The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-08-14

breckenridge as speaker.
During the heat of the Presidential canvass
Of 1852. certain rumors were current about
intrirues between General Vim. Q. Butler and
the Frec-soil Democrats, whereby it was aIieg-
ed that the former had secured the support OF
the Frce-soilcrs, by plcdyimg hinlsefin advance
to give them certain patronage and position, II
elected. This, breckenridge knew to be false,
and indignant that such calumnies should be
raised a@ainst so good man, who WAS at once
his commander, his constituent and his friend,
he arose, at the first fitting OCCASION, in the
House, and poured out his heart in vInd'ca-
ton that silcnced the sander forever, and car
ried everybody away captive. After reading
letter from Gen. B., fully disproving the charge
he said: al dare affirm that is the letter of Il
patriot and an honest man; perhaps too hon
oraLlc for political advancement, il these times,
vet he has not a friend who would not rather
see him sink beneath the maLl Y arowal OF ms
nriucipcs and those OF his State, than to sec
him creep into power by bctraving both. What
the effect of this may he in certain quarters,
| know not but defy any man whose heart
chcrishcs The love OF honor, to read those let-
ters without aGmiring the man who wrote
them: Aithc hereditary instincts OF his race
snurn couccalmcnt and evasion" Abiding to
the rumors again, NJ Is. sad "lf they were
truc. General Butler would he eternaily dis
honorcd, because the public men betrays hls
party, who comes under obligation to less than
tLc whole, and lie WHO makes agreements with
{,ctors or sections, tortcts the confidence of
al the rest But they are not true! III tic
name OF the kentucky Democracy deny
them. meet them recoiliug from the spcte<s
character of their object aud trample them
beneath n!y feet"
As he spoke this last sentence his voice
made the hall ring again, and grasplng at the
srcconr" SANDERS he dashed Il EN- to his feet,
and "tramplcd on tlirm," as though he was
crushing out their very life. The whole lloGsG
was electrified, and there was sympathe'Ic
and spontaneous movement amongst the zee
tators. as if to aid tue cliiralrous young Gator
in his noble purpose. Upon this occason he
incidentally touched upon the subjects Of THE
Cant about Progress" and Seeking the Pres
;lcrcy," in manner rot to hc togottcr and
in the latter case especially, well 70 be rcncm-
L,rcd at TIC present time. Upon the Goimer
he sad; "Lel me row s;Iya word upon this
oncst:oa Of progress. ! 5ro:css to be friend
OF rationa! progress; BIT want no wild and
visionary progress la: wo=!d sweep away oil
>tLc immortal PRINCIPLES of our forclathcrs. /
want to progress. ii the linc Of the principles
of our fathers Il want steady and rational
advancc-no notLcyord tho liIuits Of the Federal
ConstllntloaSbut am afraid that such pro-
grcss as SHOW talked Of would carry us clear
away irqn that sacred instrument | want 10
Psasr:s BY anelioratmg the condiQon Of the
zisSsie by Just, fair, and equal ;:ws and By
Zs!F, na SI, 10 =! :.
Ing to SRnc ancient and Distinguishing land
marks Of its policy. These arc my opinions
on progress"
Upon the charge that General Burler was Il
man candidate, and referring TO the Disgrace
ful spectacles atterly seen OF candidates strug-
gliug for the Presidency, he said "Nhat
would gentlemen have? Would they have
him Genera! Dutler) to roam over the country
clamoring for support, and spreading his sails
to every breeze of popular excitement Gen.
Butler has remained with quiet dignity at his
hosc in Kentucky {; he has hot mingled i'll :his
Presidential strife. TO my mind, sir, it is
double spectacle. 1t is the homage he pays to
the good sense and capacity OF his country
men,, This coarse carries the mind back TO
the earlier and prrcr days OF the Republic, and
recalls the memory Of those really great men
who neither sought nor DECLINED the'l'rasi-
dency. The avidity with which high Offices
are sought nowadays, | regard as, the worst,
the very worst slgn OF the times. From it, as
from copious fountain; flow corruption, ey
travagancc, profigacy, national Disgrace. /
hope that the Chief Magistracy Of this Union
will ever be designated by the spontaneous
voice of the people, and that the citizen WHO
is liouorcd by the public Choice riay deserve
the place for his services, his virtucs--aad his
molesty."
While Major DrccliinridYc was ever p.irty
opponent Of Henry Cay, he always entertain
ed the most ardent admiration for the man
and improved every occasion to- express it. In
the speech from which the foregoing extracts
are quoted, lie refers to the name Of Clay as
at "that name more potent to rally his clans.
men, than any in American history save That
of jackson" 1t was the knowledge Of this
feeling, together with the fact that he repre-
scnted the ashland district" that caused llin
to be selected by tie House as its principal
speaker at the funeral soIemnitics held in hon.
or of that statesman Those who were pres.
ent will never forget the impression made by
Drcckinridgc on that occasion. Gas 4 leader
in a deliberate body" said ne, Mr.. Clay had
no equal in America In him Intellect, per-
severance, coqucncc and courage united t"
form a character fit to command. He fired
With his own enthusiasm, and controlled by his
auasing will individuals and masscs. No re-
verse could crush his spirit, nor defeat reduce
bin to despair.
sEqually erect and dauntless in prosperity;
when successful lie moved to the accomplish
lnent ofshis purposes with severe resolution;
when defeated, he rallied his broken bands
around him, and hoa his eagle eye shot along
The ranks the contagion of his own courage
Destined for leader, he everywhere asserted
his destiny. In his long and evenfnl life he
came in contact with men Of all ranks and pro-
fessioiis, but lie never felt that he was in the
presence of man syperiot to himself. In the
assemblies Of the people, at the bar, i'll the Sch
-evervwhere within the circle.of his per-
sonal presence he assumed and maintained a
position of. pre-emincncc. The cntirS absence
of cqriiyocation or disguise in all his acts was
his master key to. the5publc heart. lie never
patered in double sense. The country. was
never in doubt asSto his opinions or purposes
In all the contests Of his time, his position on
great public questions was as clear as tile snoon-
dav sun in a cloudlcss sky. Sir, standing by
the grave of this great man, and. considering
H., .I,;,o, l,o,y rrutn,nDtil ,ln fonc opDoor al II