Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-16
SPEECH
Hon. ]. c. BRECKENRIDGE.
Delivered at Lexington, Kentucky,
September 18th, 1860.

me- The circumstances under which apnear he
fere you are unusual; / do il in obedience 10 tbe
request Of friends whose wishes have been accus-
toned 10 observe; and il i be an uncommon tbinp
for person in my position TO address assemblages
Of the people. can only say hope 10 discuss the
topics which shall handle to-day in q manner NOT
altogether unworthy the attitude which occupy.
shall certainly indulge in no language which in
ny opinion, will fall below the dignity Of political
discussion Fhe coudition Of my health makes
itinpossible 10 extend my voice over this vast as
sembly, but hope it will become stronger as pro-
oeed.
appear before yeu to-day for the purpose-frst
OF repelling certain accusations which have been
made against personally, and iDdustrioHsly dis
seminsied ever other States; and nex to show that
the principles upon which l stand the principles
OF he Constit tion and the Union grSat spplause;1
and surely, If at any time justifcsiion could be
found BY any man for addressing the people in the po
sItOn occupy, it will be found in my case. Anony
nous writer's and wandering orators have chosen to
tell the people that am dsunionist and traitor
10 my country and they declare that the strocious
form in which have exhibited that treason makes,
by comparison with it, Burr patriot and the mem
ory Of Arnold respectable.
But fellow-citizeDs, before come TO those topics,
| desire 10 make a brief but comprehensive state
ment in regard TO my position in connection with
the Presidency Of the United States. l have been
charged with q premature ambition; have been
charged with intriguing for this nomination 1 have
been charged with leapipg before the wishes Of the
people, and desiring to thrust myself before them for
the highest oice 10 their gift To all this answer
that it is wholly untrue. have writ n to nobody
for their support have conversed with nobody,
soliciting support. have intrigued with nobody
have promised nobody.
To these statements challenge contradiction from
any human being TCheers. v5ice--"Thsrs so,
JobE c y Nay, more did not seek or desire 10
be placed before the people for the eft ce of Presi
dent by any Convention or any part Of any Con-
anfsn Traa fntb tbaG tota of mt Nv
in ihe spring Of 1852 and informed that some
partial friends we're presenting my meme to the
public in that connection, and certain editors, whose
presence see here, had hoisted my name for the
Presidency, said 10 them all" Friends am not
in any sense q candidate for the Presidency, and
desired that my name might be taken down from The
head OF their columns. Ii was done. very emf
nent citizen of the Commonwealth Of Kentucky
presented by his friends for tnat ofice; was
grstifed see it. aud united cordially in presenting
him for the suffrage Of the American people. At
time, in or out Of the State of Kentucky, did
do act or utter q word which would bring my
name in conflict with his. that Of any other emf
nent American CT zen who desired whose friends
desired for him, that position; and IL you have Ia
ken the trouble TO read hs proce diugs the Charles
ton Convention, you will remember when received
the vote Of Arkansas, one of my friends arose and
requested that the vote might be Withdrawn, declsr
ing that | would not allow The of ny name in
competition with that Of the distinguished kentuck-
ian TO whom have referred.
And when that convention assembled at Bslt- |
more, my feelings and my conduct we're still un-
changed. After the disruption which took place |
there, my name without any solicitation on nv part
ahd against my expressed wishes, was presented to
the country for the Office of President by Conven-
tion, and under circumstances which certainly de-
served the lst respectful consideration. No mau /
could be vain enough 10 anticipate that his name
would be placed before the country; but having |
heard hat such a thing was possible, constantly
4I.NFg ~ynNa 70 ha fnd - ha
American people, but was content and more than |
content with the honors which have been beapei |
upon me by my State and country" And looked |
forward with pleasure to the prospect OF serving I
Kentucky in the Senate Of the United States for the
next SIX years. Cries of "gOod."] My name, how |
ever was preseured, and iet that could not re-
fuse 10 accept the nomination under the circumssn-
ces without abandoning vital principles and betray-
ing my friends Applause
Il is said that was not regularly nominated and
that an emiueht citizen of Illinois was regularly
nominated for the Presidency. But this is ques-
ton which have not lime to discuss to-day, aud 1t
has already been thoroughly exhausted before the |
people.
