Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-06-19
From ihe Louisville Courier, lsth-
Ratification Meeting in LexinE
speech of Hon. j. c. Breckinr - I

/ tice) on Monday afternoon last. James U.
I Harrison, Esq, presided over the meettns
and the following are the resolutions Rd0pt-
/ cd - E
/ /. ResoIced. That the late DEMOCRATIC Ma
/ tional Convention, held at Cincinnati, has fnlly
met the high anticipations Of the patrotis eiu-
zens of Lexington and Fayette county i7that
/ the platform promulgated by the Convention Is
eminently national in the scope OF its patriotic
! principles firm and digniied in the tenor Of
/ its issues against the threatened dangers that
appear from different quarters wise and states
man-likc in the direct appeal to all good men
who love country better than party OF faction [;
and is broad enough and strong enough to up
hold the patriotic and national citizens Of all
sections of our country.
.. That the nomination of James buchanan
for President meets the hearty approval Of The
citizens Of this county, and is an carnestno
only OF Democratic victory, but Union at home,
and peace and national respect abroad.
3. That the nomination OF John @. Breekin-
ridge for Vice President, is accepted most cor
daily; and We feel grateful TO the Convention,
that, among so many equally qualified. our own
/ favofite statesman should be held at his real
merits, 10y the delegations favorable 10 other
/ gentlemen aud in ratfying their act in bis re.
! gard, we tender our thanks TO the friends Of
other gentlemen whose names were mentioned
| in connection with the office, and who 80 gen
erously and msgnanimously united 10 his nom
inalion.
4. That while here declaring our hearty ap.
prevail of the action Of the Convention. we
, pledge ourselves TO use all proper aud honor
able means 10 prove that aetios ratified al the
next November election by the people Of tho
State Of kentucky.
The meeting was addressed By Col. Mar
tin, of Philadelphia, Mr. Hamilton, Of Nav
jersey, Governor Chapman, of ALABAMA,
and Thomas p. Porter, Esq, Of Wood6Yd,
and Captain w. K. S;mms, Of Bourbo1, Z h1
two latter, Old Line Wings.
In response TO the wild and enthusiastic
shouts for Major Breckenridge, a committee
was appointed to wait upon and request his
attendance at the meeting, there publicly TO
receive the congratulations of his fellow-citi.
zens He complied with the request, aud
on his arrival was greeted with perfect tenn
pest of cheers. After the applause had sub.
sided, Major Breckenridge delivered the fol.
lowing speech, as we End it reported in the
Lexington Statesman
HON. J. c. BRECKINRIDGE'S SPEECH.
FELLOW CITIZENS Or TIRE COUNTY or FAYEfrB
have been invited by your committee to accept
the congratulations of my neighbors and friends
upon my nomination by the Democratic party
for the Vice Presidency OF the United States.
could not decline this invitation, coming from a
people who have, on all occasions, received me
with uniform Kindness /; aud for the cordially
with which you now welcome me, can only
return the warm thanks OF grateful heart.
/, Gentlemen, the proceedings Of the DeDoeratit
National Convention are before the country. Oh
. the three statesmen who were made most prom
inent before that body BY their own merits, and
the attention OF the people, the choice for th,
I I'll n. II. L.
coming tribute TO his long public service and
his pre-cminent abilities. The annunciation d
his name begets confidence in every part Of tho
Union For forty years he has lived in tht
public eye. lie has the largest experience IL
: political affairs, and from his long service il
the Executive and Legislative departments o.
the Government, he possesses perfect familiar
ity with every branch Of Administration. Ii
the discharge of his public duties his gres
talents has been universally recognized, anc
the purity of his character commands the re
spect of his countrymen without distinction o
party. In other countries he is the most dis
tinguishcd living representative of the intellec
and character Of the United States-and nom
J Of US, | am sure, have forgotten the sigma
ability with which, on a recent occasion, h
! yindicated the Just claims of his country
J against the most eminent diplornatists OF Eu
, rope.
Mr. Buchanan belongs 10 a class Of states
! men, nearly all Of whom have passed from the
stage Of action. He was long associated in thu
public councils with Jackson, Clay, Calhoun
Webster, Wright, Forsyth and others, who's.
names are cherished as portion OF the treas
ures of the country-and he was not the leas
star in that galaxy. His great eompeers an
gone vet he remains, in the vigorous possee
Sion Of all his faculties, standing in the mid
of the descendants of those with whom
commenced his career-respected and hoQ1 =!
by all classes of his eountrymen. Like ol
lie men, he has been the victim Of d. Il -
, but he has outlived it's inhuenco -
7 ealumnies thrown out in the part
long past, be more successfully revived
him than against the memories Of his hon !
associates.
, OF myself, gentlemen, il does not become nt
to speak, especially in the midst Of a peopls
among W HON was born aud reared. My prin
ciples and course of life are known TO you all
..Genllemen, the platform Of principles adopt
ell by the Convention will attract the attention
of the country. and exert the most important
influence upon public affairs. Without enter
ing into discussion of that platform, l may
r remark that it re-asscrts the old and well re
cognzed.creed of the Democratic party ant
hen spplies the principles Of that party 10 tbs
| great question Of the times.
Upon the two issues which do now most sgi
tate the Union, the position Of the Democracy
cannot hereafter he misunderstood or misrepre
sented.
They have defined in explicit terms hei
construction of the guarantees OF civil aud re
ligious liberty which are contained in the Con
stituion Of the United States.
Upon the distracting question Of domestic
slavery, their position is equally clear. The
whole power Of the Democratic organization
is pledged to the following propositions
That Congress shall not interfere upon thi
subject in the States, in the Territories, or il
the District of Columbia
That the people of each Territory shah de
termine the question for themselves, add he sd
United into the Union upon footing Of perfec
equality with the original States, without dis
elimination on account on the allowance of pro
hibiton Of slavery
That the law Of Congress, for the return Of
fugitives from labor, passed In pursuance Of the
requirements Of the Constitution, shall be faith
fully executed.
Upon all these vital questions the Conven
State giving them his cordial approval
Gentlemen. if these principles can be maiu.
tanned, every obstacle will be removed TO the
peace and prosperity Of our country. More
than this you ought not TO ask-less than this
you will not consent 10 take. know you well
enough TO be assured that there is not a man
within the sound Of my voice, who does moi
feel that this settlement IS just, and that In no
other mode can the rights of the respective
members Of the confederacy be preserved, and
the peace of the Union secured.
To the maintenance Of these principles are
pledged the united efforts of the strongest pollt
zeal organization in the United States. 700
are not called upon now to decide subordinate
questions Of policy. You are brought face TO
face with issues which rock your country to Its
centre, and involve the principles upon which
your institutions are founded. Hence high
! personal responsibility is imposed on every
| citizen, which cannot be discharged by blindly
herding beneath party banners, or uttering
/ fierce rsllying cries, or surrendering the Judy
ment to the dominion of the prcjudiees and the
passions.
! He who shall examine carefully and temper
ately the platform Of the National Democracy
compare it with the platforms of other par
| tes-investigate the issues before the country
learn the strength and purposes Of other organ
lTatious and then prafar tho dapis,on NJ h,a