The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-02-09
No Personal Feelings Engaged.

No Personal Feelings Engaged.
Some gentlemen have supposed that,
inasmuch as the publication which made
stated that would here, in this place and
at this time respond to the message of
Gov. Magofin, and the late speech Of
your Senator elect, Mr. Breckinridge. l had
some personal feelings against those distin
guished gentlemen, and that some perso-
nal or private ends were to be subserved
at this time by attacking these gentle.
men. Nothing was fvrther from my pur-
pose. The only inauguration that ever [
att, uded. and | am now 49 years of age
was the Inauguration of Gov. Magoffin.-
| learned to respect him from what |
beard of bim and what had seen of him.
| regard him as brave and generous
man. So far as the distinguished Sena-
tor elect from Kentucky is concerned, all
men who know me, know that among all
the distinguished families of which Ken.
lucky boasts, that l have always been
proud of the Breckenridge name. | have
from earliest life looked to some portion
of the IN as the guides and pilots of my
political opinions. 1have been PERSONAL
ly associated with them; my family has
been associated with them. [ would not
have said these these things did not the
occasion call for it, and did not know that
these insinuatons have been made. [
would say that of all men whose names
are now presented to the American peo-
pie By the Dem ocracy with regard to the
next Presidency, that | would not see
any one attain that high position sooner
than John c. BreekiDtidge of Kentucky.
Equal Rights
But, gentlemen, neither Gov. Magof-
fin nor Senator Breckenridge are infslli
bic, aud here to night, humble as may
be. unhonored as | am by having
these doors closed upon me, native of
Kentucky and a nan that belongs to one
of the great parties of the United States,
mean to be the peer Of the gentlemen,
and equal in every respect so far as man
is equal to man God knows | do not
detract from. nor DO envy the honors of
these distinguished gentlemen, for what
ever else can be said of them, it cannot
be denied that they wear their honors
gracefully and with becoming humility.
We must recollect that in this Common
wealth We stand on a broad basis of e.
quality. and that, whatever other people
may think, | have just as much right to
be heard here and now as other men. Let
my opinions be what they may, those o.
pinions ought to be fairly capvassed. and
if they are good, you should vipdicate
them By carrying them iuto practice, and
if they be bad, then it is your duty to re-
icct them and take those that are better.
Is Sincerely an Emancipationist.
As | said in the beginning, Chiffon says
of the two greatest virtues, sincerity is one.
This, gentlemen, whatever may be my
shortcomings with regard 20 courage, |
believe my sincerity and loue of truth
have not been questioned, and although |
an here alone, one among a million, diff
fering from you. it possibly may be, [
know that you will credit that [ believe
that which say | believe. | do not de-
ny that, following the faith of our fathers,
am an emancipationist. How would [
commend myself, then, to you, if, having
m ade this avowsl everywhere within the
limits of the Commonwealth, should con-
ceal or deny my sentiments He is not
dangerous mar that goes about openly
and above board, avowiug what his SEN
timents are, but he is the dangerous man
who, having sentiments denies them, and
you all know and feel this truth, and
therefore it is because you believe |
have been true in my utterance, that l
have been able to stand comparatively a.
lone in the State, telling these things. l
am, upon this subject of Emancipation,
Just where | always was. But | DO not
now intend to discuss this subject. do
not now propose to enter into debate as
to whether We should. by gradual, and
distant, and prospective means, get clear
Of Slavery. That have done upon al
most every stump and in everyGcounty Of
this Comm monwealtb, again and again
Ii 5I is NV wv PiSoSH' ip0"V' ~ o"hno'
be denied, and you all know it, that have
always stood fairly and squarely upon
the Constitution and the laws, that have
ever been obedient to Law, a law and or
der man
The Madison Counry Mobs.
Now. gentlemen, for few personal ex-
plantations, before | enter upon the vindi-
cation of the Republican party. Allow
me here to state what has been and what
yet is any position in my own county
There are distinguished gentlemen here,
members of the Legislature, and outside
Of the Legislative body of Madison, and
they know that that which | say is so, is
truth. | allude to the expulsion of the
Rev. John G Fee of Kentucky, and some
nineteen other citizens of the Common.
wealth by birth aud choice, from their
homes; aud their departure into exile.
Some three years since, on the Fourth
day of July, when Mr.. Fee returned a.
gain to the State after a temporary ab-
Sc nee, he took the ground of what may be
called the Radical Abolition party. that
- ~ - han