Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-09-22

Fl DOuR AuSALC as plCttSCu eAl1o eA1S AoSokk IHlpUi-
lance had been transiently magnifed by the
gracious presence and benignant condeseension of
the Magnus Apollo of his party-the Bellman was
Initiated with such vehemence by the magnani-
nous eulogies showered upon his leader as nearly
to produce a sensational epilepsy-the Breckin-
ridger was g~ratifed that such great elements of
attraction, and of persuasive power operating
against his party and his principles, not a single
vote bad been lOst-and all, inclusive and exclu-
siveof party predictions, were pleased at an in
t~sllectual feast, such as is not often afforded to
those, whose habitation is remote from the greater
highways of human life.
; Mr.. Pierre Soule is an orator, moulded by the
hand of nature, and a man of genius, stamped
with the sign-manuel of God! For genius is an
essence and an emanatiOn from Deity, and he who
| has it not, in vain aspires to that place into which
its possessor steps with an ease that demonstrates
he was born to fill it. Yet oratory was by no
means a conspicuous feature in the speech de-
liyered by Mr.. Soule on Saturday. In that re-
spect it was perhaps beneath his most ordinary
efforts. his physical condition being adverse to the
indulgence of those bursts of eloquence, and the
DISPLAY of that wcll-placed histrionism, for which
he is especially remarkable. His haggard face
and sunken cheek bespeak the ravage upon his
inner life which the vacant scat IN his household
will not let him forget.
The distinguished orator disclaimed any pur-
pose of appealing to the Imagination or the pas
sions of his audience. He intended to appeal to
their reason, but as he advanced in his argument,
one could but smile that after this eXordium, the
speaker was taking as a basis for his whole speech,
and endeavoring to demonstrate this ludicrous
proposition-that although the Breckenridge par
ty had a good platform, and a fair outward SEM
blance. vet that was all a sham, and their real
purpose was disunion, although not openly
avowed. If anything had been wanting to com
plete the spectacle of disappointed and thwarted
ambition conjuring up spectres where no reality
exists, and feeding a diseased Imagination with
tortured thoughts and schemes, Mr.. Soule fur
nished it, when he was betrayed into that mode of
attack. 1t was not argument-it was assertion,
unsupported by fact. 1t was moreover an impu-
tation upon the good faith of Major Heron, who
was to speak from the same stand-for the speaker,
in unfolding the direful plot, furnished as one of
the connecting links, the visit of MI. Breckenridge
to Kentucky in December, 1859, and the speech
which he then made. It would be difficult for
even the worst panic+stricken terrorist to elimi-
nate from that celebrated speech, which breathes
so noble a patriotism and such pure political
principle, anght that could sustain Mr.. Soule in
the indefensible position which he found himself
forced to assume. But if it were otherwise-if
the sentiments then enuneiatcd by Mr.. Breckkin-
ridge were Of the obnoxious character Mr.. Soule
would have rs believe, then Major Heron was
reprehensible in the earnest and Jealous advocacy
of Mr.. B. three months afterwards. Our readers
Will remember that only so late as last March,
Major Heron was a delegate to the Democratic
State Convention at Baton Rouge, and that he i'll
troduced a resolution, instructing our delegates
to Charleston to rote for Mr. Breckenridge as the
first choice Of Louisiana for the Presidency. If
Mr.. Soule's charge be true, that Mr.. Breckin-
ridges visit to Kentucky had aught of disloyalty
to the Union for its object, and that object was
foreshadoWed in his great speech, Major Heron
was a party to the scheme, and was trying to drag
this State into the vortex. Is not the whole state
ment ridiculous in itself!
The cause in which Nh. SOule is engaged must
indeed be barren, when O man such as he, fruit
full in resources and astnte in intellect, is obliged
to employ in this combat the puerile weapons
that characterize the political charlatan. But he
was not content with this mode of warfare. In
the very inception of his speech, he was guilty of
a most heinous offense against good morals and
fair dealing, without the palliation that superficial
men have for the same offence. He misrepre-
scented the position, and the principles of the
Breckenridge Democracy so glaringly, and with
out so much as the disguise of sophstry, as to
occasion the ejaculation of unfair, unfair" to
be pronounced and repeated throughout the whole
crowd. The man who, from his place in the 9.
s.. Senate, defended with mastery ability and I'M
faltering courage the identical doctrine now in
Iculcated in our platform during the battle of the
fgiant ~intellects pending the Compromise meas
ures of 1850, cannot plead Ignorance of that doc
trine now, nor attribute it to different results! If
Pierre Soule was honest in his advocacy of it in
1850, and repealed with fiery indignation the
charge of disunion, preferred against him then by
sOnTcof the very men who were applauding him
last Saturday, and acting as officers of the meet
ing, how can he justify his present course, or how
can any one account for his present attitude, ex-
cept on the belief that he has listened to the
promptings Of q discontinued ambition rather
than to the suggestions of his reason and unbi-
assed intellect? It was he that introduced in the
Senate. the proviso, that the Legislature (of
Utah shall have no power in any manner to in
terfere with the establishment or the abolition of
slavery within the limits of said Territory, but
shall provide for the protection Of such property
as is recognized by the Constitution of the United
States" II was he who before his constituents
Oh the 9Th Of September, 1851, after the Compro-
mise had passed over his vote, sung out in clarion
notes the indignant retrospec-sh had we but
maintained ourselves on the proud position we
then occupied (at the ratification of the Mexican
1 Treaty. we would still be with our rights, the
equals Of our partners, and not what it is now
proposed we should become, accomplishing and
!. trucking submissioniss, the objects Of the mock
inr lees and haunting insults Of aggressive and
arrogant Freesoilism." Bend your heads in awe
1 before the Roman frnincss thatpervades the heart
which prompted this protest against surrender.
1--WE cndure--eaduraace implies not consent. But
surrender our convictions, our sentiments, and
cover down in silence before the Wronguieer, sink
ing like slaves beneath the pressure of our suffer-
ings! Upon my heart and soul, neueg, neuer,
neuer!a How that warrior voice now sounds
like the soft balance of the wooing dove! And
almost on the very anniversary of that day, when
he justified himself for having in the Senate de-
manded that the equality Of all the States and
their citizens should be recognized in an entire
liberty Of emigration to the Territories with their
property, and Of protection to II against any leg
Elatiye interference, he stands up before the people
of Rapides and sustains Judgs Douglas doctrine,
that q shareholder may by nnfriendly legislation,
right to.settlewith III properly in the common
domain Of country! MI. Soule knew full well
that the BreekinFidge Democracy maintain, as all