The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-08-02


! be accurately informed as to their effee
upon the policy We desire to see estab
, lished. We should not be m ade instru
ments in the hands of any ambitious man
or In the hands of any combination o
reckless and Inscriptions men; to force
> an unnatural growth of Slavery in th,
country, and to blast the hopes of oul
own people. contrary to what has hereto
; fore been the understanding of the Con
stitution of the United States, and in pal
} pable violation of what has been regard
ed settled national policy. Itsbould be
matter of singing regret to US, If from
our bearing in the present contest We
could be fairly charged hereafter With a
violation Of the principles we have long
professed to cherish, or with having i'm
posed any, the slightest impediment in
the pathway of rational, we'll grounded,
and progressive liberty.
The absorbing question now presented
to the American citizen, for what will
prove to be his ultimate decision, I have
watched narrowly as it has risen into i'm :
portance from year to year, and I think
| know the opinions of the several Presi-
dental candidates respecting it.
am not aware that the supporters Of
Mr.. Breckinridge attempt any conceal
ment as to bis designs in case of bis sue.
cess. II they should desire to resort to
prevarieatiOn, they have placed it entire
ly without their power By the frsnkness
and boldness, and, had almost said, the
recklessness of their declarations. He
has been put forth prominently, alike in
speech and platform, as the Achilles Of
the armies of the South, and as the de-
termined foe Of free soil, free speech, and
free men. He stands upon no single
democratic sentiment, unless, indeed,
what were regarded BY all statesmen
in the last fifteen years as the pretentious
heresies of John G. Calhoun can be so
regarded. He so reads the teachings of
the sages of the past, and their primary
law, as to make it fruitless to attempt sn
exclusion of bis peculiar and favorite in
stitution from the organized Territories,
and SO as to make it indispe psable that
Congress, Courts. and Presidents, should
exercise all their ingenuity and all their
powers to fortify and sustain it there
Legislative action is to be invoked, judi
cial DEGREES had, executive fats pronoun-
eed. navies equipped, and armies mar
shsled, to exclude forever every settler
therefrom who will not bow down before
the black god OF bis idolatrous worship
| appeal to you, freemen, to know wbeth-
er this is the Democracy of Jefferson, Mad
ison, Monroe. and jackson. I Ieppeal to
you, freenen, to know whether you
have ever found anything in the
annals of parties SO insulting to the un-
derstanding, until within the lifetime of
the youth who has not yet reached his
majority. l appeal to you to know
whether the honesty, intelligence, and
unuixed blood of the offspring of North
ern mothers can ever accept an excuse for
those who would endeavor to fasten such
ruler upon us. But We may congratu-
late ourselves that even official zeal can
perceive no chance for MI. Breckinridge's
election. If there had ever been any, the
recent stump speech of Mr.. Buchanan
would have efectually disposed of it
No amount of popularity would be able
to stand against the encomiums of such
an advocate. His midnight appeal can
only be accounted for by supposing the
"old public functionary" was unable to
obliterate bis animosities toward "the
young gentleman of Kentucky" and that
bis well-known craft suggested speech
as the readiest and least offensive means
of destruction. Such suggestion are the
more reasonable as it is not to be mag
ined that the gyved tenant of the White
House should for moment believe, after
the Investigations which have been had,
and the exposures which have been made,
such testimony as be volunteered could
be otherwise than ruipous to any course.
The daring eviuced by him on the occa.
sion was only equalled by bis lack of self
respect, and bis utter disregard of the cir
cumstances by which he was surrounded,
and which should have restrained him.
Whatever conclusions may be drawn
as to my estimate of Mr.. Breekinridge's
character as a politician, l can only say
that my esteem for him is profound when
brought into comparison with that which
| entertain for bis Democratic competitor.
There are few, if any, living men concer-
ming whom more has been said. and less
really known, than Stephen A. Douglas OF
Illinois. There are thousands, by far
too many thousands, now sustaining him
under the mistaken and delusive idea
that he is directing bis efforts to counter
act the plans of the Southern Democracy.
This is frightful hallucination, but
natural one, when We take into consider
alton the humiliating fact that all that
devotion could do has been done, by those
surrounding bis person to distort true
record, and to stamp counterfeit char
acter for him on the public mind. View.
ing him as one Of the most un.afe aud
treacherous of leaders. you will pardon
me certain statements " hich it now seems
necessary should be made, and the cor