The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-27
Mr.. BRECKINRIDGE AT HARRODsB URG.

Mr. BRECRINRIDGE AT HARRODsBURG.
The Kentucky Statesman Of the 20th Of July gives an
account of the meeting at HanoJsburg 1t was
addressed by Hon. John G. Breckinnge, Vice President
of the United States, Hon James B Clay and Col wm.
Preston The Statesman furnishes the suloined sketch
of Mr. Brecknridge.s remarks
Mr. Brecknridge for two hours held his audience en-
chained by his eoquence, and motionless in attention
We will not attempt to give synopsis Of his speech
confident that any report from memory would do him
manifest injustice. We only regret that stenogra
pher not present to have taken it down delivered
In method style, temper and fact it address
calculated to do immense good could it be gotten he
fore the people of Kentucky and the South Every SEN
tence peiect 1t fell from his lips and the whole
address free from passion. 1t calm, liberal
and fair discussion of the great questions which divide the
parties impartial comparison Of the strength of the OPP
posing orgar zors broad statesmanke survey Of tie
battle field and uneng indication of the point where
the struggle les He did not deal in detracton or chi
thet treated his foes with courtesy, hut in argument
dealt them many fatal blow could the stroke be made
with the attention of the people, He briefly reuted the
idle charges of extrayagancc Ad prodigacy brought
against the administration mentioned the very conciu-
siye fact that the current fiscal year would show
economical administration of the government than that
which preceded the Advent of Mr. Buchanans and then
cast aside such charge idle claor compared to
the momen3us subjects calling for the attention OF the
South He congratulated the country. upon the honora
bic settlement OF the search question which had long
stood uIadusted, and presumed that it would never
hereafter be said that American vessels subject
the visitation and search Of any other power,
Touching the subject of Kansas admission he ap-
proved the policy of tho President, and believed tho
measures he hri proposed for the adjustment that
question characterized by dsntercsted patriotism and
by sound practical practical WISDOM He then entered
'ato elaborate argument In support of tho position
taken by the administration and the South and sustained
himself by fair review of the factsand by Arguments
conclusive that difficult To believe any fair man would
controycrt his positions He reviewed the history of tho
formation of the Lccompton constitution STEP legal
rhnllb thhfe
in Its formation, that its opponents yielded its legality,
and fell back upon charges of fraud, and finally ia
northern opponents rested upon the rough fact that it
recognized slavery the true ground of their hostility
to the admission of Kansas under it, Under. all the cir
cumstances he believed and had believed that the
President had recommended the wiscst for the
proper and peaceful adjustment Of the difficulties In
this connection he alluded to the position taken by apor
ton of the South American party 1ns faction stood
upon question of slavery irreconclably opposed to the
position taken by the administration, by the whole
naming South and by majority OF the northern demo
Gratis and it for the people to say atcr hearing the
facts and understanding the issue who right and who
true and loyal to their constituents Ho believed
the republican party strong well organized and ormda
bic, aud however much may desire the fact to b0
dferent it yet practically true that there but two
parties in the country The democratic Is the only pot
ical organization willing and able to cope with the
republicans and the clear duty Of the South to unto
in solid column.
thereby to encourage northern friends and the
victory He believed the batte of 1860 lay between
these two parties and that the battle would bo made
upon Kansas Lecompon but upon the well understood
doctrines of the republican party Those doctrines
boldly cnuncated n tho speeches of Hale Seward and
other exponents of its creed and those principles he be
lievod, z naugurae fatal to the continuance of
the Union Upon the side of the democratic party would
be arayed all who dssented from the anti slavery prin
cples set out in those expositions of repnbcans and
upon the other would stand all who fanatcal enough
to defend them. With such issue and such parties
contendng for the ascendency before the country he
called upon the people Of Kentucky to stand true to the
South true to their section true to their honor and er