Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-09-21
RitRmolr0 Enquirer,
SPEECH
Ez0S. .sOEsN G. BFs E,
DELIVERED At
O~-~~~~~~~-~~~-~-~-~~~
~ TYLER, WISE IS ALLEGRE.
FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 21.


| y 4 L.. L
beg you, my neighbors, friends, and old
constituents, to he assured that | feel pro-
foundly grateful for tile cordial welcome you
have extended to mc The circumstances un-
der which ] appear before you are unu-
sual. do it in obedience to the request
OF friends whose wishes | have been accustomed
to observe; anu if it be an uncommon thing
for person in my position 10 address assem-
blages of the people, can only say hope to
DISCUSS the topics which shall handle to-day
in n manner not altogether unworthy the atti-
tude which occupy. shall certainly indulge
in no language which, in my opinion, will fall
below the dignity Of political discussion. The
condition Of my health makes it impossible to
extend my vucc over this vast assembly, but
hope it will become stronger as proceed
Iappear before you to-day for the purpose, first,
OF repnlling certain accusations which have
been rGalc against me personally, and indus
triously disseminated over other States; and
next to show that the principles upon which
stand are the principles of the Constitu.
surely, il At any time justification could
be found by any man for addressing
the people in the position ! occupy, it
writers and wandering orators nave chosen 10
tell the people that | ain disunionist and
traitor to my country, and they declare the
atrocouS form III which have exhibited that
treason, makes, by comparison with it, Burr
patriot, and the memory Of Arnold respec-
table
But, fellow citizens, before | come to those
! topics. | icsirc 10 make brief but compre-
hc:lsivc statement in regard to ny position in
connection. with he Presidency Of the United
Stmes. have been charged with Il premature
ambition; have hrcn charged with intriguing
for this nomination.: have hrrn charged with
| leaping briu!r inr wishes Of the people, and
desiring tn ,ir'ls! myScl! before them for the
highest cilic.. in their gift. To all this | an
swer that il is wholly untrue | have written
to nobutly for their support. have convcrsed
with nobody soliciting support. ! have in
trigued with nobody. have promised nobody.
10 these statc;urnl: challenge contradiction
from any human being. Cheers. y voice
That's so, John c. Nay, more! did not
seek or desire 10 he placed before the people
for the office Of President by any Convention,
or any Part of any Convention. When re-
turned to the State Of Kentucky, in the spring
of 1862, and was informed that some partial
| friends were presenting my maine 10 the pub
| lie in that connection, and certain editors,
whose presence see here, had hoisted my
name for the Presidency, | said to them all,
| ''FrendS, am not in any sense 4 candidate
for the Presidency, and desired that my name
| might he taken down from the head Of their CO.
lulnns. 1t was done. 4 very eminent citizen
of the Commonwealth Of kentucky was pre-
sentcd by his friends for that office. was
gratiied to see il, and united cordially in pre-
scnting him for the suffrage Of the American
people. At no time, in or ont Of the State Of
| Kentucky, did | do All act, or utter word, which
would bring NY name in conflict with his, or
! that OF any other eminent American citizen who
desired, or whose friends desired for him. that
position; and if YOU have taken the trouble to
read the proceedings ofthc Charleston Conven-
ton, you will remember, when received the
vote OF Arkansas, one Of my friends arose and
-"r'""."d that III" vote might be withdrawn.
| declaring that would not allow the use Of my
| name in competition with that Of the distin-
guished kcntuckan to whom have referred.
And when that Convention assembled
at Baltimore, my feelings and my conduct
were still unchanged. After the disruption
which took place there. my name, without any
solicitation on my part, and against my cx-
press wishes was presented To the country
for the Office Of President, by Convcn-
ton, anu under circumstances which GER
tainly descrved.thc most respectful considera-
lion. No man could be vain enough to antici-
pate that his name would be placed before the
country; but having heard that such thing
was possible constantly said that did not
desire 10 be presented to the American people,
but was content, and more than content, with
the hono"S which have been ieapcd upon Inc by
my State and country, and looked forward
with pleasure to the prospect Of serving Ken
tucky in the Senate OF the United States for the
next six years. Cries Of Good" Ny name,
however, was presented, and felt that could
not refuse to accept the nomination under the
circumstances, without abandoning vital prin-
cipleS and betraying my friends. Applausc.l
1t is said that was not regularly nominated,
and that an eminent citizen Of Illinois was re-
Gularly nominated for the Presidency. But
this is 4 question which have not time 10 dis
cuss to-day, and it has already bcon thoroughly
exhausted before the people. | refer you to
the able letter of your delegates from tins Con-
grcSslonal district; ] refer you to the master
y and exhaustive speech recently delivered by
my noble friend in whose grounds we are met.
| can only say that the Convention which as
senb'ed ut Front Street Theatre, at Baltimore,
| i'll my Judgment, was devoid not only Of the
spirit ri Justice, but even Of the forms Of regu.
! !arIty Cheers. The gentleman whom 1t
nominated never received the vote required by
the rules Of the Democratic organlzatlon.-
" hole states were excluded and DISTINGUISHED
III that Convention, not to speak nl individuals.
The most tlagrant acts OF injustice were pcrpc-
t:atcd for The purpose Of forcing upon the
Democratic organization particular individual
as the representative Of pcrniciouS doctrine,
which ! shall hc able to show is repusnant
alike to reason and the Constitution. Owing
to the gross outrage OF these proceedings dc-
cIdcd majority Of the delegates from your own
| State withdrew from that Convention, declaring
that it was not = National Convention of the
real Democratic organization. Nearly the en-
tire delegations from fifteen Southern States,
and the entire delegations from California and
Oregon, and large and imposing minorltles
from other States Of the Union, making III
! Whole or i'll part delegations from almost two
thirds Of the States Of the Confcderacv, dc.
nounce'l and separated themselves from that
ll.starred body The result furnishes strik-
ing warning that the arts of political manage
'nent are not always perfect substitutes for
truth and Justice.
i'nt, after all, the great question is, what arc
the principles which ought to commend them
selves t" the American people, Mt issue in this
canvas:
But, !'cforc | proceed further, will group
together and answer a number Of personal ac-
c'!sations, some Of which had their origin in
the State of Kcntucky, and others elsewhere,
by which, through me, it is attempted to strike
down tir organization with which ! am con.
ncc:cd. 1t Iegcts in me almost feeling Of
humiliation 10 answer some Of them; but, as
have imposed upon myself the task, | will 50
through them all rs briefly as ! can Cheers j
| believe it has been published in almost cv-
cry Southern newspaper If the Opposition par.
", that signed petition for the pardon OF
John Brown, the fIarper's Ferry murderer and
traitor. This is wholly untrue So much for
that. Cries of good