Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-22


well considereds able and dispassienate article in
which they granhlea with the Emergency Of d.
vided National Cansen and Tor the characteris-
tic premptthde vi whiclk skey assumed posi-
Election viii fnlY justify
Very truly sasr iriend,
FRANKLIN PlEEcs.
Hon B. F. HALLrrr, boston, Mass.
serenade 10 vice-pressdsas HrecxEnrszge
at OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES RelsOrt OF his
EEILow=CIFlzgNs: thank you, "A voice-sHur-
rah for Breckenridge" and cheers on. of the full
ness of grateful heart fer this cordial szeleome
to my home feel, felowctzens the impropriety,
uBon occasion like this. of doing much more than
returning to you my cordial and grateful ackn0wl-
edgements for your Kindness. Perhaps however,
| may be allowed here, in the midst of my old DIS
trlct, and surrounded by ny Beighbors and friends
on the soil of Kentucky, to make or two explain
atory statements.
forbear, on this OCCASION to enter into any state
Inent argument in reference to the circumstances
that occurred st Baltimore, and which resulted I'M
i expectedy to ne in placing me before the country
for the Office of President; but think it due to you
and to myself 20 say, thar being cognizant Of all
those facts having observed all those transactons
having pondered them carefully; having consulted
with my friends; unconscious, altogether of being
impelled by hot ambition feel that the position
| which occupy to-day is right lGreat sppiause.
/ feel that could not have shrunk FRONT it without
beng false to my country and false to my friends
consequently accepted il with all its responsibility
TO those who take advantage OF the position OF 81
lent man 10 heap upon him execration, say -Pour
| on. can endure Much applause. leave it to
others to explain fully the facts and circunn
stances Of this nomination.
Perhaps. Also may be allowed to state that the
charge that stand before the country as section
al candidate cannot be true whether reference be
had to the number of the States which co-0peFated
In The movement the principles they have an
nounced. When you find the Democratic OFganiza-
EFl of
parties in all the Southern States. and in those two
States upon the Pacific ocean which have been so
far removed from the contests Of the Atlantic and
Mississippi Valley that their judgment to what is
i sectional ought to be almost conclusive and when
you find majority Of the Democratic organization
of the State OF Pennsylvania, and supposed ma
jority of New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts
and Minnesota, with large and imposing organiza
tons in all the other States cooperating therein.
such nomination as that be called SECTIONAL A.
majority of the States of the Union sectional;-at
war with the principles upon which the Union itself
| is formed? e ~
to which owe my nomination, or that the friends
that support me, that myself tainted with a
spirit of disunion how absurd must it sound to a
| Kentucky audience and in this old district too. !,
an American citizen q Kentuckian who never did an
act nor cherished thought that not full of de-
votion to the Constitution and the Union Much
applause; voice. 1--WE will always stand by yOu.h
But perhaps it would have been better both on your
behalf and mine, II had refused to respond TO the
degrading accusation. sr Il 81 q = q "a &
Fellowcitzcns, this is perhaps the last time that
l will have an opportunity to say anything to my
neighbors and friends during the tendency of this
canvass While, therefore, shall enter into no ar
gument upon the particular topics of the day, PEI
haps you will pardon me for making two or three
general observations which it seems to me should
commend themselves to all parties everywhere.
| We live under the best Government on eartl.
This is only country in the world where expert
| has ted that
established over great population and large area
| of country, and be compatible with public order.
This has been demonstrated IN case for the first
time in TIE history of the world. How are we to
preserve these institutions? How are we to pre-
serve intact that double form of Government, State
and Federal, handed down to US by forefathers.
Ny ans is that we only do it by clingng with
/ unfaltering fidelity, and unsweryed by the tempta-
tons of expedency false policy, to the Constitu-
ton they bequeathed to US. hold that fidelity to
the Constitution Of the United States in all its parts
and in all its obligations is the condition of the
American Union and of It's perpetuation
That Constitution framed and transmitted by
the wisest generation of 'that lived in the
tide of time" 1t may be called an inspired nstru-
ment. Let us keep ii and keep it pure. Much APP
plause.
