Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-09-22
P0La U0Al.
Speech of Mr. Breckinridge.

j
We find in the New York 7in,cs and Ler-
dtd OF Thursday last, an imperfect telegraph
Ic report of a portion of the speech of Mr..
Brcckinridge, delivered at Lexington on Wed
nesday. After thanking his friends for the
cordial reception they had given him, he pro-
ceeded to Justify himself against aundry ac-
cusations that had been brought against him.
lie pronounced as untrue, the allegation that
ho ever intrigued for, sought or desired the
nomination; that he ever signed petition
for the pardon of John Brown that he was
in favor of Gen, Taylor for the Presidency,
or that he ever advocated the doctrine of
Squattcr Sovereignty, and proved that Mr..
Douglas occupied the same position on the
Nebraska Bill MS he did, viz to abide by the
decision of the Srpreme Court
MIR. Breckenridge ticn proceeded to repel
the charge of disunion made agunst himself
and the Constitutional Democracy And here
we quote from the report before u.s.
Mr. Breckenridge here entered into an ar
gument to show thut Congress has power to
protect property in the Territories and in
rcfutation of the position recently taken by
the Senator from Illinois, that Congress had
never exercised that power. The principles,
said MIR. Breckinridge, have tried fcebiy to
vi"dcate here, are the principles upon which
the Constitutional Democracy stand to day ;
and they are the only principles upon which
any human being will dare to pretend to
charge them with disunon. If they are the
pri''ciples of the Constitution and the Union
then we are Constitutionalists and Unionists
Cries of "That's so" That's so."l And
yet for two or three months you have heard
nothing but loud and incessant camor that
and those Democrats with whom am con
nceted are a Disunion organization, who seek
to break up the confcdcracy of the States.
hardly lnow, SO far as it is personal Charge
aginst myself how to answcrr it. TA Voice
=" Tell thew that tits a lie!" All over
the country the charge of Disunion is repeat
cd against me ana those who believe with me.
by anonymous writers and wandering o.ators.
Their whole stock IN trade is Disuuion Their
continual cry is that this man and his party
are attempting to break up the Calon of these
States. We say, how can principals be sec
tional or dlsunlenist whioh are nusuui strictly
upon the Constitution, and the large number
of young gentlemen who are ringing bells,
with tongues as long and heads as empty as
the bells which they ring, cry " Dissolution !"
"Dsunion j. Prolonged lpughterund cheers.
From sources yet more eminent, comes the
iaformation that | and the political organiza
far disruption of the Confederacy. do
not reply now to what Mr. Douglas says all
egC< New England, in Virginia, and where
he goes, because it is quite natural fora gen
tleman as much interested us he to think that
any man Who opposes his principles must be
disuniouist. fUheers and lauehter.1 In.
deed, BY his declaration we must be all dis.
unionists in Kentucky, for he declares that
kbocn w fhuk
have no power to exclude slave property, and
that Congress should interfere for its pro.
aection arc disuniouists, and that is what the
whole Legislature of ,Xontucky said lust
year. !.caa applause. I In my own State,
where thought my character and antece.
dents were known, one of the oldest and
snost eminent of our public men has not said
shat | was disuniunist, but has intiinuted
that wasaconnected with an oreaization
) whose bone and body is disu,ion. / refer
ito Mr.. Crittenden and TO a speech he made
at Louisville. have known and admired
him. He has known me. Towards him I
have cherished, aud expect TO cherish. rela.
Sions Of frespectfuland cordial esteem There
are reasons which, even If / had ground for
It, would preyentany but perfect courtesy in
reply
Mr. j, in passing, paid aa cIoquent trib.
ate ID Gen Lane, and contenaed to speak of
himself. Born ssithinsightof The placeknownI
10 yca for near forty years, your representa-.
i've in the Legislature, in Congress, and
other situations of trust. / inyito any one to
point 90 aaythlng in my character or ante
oedents which would sanction such charge
or zach IN imputation. [Cheess i will
nyt aegntde the dignity Of my declaration by
epithess, but proudly challenge my bitter
est enemy TO pointto on act, TO disolose en-
wlteraAce, 81 reveal a thought OF pdne hos
Tile 10 the Consultation or the union Of the
gsatos LOUD ekegis.
"a VoIas.vH Hesaoulda't Olt..9
aTha faan docs not live who has power to
couple my name successfully wish the .E.rhs.
81 faint Of disloyalsy e the gonstisutiofi'9nd
she Upiea fIOud applauso.1 But il there