The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-09-13
Mr.. Brccl,inridge's Speech.

noe, where, yesterday, the greatest multi
tude OF people that ever met at a political
| gathering were assembled as the friends OF
Buchanan and Breckenridge, to advance their
| interests. Of that gathering we have nc
| account; but the people OF Cincinnati did
not permit Mr. Breckenridge to pass through
that city, without giving him a call, and a
real call it was. No full report of his speech
was received, but the following from the
Cincinnati Commercial will show something
of its spirit:
He said that he was as much surprised as
gratifed at the reception he had received.
lie was on his way to a mass meeting in In
diana, where he had been induced to pro-
coed to meet his friends, and only expected
here to receive the hospitality of the citizens
Tor day and pass on. lie accepted the
ovation he had received, not as tribute TO
him personally, but testimonial Of the feel
ing Of the people for the party of which he
was humble member. He was from the
next State south of us, but he felt happy
that he was here, north Of the fatal line that
sectiOnalists would draw across the heart of
the Union, among friends. He received
their shouts of appreciation not for himself
but in the name of his party He saw on
the banners around him that they were
those OF the whole country, every star and
stripe were there blazoned, undim,ned and
unstained. The people before him, in the
temper, and spirit, and light of whose coun-
tenances he reioiced, had been told often
about the danger of the Union. No man in
the Union was more utterly disgusted with
the wanton and eternal cry and clamor that
the tnlcn vas IN danger than he was. He
was sick OF il. But nos. the individual must
be blind indeed who did not see that really
the Union was IN imminent danger.
They had been told SO often, by reckless
ard dissatisfied persons, but II lis solemn
time he WAS sure there was no false alarm,
but that the peril to the confedcracy was
great and pressing. A sectio. al party, hav-
ing no existence in but sixteen OF the States,
making no appeal to fifteen Of the States,
bounded IN fact and in spirit by geographical
lines, proposed 10 rule the Union with pU-
LEY at enmity with the interests and wishes
OF fifteen OF the States, through its press
and orators using language and Illuminating
sentiments, calculated TO destroy the concord
and amity between the North and South
and as the Union was one not only Of people.
but sovereign States depending upon cordial
good feeling among all for its existence-not
to be preserved by f1rcc-uot to be upheld
by bayOnets-but to be sustained in The
hearts Of the people-it was truly IL danger
lie made 10 threats-God forbid that he
should threateu-but he stated great fact
III our oItigal system. The Democratic
party, presenting itself with material force
IN every latitude, was the only bond Of
JnIon left. he permaneHce Of the Union
depended upon thIs party All other bonds
civil and ccc.csiastical, had been snapped
tins party alouc-strong in every latitude of
the .and-with its representa- sc, in Con
yen'ion from every part Of tic cou: try
a.one held the Union uubroken
He put it to the people Of the North-iG
the South were able to out vote them, and
proposed to ovcrwhem them on q question
essentially sectional-one on which all Sec
tlonsl preJudices and passions were aroused
one which endangered their sccuri,v-
nensccd their nstitutions-d,fying their
wIshes-putting in peri! their intcrcsts-dis-
regarding their housekeeping upon them
aousc-taunting them with ep.tEcts express
I'VE OF hatred and dcii>iOn--wcull they not
feel that there was danger? Would not they
determine TO maintain their rights: What
were tue teachings of the mighty dead, the
adJurailons of the great living: They we're
on the side Of the Constitution and the De
mocrauc party in this contcst-the party
with the same principles over the whole
country-with platform wide as the nation.
Here Mr.. Z. quoted the warnings against
sectional parties in Washington's Farewell
Address, and repeated an extract from an
old speech Of Clay" the man whose capa-
cious heart was large enough TO love the
whole country" 1t was true that there
were many men of very high personal re-
spectabiity, and able men, engaged in this
sectional party Of the North-but the histo-
rlc names of the country, the living as well
as the dead, were with the Democracy.
Around him were those who remembered
well when there was nothing but comfy,
good feeling, reciprocity of kind Offices be
tween the people of Ohio and Kentucky.
This, alas was much changed. Every bat
tie field of the North was covered with the
bones Of Southerners, and he said this not
boastfully. They would fly to the rescue Of
their countrymen again. And the men Of
the North had been, and would again be
ready to aid their brethren OF the Sou in
any peril that beset the nation. On the bat
tie fields CT the South bones of Northern
patriots mouliered The battle was now
for the Union. The Democratic party was
the army of the Union. He had been in
many conflicts, but now he felt less than at
any previous time though nominated for
ambition. Men were transient They left
but faint footprints on the sands OF time,
and passed away forever. The best Of them.
compared with the interests, the principles,
the issues. involving the peace the perma-
nence Of the nation were utterly insigniti-
cant. He cared nothing for himself, further
than as he was the representative of great
cause. As such, he would try 10 do his
duty, and hope and work for victory. II
they would parton him for saying anything
so personally to himself, he had never
shrunk from avowing his opinions freely and
fully everywhere. He would not shrink
now, and he gave his words as the simple
utterance of an honest heart. Every word
had been uttered as expressing his deepest
convictions.
If he had said, or could say, anything
that would awaken those, any of those fight
ing under sectional banner, 10 reflect and
see that they were endangering their coun-
try's peace and permanence, and 10 turn to
national sentiments, giving their sympathies
range beyond all boundary lines, he would
be more than repaid for any effort that he
had made or could make. He would not
then make speech taking in view the sub
ordinate questions before the peoplc-or the
elements of which the paramount issue was
made up. lie had only strength to speak
his belief that his country was in danger,
and that there was only safety in the policy
of the Democratic party. All subordinate
and side issues, and elaborate arguments, he
must then pass over. He had been drawn
out to speak much longer than he had in
tended. (Cries of ''go on.') He believed
that they would excuse him when he told
them that his strength would not permit
him to 90 on. He had a few moments be-
fore been addressing the people over the
river-and thanking the audience for their
attention and plaud.s, he made his bow,
and stepped back amid tumutuous hurrahs