Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-08-17
The Union, the Constitution.
and the Laws.
SPEECH OF THE
HON. JOHN ]. CRITTENDEN,
ATLOULSVILLE KY,
" THE EVENING OF Aueusr %, 1860.

| on THE EVENING OF AUGUST 25 1860.
Mr.. Crittenden said !. 1t is thought, ladies and
gentlemen and hopeit may be so, that without
1 tho formnlity of an introduction may venture to
address myself to you as one who is not altogether
unknown in this city. II is by an urgent request
/ felow-citizens that obtrude myself your at
tention on this occasion. do not seek opportuni-
tics of speaking-it has become rather rksome, and
nlthough compelled TO observe the course of politics
and take an interest in them it is a subject on
which have long since been fully satisfied. ! am
no orator nor have any pretentions to advise you
but have no opinions that care TO conceal, and
when il is the wish and pleasure my countrymen
/ to hear me on my subject of public concern, feel
some difficulty in refusing compliance It is in
obedience to such request thatl now appear be-
fore you for the purpose of addressing you on a
subject with which, am sure you are already
quite familiar.
! The political occurrences of our time have been
of character to strike so deeply into the public
mind that there is one unobseryant as not
| to be familiar with them. fear that can say
nothing calculated either to interest to instruct
you
Ferow-ctizens Great questions are now pend
ing and great events depend upon their issue.
Presidential election always involves to no incon-
siderable extent the public welfare and the pro-
gress Of our government, and the Importance ofthe
struggle increases in proportion to the character OF
the times and the character the questions depend
ing before the people at the moment Perhaps there
has been no time past when questions OF a more
critical character depending than those which
are now before the people. You have before you
q variety Of candidates unknown on any former
occasion, and these are, to some extent brought
before you by the variety and interest of the ques
tons involved | have it particularly at heart to
make known to you tie principles OF this new
party which has recently sprung into existence, and
al ,nr,r its DAFT
Judgment and election. / mean of course, the
Constitutional Union Party, and their candidates,
Bell and Everett (Cheers.)
Fellow-citizens it was high public necessity, a
great exigency in public affairs, that forced this
party into existence What, last winter, was the
state of our country? Two great parties seemed to
occupy the whole country. There was no other of
sufficient Importance to attract the least public at
tenton. Those parties were sweeping on in fierce
contention that involved every public interest on
one side or the other. What was the character of
the question: what was the subject about which
those great parties were marshaing their hosts
and preparing for great encounter in the approach
ing Presidential election? One of those parties
was the Democratic, and the other the Republican
party The question debated before them was that
most exciting of all questions-the question of sla-
very. This was conducted between them not with
the temperance that marks the discussion and set
tlement Of ordinary political questions, but with
the uerccnpSS OF enemies, anu ille uutShOH
cd not merely the fate of parties, but the fate OF the
country-Union and Disunion were involved in the
question. What good could possibly come of such
n contest? There was danger enough in II, but no
good to the country could be hoped for The one
party must necessarily be conquercr and the other
be trampled into the dust. Victory to the one was
prescription to the other, which threatened by re-
sistance and force of arms to oppose the exercise OF
the powers of government. This was the prospect.
There were thousands ofmen everywhere who look
cd with concern, and may say apprehension and
awe TO the result of such contest. What should
they do? To Join one the other of these parties
was to mingle in the conflict and the evil. The
only way was to stand forth like men and form
another party to form party for the country
to form party that would stand between these two
hostile parties and prevent far as possible any
collision between them which might prove danger
Gus to the country and ifit could not succeed, II
it should even be scattered between the opposing
hosts of sectionasm in their mighty conflict II
would vet break the shock Of the encounter, and
save the country. might be that the presence Of
such n party appearing IN the field ofcontest-calm
patriotic with suitable and proper representatives
, at its hCad-would make such an appeal to the
sense and patriotic feeling Of the country as would
draw aside these comhatnnts-draw them TO patri-
otic standard and unite them together and govern
the country This was the object and expectation
II w,ls with these purposes and upon these princ
.. Plies that this Union party sprang into existence
and took its place amid the contests of the partizans
(ApplauseO 1t took its stand between the Demo
cratic and Republican parties. What was the basis
upon which it presented itself! 1t came on NJ
:, artificial platform. II came with no studied creed
II came upon great and high principle. In thi
simple language it was expressed: "The Constitu
ton the Union, and the Enforcement ofthc Laws.
Immense cheering.l
These are our principles We want no platform
10 captivatc or ensnare men, We appeal to then
upon the simple principles ofpatriotism aud of self
preservation for their glory and the glory OF ou
!, land. (Appausel These are our principles her
u are our purposes; To maintain the Union whcl
existed anterior to tho Constitution and which wa
only confirmed and sanctioned by the Constitution
tn enforce the laws of our country everywhere
l(Applause) All can understand this II is
plain denunciation of principles. No subtle dis
examinations, no dubious resolutions, no ad captain
dun phrases no crccds proclaimed to bind the heart
aud blind the judgements of men but principle
Inherent in the government and common among a
the peoplc--the Union, the Constitution, and tn
=. Laws (tireat Applause).
Here is ground broad enough for you all to stan
upon We come with no old party teuds and az
cnsations, We come as new party--a party draw
10 ing its strength from the Constitution Il has sprun
= from the bosom of that necessity which seemed /
- require and demand its interpositou for the satet
~ of the country, II came with no accusations, n
a denunciatiors II came as peace maker TO TAX
its stand upon our own native land and to imploI
our brethren of all political parties TO cease thu
destructive struggle in which they seemed about
engage aud 10 spare their country We came
make marty for the country. There were parti'
enough striving for their own interests We wan
~ ed party to strive for the Interests of the cour IT
in and the whole country. (ApplauSel. We nomiI
nj aied candidates. They are before rs. You kno
their character. Men of tried integrity; men
age and experience; men praotsed in the govern
= ment for long periods OF their lives and ia ever
branch OF it--as Senators. members of the House
Representatives rs Ministers in The Cabinet
e- foreign Ministers In all these varied capaci
thnsc two gentlemen have onicia,cd, aud where al