The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-13
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN c. BREoKINRIDGE,


bury Chichester, and all the towns in the vicinity.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN c. BREoKINRIDGE,
Democratic candidate for Vice President Of The United States
al Hamilton, Ohio, on the I'd Of September.
We are indebted to the Hamilton oho) Telegraph for
verbatim report of the able and eloquent speech of Mr.
Breckenridge Hamilton, Ohio the I'd of September
MR President LADIES' AND FELLow-cIrIzENs OF ONO:
confess you that am equally astonshed and grathed
what witness here in Ohio to-day and wish that my
exhausted strength and broken frame would allow me TO
express more fully the emotions which swell my breast
find upon your banners principles which cordially adhere
to- and If these the patriotic sentiments which animate
this assembly, you may write your chart OF principles and
will sign it. ." @u@t- ..#.,
have been welcomed cordially by you to-day have
been treated like brotherI have been cheered and
couraged all sides. feel that all citizens OF a
country and joint heirs of the glorious in
heritance. [Cheers My friends, do not rise 10 make
speech, in the ordinary acceptaon of that term am
physically unable to do and, being on my way to ac-
cept invitation in sister State must reserve some OF
my exhausted strength
Fellow citizens, not here to-day to speak harshly
of any of any party but must express convic
tons in regard public affairs and claim at least this
that express my sentiments with equal frankness in
every part OF our common country need not say TO you
fellow-citzens that belong to the democratic party
that cherish it as being most in accordance with the
principles of political system You know what these
principles are and feel that this demonstration is due to
the great which represent has been subject OF
inquiry why is that the democratic party has survived
shock after Shock and yet maintains unbroken front
every foe 1t is fact that organization after organize
ton has died. and the old democratic party has remained
a witness and monument of their faith. [Cheers Why
is this find that the democratic party holds few plain
and simple principles which enable It to hold together in
every time of and disaster 1t tests every question by
the constitution. 1t holds blind nacsm. 1t refuses
the constitution in the Of aggression upon
particular people, and in the cause OF needless anatlcism
Ii admits and observes all the stpulaons they
written in the bond of Union and must live
long the constitution itself shall last These were
tie feelings which animated the breasts Of our fathers
Inps m day ha NH
the democratic party oppose the National Bank and
against the tariff and at still later day to array itself
against the American or knownothng party have no
words OF vndicveness hate to toward any
any party but speak the honest sentiments OF my heart
mean rudeness TO any member OF that organization
The democratic party are Obliged to oppose the know
nothing party Ii claims that every citizen OF country
stands upon equality in the eye of the law. 1t was
obliged oppose that feature which nerposed between
mans conscience and his God The democratic party
turned to the constitution and found the principles III it,
and they held that upon this end virgin theatre all
the people of the Old World might and take part
know that thousands of good men went into that party
the preservation OF the Union aud the good of
country. But the derium is oyerthe fever past
and the patient is sane again. [0heers All have to
say that the rise progress and decline OF this party
should be forever warning TO all to beware how
they inepose between the human conscience and its God
The democracy also equally obliged to array itself
against the called republican party Of the United States
charge with being the pro-slayery party, and say
that the Object of that party is 10 extend slavery the
Territories OF the United Feow-ezens, IT Is not
go have connexon with any party which proposed
TO extend slavery over the Territories anywhere else
But do belong organization which says oons
tuition made 10 certain rights to all our citizens
and among those the right of all our people to form their
own institutions and their laws, subject only to the
constitution of the United States know your opinions
in Ohio know you satisfied with your institutions
and the state of society here and has Kentucky any OBJ
lection your society Not all. She will not inter-
fere Would it be breach Of harmony and concord
for her do so2 But the difference is she does not want
the government Of all the States TO egsate for
tEanIar Etat. Tarrfr
The of all the present troubles from the
ganizaon OF certain Territories The democratic party
knows that gave cordially my vote for the Nebraska bill
voted for 1t because opened TO settlement vast ter
rtory ard then announced that the inhabitants
pabe Of managing their affairs subject only to the
constitution Of the United States and when they present
themselves for admission would vote for their admission
without the slightest qualification founded upon any doc
trine which was favorable TO which might be OPP
posed Is 1t true that the democratic party is undertaking
to egsate slavery where IL does not exist2 Meet
your enemies upon this issue and them the provis
ion OF the act which declares that 1t is not its purpose
either to legisate II into exclude it from the Territories
but TO let the people settle II for themselves Make them
assa that principle, and they will bite file" The doc
tine upon which this government Il founded is that the
people perfectly free to form their institutions and
that this freedom stands equality with every other
municipal right hold 1t to be principle which under
lies system Of government and principle the viola
ton Of which led 10 the American Revolution. II is the
same principle which through old confederation
and which runs through present constitution
do propose to examine the unfortunate disturbances
which have taken place la the Territory of Kansas In
terested and ambitious both sides doubt under
took 20 disturb the working OF this principle but you
might just well say the is failure because II Is OBJ
scured by clouds These troubles accidents Of the great
question. And this is the question upon which new
organization has arisen In this country and from the doc
trines this party, hatred anmosty, and fraerna
strife take the place of the peace and concord which
characterized the earlier periods Of government The
purposes Of the organization confined TO the
settlement Of that question 1t is for Interior purpose.
II Is develop the idea Of the largest opposed to slavery
II attack upon the institutions OF the States them
selves Were the whole Of the thirteen States with
exception, slavehoding at the time government
was established Did they not think they could live In
harmony and peacethat the constitution could be oxecu
ted and they live without upbrading each other
ing their peculiar forms Of government Did they
which they all had, one at that time Every prinei
pie Of logic goes against this sectional party, which
seeks TO destroy national harmony. The de-.
signs OF this party ulteror and IL intended to
array State against another and believe that to-day
there thousands Of honest citizens who under the
deuson that they members Of this party stopping
slavery in Kansas Look at the principles Of this party
Listen the gnominy and reviling which they combine
to hnr upon your sister States. We told that the
Declaration of Independence Ia mbodied in the consu-
ton Of the United States This IL abstraction Put II
in the constitution and what would foow2 II would
follow that the constitution must protect every In his
right TO e liberty and the pursuit Of happiness Are
these the views OF your fathers2 | Of your
banners that noble sentiment Of Thomas Jefferson that
aH 0opencus derive their just poceTs from TIRE consent
the 0oUerne aud that m the principle imbodied in the
Kansas act wish fathers had given little more
prominence 10 that sentiment On II the democratic party
rests and impregnaby Take party without such
along like rapid drama TO fael termination. You
ond snd II iniarrinp with the stuiions of the States