Daily national Democrat., 1860-11-02
A Scene in Memphis, Tennessee.


The Louisville Journal of September 5 ha,
the following
In Memphis, on Wednesday last there was
a discussion between the Hon. Bailie Pevton
Bell elector. CO.. VIM H. Polk. Douglas
elector, and Col. Haynes Breckinridge eiec-
tor, all able men. Col. Haynes made the
first speech, and could give his political
friends no encouragement except by saving
that he would bet upon Mr.. Breckinridges
luck. Whilst Col Polk, who followed, was
! speaking, some one handed him slip of pa
per, requesting him to put to Col Haynes
the questions put to Mr.. Douglas at Norfolk.
The Memphis Enquirer says:
lie asked Mr. Haynes if he thought the
election of Lincoln would justify breaking
up of the Government? Mr. Haynes was ST
lent Stand up" said Polk, "and tell these
people your opinion on this question" No
answer. The storm of shout aud approval
was here perfectly deafening, and the crowd
evidently felt that the cause of the Yancey-
ties was beyond redemption
The Hon. Bailie Peyton followed in q
speech described by the Enquirer as one of
tremendous power. Then Col. Haynes rose
again, and the Enquirer says:
Mr.. Haynes, in his reply, said that the
questions handed Col Polk, as to what he
(H.) would do i'll the event of Lincolns cleo
ton, were written by an old Federalist. Our
fellow townsman W. D. Ferguson, here arose
and said that he asked them; that he was no
Federalist; that he had fought and bled in
two wars; once under Jackson, and that he
would fight, bleed, and die rather than see
dissolution of this Union.
Our readers cannot conceive Of the storm
of applause which this episode raised.
MIR. Haynes said he would tell them what
he would do in the event of Lincon's elec-
ton. He would await the first overt act of
aggression upon the rights of the South and
then he would summon him (Col Ferguson)
and go to Washington and hang Lincoln, and
if he (Col. F. refused to go, he would hang
him and all like him with grape vines.
This created immense excitement.
Col. Ferguson was called to the stand, and
the deepest passion was manifested at such a
threat towards such citizen. But Mr..
Peyton begged Col I. to remain where he
was, and leave Mr.. Haynes to him.
1t was done, and when Mr. Peyton came to
reply, and to allude to this scene, honorable
tears rolled down his cheeks. Then and
there spoke the orator and the patriot; and
the crowd was swayed by him as though it
"'iu oVVH ISSu sIdkeH ny Tue Wlnu. lnOSe
who witnessed it will never forget it.
The questions, it seems. embarrassed Col
Haynes so miserably that he made almost an
idiot of himself He hadn't the courage to 60
with his friends so far as to declare that he
would dissolve the Union for Mr.. Lincon's
election; he said he would wait for an overt
act, but, fearing that this would mortally ex-
asperate the fire eaters he must needs pro-
ceed to say, that, upon the commission of
what he might deem "the first overt act" he
no longer an elector but mere private citi-
zen, would summon Col. Ferguson, another
private citizen, and go right on to Washing
ton and proceed at once upon his own hook
to hang the President upon probably some
other look, and that he would hang with
grape vines not only Col. Ferguson but all
other private citizens who should decline to
obey his personal summons and 90 with him
upon his hanging expedition to Washington.
SO here We have the response of one Breck
inridge elector to the Norfolk questions Now
let us hear what the rest have TO say. Pass
the questions along Shout them everywhere
Let not an opportunity be lost.