Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-04
Mr.. Breckenridge in Kentucky,

The Kentucky Statesman of the Goth of
July gives an account of the mass meeting at
Harrodsburg 1t was addressed by Hon.
JohnEC. Breckenridge, Vice President of the
United States, Hon. James b. Clay and Col.
VIM. Preston. The Statesman furnishes the
su6joined sketch of Mr.. Brcckinridscs re-
marks:
Mr.. Breckenridge for two hours held his
audience cnchained by his cloquencc, and mo-
tionlesS in attention. We will not attempt to
give even synopsis of his speech, confident
that any report from memory would do him
manifest injustice. We can only regret that
stenographcr was not present to have taken
it down Us delivered. In method, style, tom
per and fact, it was an address calculated to
do immense good, could it be gotten before
the people Of Kentucky and the South Ev-
cry sentence was pcrfectas it fell from his lips,
and the whole address was free from passion
1t was calm, liberal, and fair discussion Of
the great questions which divide the parties,
an impartial comparison of the strength of the
opposing organizations, broad StatuSManlikc
survey Of the battlefield, and an uncrring in
dlcation of the point where the struggle lies
lie did not deal in dctraction or epithet, treat
ed his Toes with courtesy, but in argument
dealt them many fatal blow, could the stroke
be made with the attention Of the people. lie
briefly retutcd the idle charges of cXtraYa-
gancc and prOhigacy brought against the al
| 'LlnlStration, mentioned the very conclusive
fact that the current fiscal year would show Il
more economical administration o! the govern
ment than that which preceded the advent Of
MIR. Buchanans, and then cast aside such u
charge as idle clamOr, as compared to the mo-
menIouS subjects calling for the attention of
the South. lie congratulated the country
upon the honorable settlement of the search
question, which had so long stood unadjuSted,
and presumed that it would never hereafter
be said that American vessels were subject to
to the visitation aud search of any other power.
Touching the subject of Kansas admission,
nc approved the policy Of the President, aud
believed the measures he had proposed for the
adjustment OF that question characterized bv
dislnterested patriotism, and by sound practi-
cal wisdom. lie then entered into mn clabu-
rate argument in support Of the position taken
by the administration and the South, aud s,ls.
tanned himself by So fair review Of the facts
and by arguments so conclusive that it was
dlfhcult to believe any fair man would cOntro-
vert his positions He reviewed the history
ofthe formation Of the Lecompton constitution,
step by step, legal and formal Indeed SO
perfectly regular had been the steps III its for
nation, that its opponents yielded its legality,
and fell back upon charges of fraud, and finally
its Northern opponents rested upon the rough
fact that it recognized slavery as the true
ground of their hostility to the admission Of
Kansas under it. Under all the circumstances
no believed, and had ever believed, that the
President had recommended the wiscst meas
ures for the proper and peaceful adjustment
OF the difficulties. In this connection he al
Iuded to the position taken by portion of the
South American party. This faction stood
upon question Of slavery, irreconcilably OPP
posed to the position taken by the a,lministra-