refer you to the able letter of your delegates |
from this Congressional District; refer you to the
mastery and exhaustive speech recently delivered |
by nv mob e friend whose grounds We are met. |
can only say that the CONVENTION which assembled |
at the Front-street Theatre, at Baltimore, In my |
iudement was devoid only of the spirit of jus
tice but even of the forms of regularity LCheers
Tue gentleman whom it nominated. never received |
the vote required by the rules Of the Democratic |
organization. Whole States were excluded and dis
franchised in that Convention-not to speak Of in
divIduals. The most fsgrant acts of1Djustice we're
perpetraied for the purpose Of forcing upon the |
Democratic organization particular individual ss
the represertaiive6fs pefsieious-doetrine, which
shall be able TO show is repughsht alike to reason
and the Constitution. Owing ios the gross outrage |
Of these proceedings decided majority Of the del
fr,r fat "
Convention, declaring that it was not National
Convention Of the real Democratic organization.
Nearly the entire delegation from fifteen Southern
States, aud the entire delegation from California |
and Oregon, and large aud imposing mInorties from
ether States of the Union, making in whole or in
part deleg4ti from almost two thirds OF the States
Of the Consedsracy, denounced and separated them
selves from that il-starred body. The result fur
nishes striking warning thai the arts OF political
management are not always perfect substitutes for
truth and justice.
But after ALL the great question is, what are the
priuciples which ought to commend themselves 10 |
The American people, at issue in this canvass
But. before proceed further will group togeth-
er and answer number of personal accusations,
some Of which had their origin in the State of Ken
lucky and others elsewhere, by which, through me,
il is ATTEMPTED TO STRIFE down the organization with
which | am connected. 1t begets in me almost
feeling of humiliation to answer some of them, but
as have imposed upon myself the task, will 60 /
Go on John
believe il has been published IN almost every
Southern newspaper of the Opposition party, that
l signed petition for the pardon OF John Brown,
the Harpers Ferry murderer and traitor. TINS
is wholly untrue. So much for that lCriss ot
"Good'l
1t hiss teen extensively charged and circulated
that vas in favor of the election OF General Tay-
lor to the Presidency aHd opposed 10 the election
Of Cass aud Butler. This, also, is wholly untrue.
[Cheers
10 the year lS47, there was meeting IN the cliy
of Lexington in which | participated, By which
Gen. Taylor was recommended for the Presidency
Of the UaIted States. difference Of opiuiob existed
al thst time the political sentiments Of that dis
tinguIshe1 gentleman / was assured in a manner
satisfactory me that len Tsyors political opinions
coinoided iu the main wi those held, and uni
ted ia the meeting. Soon afterwards | went 10
Mexico. When | returned, twelve months after
wards in lS4S. found the campaign in full blast
with Taylor, the candidate Of the Whigs and Cass
and Butler in nomination by the National Democra-
cy Il is well known to thousands Of those within
the sound Of my voice, that as soon as l returned
home took the stump in behalf Of the Democratic
nominees and sustained them to the best Of my abil-
ity "a yoiee-"An right u
Il gives me pleasure TO add that worked all the
more zealously because one Of the gentlemen for
whose success / labored, was a Kentuckian, my old
commander and my friend. [Cheers.l
1t is said was not present and did not vote at the
election in Lexington in S4S. That is true But
with the statement there ought 10 have gone ex-
plapaiion we'll known, but which my opponents new
er pblished that is entirely satisfactory. You well
know that st that iiIae, (before the adoption Of tie
present constitution citizen might vote anywhere
In the State Ii 90 happened that after the labors
Of she canvass and tks courts, had gone en- my
annual hunting trip 10 the moautaOs There was
viih me a marty Of six or eight gentlemen all of |