The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-08-12
Mr.. breckenridge on the stump.

The democracy of Boon county, KY, recently
had q barbecue at Florence, and among the dis
tinguished speakers was Vice President Brecken-
ridge, who is expected to know about what mod.
ern democracy is. We find quite lengthy report
of his speech liz the Cincinnati Gazette, but can
only make brief quotation--just enough to
show what the leaders OF the party think Of
Douglasism and RepubIicanism
HIS VIEWS ON LEcoMProN,
All these questions he was ready to meet when
called 1pon, but he was called now to discuss q
more important question-one which had agi-
tated the people for many years, but which ap-
pcared to have come to head within the last
six or eight months. | refer to what is known as
the Kansas question. Applause believe that if
a fair expression of the people of Kentucky could
be had tnree-fourths Of her population would en-
dorse the course which the President Of the Uni
ted States has seen fit to pursue on this subject.
The black-the Republican party, was about
to say black, but WON'T give every party the
name ii chooses 10 call ITSELF Voices.--"I don't"
'nor l." mo- "no," "BLAcK Republicans" l
have found out that there is not much in the sig
nifcation of name-the worst man ever knew
was named Goodman. Laughter [Notwith-
standing this little breaking out of gentemanly
courtesy, MIR. Breckenridge continued to soy black
Republican to the end Of his speech, h,--Rep,]
In my opinion the course recommended by the
| President of the United States in regard to the
Lecomptou Constitution was practical, wise and
just and ought to have been adopted.
| think if this course had been adopted in De-
cember last, the question would have been settled.
This was unfortunately, not done, and the only
result has been to array section against section,
State against State, and brother against brother,
without any practical good to any human be-
ing.
MIR. Breckenridge then gave history of the
Kansas difficulty, from the passage OF the bill in
| 1854, when he was member of Congress and
voted for it, down TO the passage Of the English.
10 doing so, he said
II do not care to dig up the bones Of a con-
troversy that is buried and passed. but do this in
order to give q reason for the grounds of my be-
lief and to dispose of the objections brought
I against the Lecompton constitution"
1t is objected lst, that the election Of the first
Kansas Legislature was illegal-that it was an
election by invaders from Missouri. No doubt
many illegal votes were cast both lrm Missouri
and from the North for the votes of the Missouri
ans were just US legal as votes brought and pre-
cipitated there from Massachusetts. Why the
people of Kansas have been living under the laws
of that Legislature ever since. Their marriages
have been solemnized under it-property convey
ed-a delegate TO Congress elected under it, and
his pay voted by black Republican Congress.
ID. 1t is objected that the registry of votes
was illegal, but it is my candid opinion that
there were not 500 voters disfranchised by that
registry, and that is not enough to affect represen-
| tation
81. Test Oaths-These had been repealed, but
no citizen had right to complain of an oath
to support the constitution, aud no man ought to
vote who wouldn't swear to support it.
5th. Election Frauds--There were frauds per-
petrated. do not doubt that. do not come
here to apologize for fraud but the frauds they
complain of were at q State eection-to to elect
officers under the constitution, and cannot affect
it. SEQ by the papers this morning that Mr.. CAL
houn has given the certificates to the Free State
men, Well, suppose they are entitled to them,
and am the last man that would deprive the
Free State men of any election fairly gained.
| Here fight commenced outside the amphi-
theatre, and portion of the audience broke and
ran. Mr. B. stopped, but those that remained
cried, $50 on, go on" Don't wait for fight
"Let em fight, &c" Mr.. B. said 81 would 60
on with pleasure, but the noise is so great that
| could no be heard
not the act and deed of the people of Kansas
4" L declare" said Mr. Breckenridge, " that every
step which was taken toward making a coustitu-
ton--toward electing delegates for that purpose
and towards ascertaining the sense Of the people
on the question of slavery, was legal and done in
the only mode in which public opinion in Ameri-
ca can be expressed. If free people would
govern themselves they must make the laws and
obey the laws. These are not legal technicaties-
they underlie the foundation OF oil free govern
ments.
Now one word about
SUBMITTING CONSTITUTIONS.
The startling doctrine has been started in this
country, that constitution has no validity until
submitted to vote of the people. Congress had
authorized Kansas to form her own institutions
in her own way. She chose than peculiar way
and Congress had no business to interfere with
| the matter.
Kentucky submitted her Few constitution to
the people because she wanted to, but if she had
chosen not to do it, it would have been no bust
ness of Congress or any body else. Cheers, and
cries of That's so."l I'd like to have seen Con-
gresS attempt to interfere in regard TO the submis
| sion Of our constitution Applause.
/ As an abstract proposition, will never submit
to it, Cheers | will never consent that Congress
shall have a right to reject constitution because
the people of Territory choose not to submit it TO
the people,
But they did submit tae slavery clause Did
you ever hear anybody complain of any other
part OF the constitution but the slavery clause
But these factious spirits in Kansas did not want
to vote on that. They clamor loudly about be-
ing deprived of rights that they refuse to exercise
and make an errogant claim to the sympathies OF
mankind.
Why these abolitionsts would have even with
drawn protection from the slaves in Kansas when
the highest judicial authority has declared that
4 they were there of right--under the authority of
the laws and Constitution of the United States--
Who but an aboliuonist would want to confscate
them Even Great Britain, when she abolished
slavery in her colonies, paid the masters for the
!; TO be sure, she paid them only about half what
they were worth, She cheated them out of half
the value, but these abolitionists would have
cheated the slave holders in Kansas out of the
| whole.
After carefully reviewing the subject, / am
forced to admit that "the Constitution of Kan
sas known as the Lecompton Constitution, is d
legal ono-that the delegates to frams it fair