The Placer herald., 1856-07-26
Speech of Breckenridge,

me- as it can be to any in all this space.
In the inferior and personal aspect Of this
extraordinary manifestation, beg you to
consider all said that graceful should be. 1
have no words to voice the gratitude that
is yelling from the innermost-- (most en-
thusiastic cheers from the innermost heart
of me to the democracy of the nation for this
confidence
There is one personal satisfaction that
lightens this hour and fearfully accumulates
responsibilities. [subdued applause. Iderve
that satisfaction from the reflection that,
through all the balloting | have freely fol-
lowed my political preferences nor protessed
sentiment, nor softened an expression for a
personal result. Applause He breckenridge
of an hour since, refused to ask for or accept
the honor he knew he was unworthy of, but
the Breckenridge created by the fiat of the
Democracy to second its ilustrious standard
bearer, had no choice but to serve. Cheer
ing everywhere.
1t is not proper for me to speak of the
second man on your ballot; but of the Chieftain
l may. James Buchanan is one of the last
of the survivors Oft the gigantic race ofAmer-
ican statesmen whose deeds may not be sep
Grated from the glories of the Republic. Re-
served to green old age he has lived down
detraction, and time has destroyed caumny.
[Applause. Composed and digniied on this
moral elevation, he is about to be clothed
with the insignia of the Chief Magistracy of
the nation! Repeated applause.
Gentlemen, heartily concur in the plat
form you have affirmed. l endorse your
resolutions. l am known to be states
right Democrat. Applause.
Strong to the principles of Jefferson, en-
forced by the irresistible temper of Jackson
the people will entrust the men you have
named for their Government. l hope, in
that event, shall never forfeit the conf
dence Of the Democracy Of America. Pro-
longed applause.
Speech of Col. Preston.
Col Preston, of Kentucky, was called to
the stand, when Mr.. Breckenridge had con-
cluded He said: / am aboring so under a
physical disability, that | beg for quiet
house for the few minutes | stand before you.
By this call | am even more surprised than
my bosom friend, whom YOU have elevated to
Tcheers for he had an ancestral right to be
honored by the Democracy. His elevation
is the preliminary announcement of Ken
tucky's return to the ancient Democratic faith,
the faith in the ascendant when John Breck
enridge upheld the resolutions of SO. Your
nominee is a son of that John Breckenridge
TCheers. The omens are all of victory.
The honor you have done me in this call to
speak, is an earnest of the magnanimous re-
gard for all that noble band of old Wings
whose honorable existence as party having
closed have now to chose between the factions
| will not call them parties-they are climb
ing for political ascendancv, and the conser-
vatve party of the nation-the Democratic.
We all know the type of men, and we know
that they must swell the ranks that to-day
ranged under the banner borne by Buchanan
and Breckenridge. (Cheers) | can speak
for them, for was of them while there was
Wing perty clean of secrets and of disuni-
onizing factions. l joined your standard
without capitulating or compromise, asking
nor excepting no honors, satisfied to be again
in concert with the conseryators of the Union
and Constitution.
said the omens were fair. The Demo
cratic position is more glorious to-day than
when it secured Empire in Louisiana. More
glorious than when it secured Texas to the
Union and the Union for Texas, or than when
it completed the continental breadth of the
Republic with golden California. Yes, Mr.
President, grander is the Democratic party
to-day than at either of these proud epochs,
because it has found and confronted, and by
to.day's action has consumated the destruc-
ton of foe in the center of America, and
more dangerous than any that had ever
threatened her eastern shores or western
frontiers. (Cheers.)
AS the voice of this convention reaches
the remotest neighborhood its edicts
are speeding over those sublime wires, (poin-
ting to the wires running out from the tele
graph lobby)-when they reach the near
and the distant centres Of population you
shall see that the "Old Guard" of the Wing
party will recognize the patriotic principles
announced and reaffirmed here, and will
swear, as swear, eternal fealty to the Demo
cratic cause.-To that band who have chosen
to stand outside ofall the parties rather than
encourage the proscriptive spirit ofa secretly
organized bigotry, or the false philanthrophy
of that other faction that would oppose itself
to the Union of these States-to that noble
band of old Wings with whom I once acted,
l say inaugurate your adhesion to the Demo
cratic Party by prompt support of Buch-
anan and Breckenridge. Stay not in Bunyan's
halting castle but recognise the organiza-
ton that embodies all that is national in
America, all that is noble in politics. (Cheers)
One word more. There were, especially in
the North, company of gallant men, who
when the genius of Dougl las comprehended
the dauger that was looming in the immedi-
ate future, and when he provided for that
danger by leading the forlorn hope in the
Nebraska Kansas bill, thereby securing to
the South her rghts-then there were a
company of brave Democrats who stood by
the Union, and who were swept down by the
l. Il +. IL LII IL