The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-08-19

He was asked what was his name. where he
was born, what religion he professed, what
was the religion Of his acife; and. finally,
would he not bind himself never to vote for a
Roman Catholic When this question was
put to him he aciddreU IN disgust. That
was no place-no party for him. What,
then, was he to do He looked around
again to see if there was not chance for
| the resurrection of the wing party. Not
| a CLEAN of hope enlivened the gloom of the
| horizon. Under these circumstances, his
next thought and inquiry were, in what ranks
could he, in his humble way, contribute most
to the maintenance of the Union and of a
national party He saw no other place for
him to stand upon but in the ranks of the
party which alone maintained reorganization
in all the States-whioh stood upon nation
al and Union ground-which alone was a
bic to present a powerful resistance to the
sectional party whose success he believed
would involve the disruption of this confed-
eracy.
But he confessed, if he deemed it wise
and patriotic to vote for MI Fillmore, 1t
would certainly be hard task to take him
with the candidate for the vice presidency,
| Andrew jackson Donelson, who, besides
being a renegade from his own party, had
| quite recently been the reviler and defamer
of Mr.. Fillmore, and of that administ. alton
! which gave Mr.. Fillmore the high consider
! alton and claims that are now accorded to
him. To vote for Andrew Jackson Dom
| elson in preference to John c. Breckenridge
was certainly hard alternative for a Ken
| tuckian. Breckinridgt was his townsman,
the play mate of his infancy, the eompan-
! ion of his boyhood, his friend and intimate
at all periods. breckenridge had additions
al claims upon him. when he was elected
! over General Leslie Coombs to represent
! the Ashland district in Congress, Mr.. Brock
| inridge had asked friend of his father how
| Mr.. Clay would receive him if he shonld
take the liberty of calling on him. "As a
gentleman and a Ke1tuckian," was the
reply.
Mr.. Breckenridge accordingly came, and
he (the speaker) was present at the inter-
view. Mr.. Breckenridge stated to Mr.. Clay
that he had called to pay his respects to
him; that, though of the opposite political
| party, he had been chosen to represent the
! district which he (Mr. Clay had himself
represented with SO much renown and fidel-
ity, and he should consider himself-young
and inexp as he was, quite incompe-
tent to do justice to the high duty he<had
assumed without the counsel and aid of Mr..
| Clay and he desired permission to consult
| with him freely, when he should enter upon
| his duties. and to receive the aid of his great
experience and knowledge ofpolitical affairs.
| Mr.. Clay was mach pleased with this inter-
view. 1t produced q deep impression on
his mind, and his regard for Mr.. Breckin-
ridge was ever afterward warm and earnest.
And now / am expected to throw aside such
a man and vote for Andrew Jackson Don
elson. "Why. fellow Kentuckians," ex-
claimed Mr.. Clay, Il would not give John
| G.. Breckenridge for a woods-fulI of Andrew
Jackson DOnelsons."
In this connexion 11r. Clay referred to
the eloquent, just, and noble eulogium pro-
nounced by Breckenridge in the House of
| Representatives on the announcement of
his fathers death.
Mr.. Clay then proceeded to urge upon his
old whig friends, the companions and con-
stituents of his father to rally around that
| banner which he had spent his life IN up
ho7ding--the banner of the Union He was
ready to follow the whig standard as
Douglas followed the heart of Bruce-as
long as it waved. But that flag was no long
er to be seen on the battle field. 1t might
yet be unfurled. After death there was the
resurrection. But at present there was no
| whig organization, and the only party of
the Union was that of which Buchanan and
Breckenridge were the candidates.