonged checring Gentlemen, l need not !
dwell upon it. L regard It the most heroic act in
CIVIL
and enthusiastic cheering.
Wei, gentlemen, my friend from South Carolina |
(Mr. Orr has referred tog ht to the present condl-
ton of the democrrtic party Before say one word
about present, let refer for instant to the
past The maxins of Jefferson and of Monroe and |
of jackson ours-they are our watchwords The |
policy of this party has brought us to our present
amazing height of national lenown; and IN claiming
this mean nothing disreSpcctful to any individual
or party Intending to say nothing offensive to any
gentlemen present OF opposite opinions speak only
Of results as the proper consequence OF democratic
policy. Cries of Cood!' Good ~ This policy
framed your laws, managed your affairs, control
ed your government, and done all i'll such way
that prosperity and abundance have continued to
smile upon the land, and W. now present to the
world the spectacle of people unoppressed by tax
ltion yet oyerburdened with revenue. Again, I'M
Ter its auspices, what vast domains have been added
20 the area of republican freedom. To it we are in
lebted for Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, |
Utah. and New Mexico. 1t has carried honoraby
he flag of the republic the continent, and III
he victorious track of that flag have followed Chris
ianity, civilization, and the arts of peace PRO
onged and enthusiastic applause( From the frozen
cgons of the North to the edge of the tropics from
he Atlanti the Pacific ocean, it has planted the
,erm of free and independent empire to which
Rome, in the height of her glory could not be COM
pared Loud cheers.[ Withal it has stimulated
rewarded labor, and extended commerce,
hat American society in every department
moving forward by quck-step march to the music
If industry's hum.
IA Voice. We going to have Cuba one of
hese days. Applause.l
To such party we belong; and these arc the
of its policy and its glory. What has
,een done, gentlemen, has been done in a manner
lot inconsistent with the constitution of country
New States and Territories have been added.
No State has been pressed to the centre as to
hafe her; State has been driven off so to move
but each playing freely in its proper
,rbit, the whole system has moved on IN beautiful
harmony, without collision and without disorder.
Gentlemen, under these circumstances, with such
party with such antecedents, and with such pros
,ects, |, as an humble member of the democratic
,arty went to its convention at Baltimore in 1852 to
nominate candidate for the presidency. The party
lad been divided, broken by personal collisions,
personal aspirations, and personal antpathies which
lad previously resulted in defeat; and as l I'M
lerstood it. as the people understood it. met to-
,ether to lay upon the altar of common principles
md common country past differences and past an
ipathes. We did do it, and sealed the act by a
,ond, and that bond was written declaration of
political principles nominated candidate for the
We nominated gentleman who had not
,een connected with the acerbtes, the passions
md the collisions of the past, and yet gentleman
whose anteccdents were such that he could become a
,ure and proper representative of these principles
Applause. He was elected triumphantly, and up
IN what? Upon the platform of political principles
hus laid down. And by whom was he elected? by
he whole democratic party thus united upon this
platform. Renewed applause.l Gentlemen, advo-
ated his election advocated it upon the princi-
,les of that platform Since that time he has issued
md the other his recent annual message to Con-
7 box- than, md thop, do