Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-09-19
The 6iaaaafa.
.TIIE PRESIDENTIAL CANVASS.
SPEECH OF MR.. BRECKENRIDGE AT
ASHLAND, KENTUCKY. $50

SPEECH OF Mr.. BRECEINRIDGE AT
ASHLAND. KENTUCKY.
The speech Of the Hon John c. Brsckinridge, of
Kentucky, delivered at Ashland, on Weonessay
last WILL as matter of course be read Win inter-
est at the present crisis, BY men OF all paF.es---
We therefore publish it at length thus morhing Us
.foslowss q
49, SpErcH or Mr.. BREcKNRIDGE.
/ beg You, my neighbors friends and OLD consult NJ,
,,ents q be assured that feel profoundly grateful
far he cordial welcome you have extended to me.
me circumstances under which appear before you
ss.r novel and unusual do it in obedience to the
request Of friends whose intelligence have been ac
: custome1 to observe
Andif it be an uncommon thing for person IN
INV position to address assemblies of people, can
only say, that hope to discuss topics which are IN
. manner not altogether unworthy the attitude
which r occupy shall certainly indulge in no
Language which, in my opinion, will fall below the
dignity OF political discussion. The condition OF
nv health and my position, make it impossible Tor
me to extend my voice over this vast assembly, out
i trust will become stronger as proceed.
have been asked fellow-citizens, to speak at my
own home, because and the political organization
with which am connected have been aSsailed in an
unusual manner, and charged with treason TO my
own country. i appear before you to-day Tor the
purpose of repeling certain accusations which have
been made against me, personally, and Industrious
and next to show that the principles upon which
stand are tho principles of both the Constitution and
the Union of our country. Great applause And
surely if at any time the justification could be found
By any man for addressing the people in the position
which occupy, it will be found in my case.
Anonymous writer's and wandering orators have
chosen to tell the people that l. individually, am
disunionst and q traitor to my country and they
declare with assurance that have exhibited trea-
son that makes, by comparison with 1t, Burr pa
triot and the memory of Arnold respectable.
But, feow-citizens, before come to these topics,
/ desire to make and prove comprehensive state
ment in regard to my position in connection with
the Presidency of the United States. have been
charged with intriguing for this nomination have
been charged with leapng before the wishes of the
people and desiring to thrust myself before them for
the highest Office in their gift.
To that answer that it is wholly untrue have
written to nobody soliciting support / have con-
versed with nobody soliciting support | have in
trieued with nobody. I have promised nobody.
To these statements / challenge contradiction from
any human being. [Cheers.
Mr.. Breckenridge rcsuming.-I did not seek or
desire to be placed before the people for the office of
President by any convention, or any part of any
convention. When returned to the State of Ken
lucky in the spring of 1859 and was informed that
some partial friends were presenting my name to
the public in that connection and certain editor
Whose presence see here) in this State had hoist
Gu nay IlauHe iOf the FTcSlucHCJ, 10 nitu,
(" Friend am not in any sense candidate for the
= Presidency" and desired that my name should be
taken down from the head of his columns 1t was
done.
A very eminent citizen of the commonwealth Of
Kentucky Cdr Guthrie) was presented for that Of
flee. was gratifed to see it and as far my own
declarations concerned, united cordially in
presenting him for the suffrages of the American
people, though, at no time in or out of the COM
monwealth of Kentucky, did do an act or utter
word which would bring my name in conflict with
his, or that of any other American citizen who de-
sired, whose friends desired for him, that posi-
sition. And if you took the trouble to read the
proceedings of the Charleston Convention, you will
remember that when received the vote of Arkan-
sas, one of my friends arose and withdrew my name,
declaring that would not allow it to in oppo-
sition to the gentlemen before the convention.
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 solicitations on nv part was
presented as candidate. Previously, not deeming
such thing possible, said "did not desire to be
presented to the American people, but am content
with the honors which have been heaped upon me
by my State and my country, and look forward
with pleasure to the prospects have of serving my
country in the Senate of the United States for the
next six years" Ny name however, present
ed and felt that could not refuse to accept the
nomination. under the circumstances, without aban-
doning vital principles and betraymg my friends
1t IS said was not regularly nominated, and that
an eminent citizen of Illinois was regularly nomi-
mated for the Presidency but that is question
have not time 10 discuss to-day and it has already
been thoroughly exhibited and discussed be-
fore the people. refer you TO the bold letter of
your delegates from this congressional district
refer You to the mastery and explanatiye speech
recently delivered by my honorable friend in whose
grounds we are met. can only say that the con-
"a rf,1 I
tire at Baltimore was devoid not only of the spirit
OF justice but of the forms of regularity ECheers
Inc gentleman whom 1t presented never received
vote required by the rules of the democratic organ
zation.
Whole States were excluded and DISTINGUISHED in
that convention, not to speak of individuals; the
most fragrant acts of injustice perpetrated for
the purpose of forcing particular dogma upon the
demoerahc organization. and the gentleman who is
the representative of that dogma and principles
which will be able to show are repugnant alike to
reason and the constitution. Owing to the impro-
Priety OF those proceedings, decided majority of
the delegates from your own State withdrew from
the convention, declaring that it was not National
Convention of the real democratic organization
The entire delegation from the fifteen Southern
States, and of California and Oregon, with large
minorties from other States making in whole or in
part delegations from almost two-thirds of the
states oil the confederacy, represented National
Democrauc convention, depending upon the au-
thorlty and loyalty Of the democratic party.
But after all. the great question is what are the
principles which ought to commend themselves to
the American people at issue in this canvass
These will discuss before am done, but before I
proceed fnrther will group together and answer a
number Of personal accusations, some of which EN-.
anated IN the State Of Kentucky and others else
where, 6y which, through me, it is attempted to
strike down the organization with which am con-
nected i bcgets in me almost feeling Of humili.
ed upon myself the task / will 20 through them all
as briefly as / can. fGheers. A voice Go it,
fJohnr'I
believe it has been published in almost every
Southern newspaper Of the opposition party that /
signed petition for the pardon of John Brown the