Now, fellow citizens, every citizen of the United
States whatever may be his high position, has rest
ing upon him a personal obligation to see that the
true character of the COnfederacy preserved Each,
in his place, responsible, and no man can cast off
the Obligation. We must abide by that COnstitu-
ton. We must not cOnstrue away its obligations
and duties on the hand, the other claim for
it powers not guaranteed by the States The mo-
ment we do that, that mement we change the char
| acter of the Government. The moment we violate
one principle of the Constitution for policy, that
moment il ceases TO be the Government our fathers
gave us. And when we have drifted away
from the landmarks OF the Constitution, we shall
find that the whole system of government has been
radically and fatally changed.
hats fvCo or three of the Fundamental
cipIes of the Constitution? l assert without fear
of successful contradiction any where that the
great fundamental principle underlying all is the
equality of the States of the Union. They were
equal and independent sOvereguties before that in
instrument was framed Itwas framed to preserve
not to destroy that equality. This government is
confederation of equal States, and the moment
that, applied to States or citizens OF States, or TO
properly of citizens of the States. you discri-
inmate between one State and another, or be-
tween one citizen and another or between one des-
eription of property and another, that moment you
change the character OF the Government that mo-
ment you destroy the equality of te States and the
citizens that moment you degrade portion of
the ConfedePacy and it becomes uniCn, not of
equal and sovereign States, but union of some
States and some provinces.
Now fellow citizens. growing out of this doctrine
of the equality of the States, which, in the abstract
no man will deny, the duty of the Federal
Government to protect the rights of citizens and
their property everywhere within Its jurisdiction.
whenever 1t shall be proper and necessary 10 do so.
Under the flag of the Union, and within the sphere
of Federal jurisdiction the citizens of Massachu-
sets. Michigan and Vermont have the same rights
of person and property, no more no less. as the
citizen of Kentucky. Louisiana and Texas. for
bear to apply it, bat lay it down as unGeniable
truth. E BAN
| Another great principle of the Constitution is the
disassociation of Government, as such from
every system Of religion faith, and the perfect
security of the rights of COINCIDENCE Happily for
| no SpriOuS attack il made
| quarter.
The Government is also charged in its sphere with
| the preservation of public order. If we maintain
these underlying principles we shall have chart by
| which we may ever steer over placid Zap
pause.1 believe them to be essential to the con-
tinued existence of this Union upon the principles
| upon which il originally formed. believe that
| by adhering to them COnfederacy will long
tinue to be Union of prosperous and happy States
Then let cling to them let US stand by principles
which the people of Kentucky, without distinction
of party twelve months ago. asserted were the true
| principles of the Constitution
| Fellow citizens, find that betrayed by your kind
ness, am wandering into saying more than Intend
ed. My lips from this time forth of course seal
ed. have referred briefly to of the principles
which believe to be essential to peace and our
Union, and now til for Kentucky herselfto express
her own sense of her own position and rights in this
Union-and thu question pass over into the keep
/ ing of her gallant and patriotic sons.
feel fellow-ctizens, that personal considerations
are utterly Men IN LDeSe great issues
are nothing they less than the light dust in the
| balance The great cause of the Constitution and
the Union is everything and speaking for that cause
alone, appeal to yOu Kentuckans, to prove that
you not degenerate sons of the men of '98. As
sert the equality of your Commonwealth in this
galaxy of confederate republics. Come, wake your
slumbering energies arouse your lion hearts, shake
out again the ample folds of that glorious flag which
so oft hath braved the battle and the breeze, and
with locked shields and dauntess step follow it once
more to the noblest of its victories. speak not for
myself bat for the Constitution of my country, and
| the rights of my State.
TO the Patrons. of the Appeal.
After eight years communication with the pat |
rons of the Appeal Of its editors it has fallen
to my lot to retire from that position. In doing so,
nv heart Is filed with emotion. am conscious |
that have often erred, but my errors have met |
with that indulgence which could only spring from
the greatest generosity. In this great, beautiful
and prosperous city, around which my hearts best
affections cluster have been fortunate to ind