Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-07-06

quivocal support will lend helping
hand to the maintenance of principles
which lie at the very base of the peace
and union of these States
1t may be proper, since | have been
thus questioned, that should say here
that | am not seeking to enter the de-
mocratic organization. / differ with
Mr.. Breckenridge upon many questions,
perhaps, of public policy, but there are
many upon which we agree | have
great confidence in his sense of honor
IN his integrity as a gontleman-in his
circumspeciion and caution as a statesman
lin bis freedom from the impulses Of
sudden passion-in his deep devotion to
the Union-and his clear perceptions of
the right and wrong, whenever he shall
be called to choose between them. ]
have marked him closely in the high Of
fee he has filled under this Admnistra-
ton. 1t has not required him to do
much, but there is very high merit,
and it requires high qualifications, in an
elevated station, to do nothing and to do
il handsomely. Little men always fail
at this. because they caunot repross their
desire to have a hand in the Adninistra-
ton
feel that the existing condition of az
fairs has imposed upon Mr., Breckinridge'
a still more responsible position than any
to which he has yet been called by the
PEOPLE. His candidacy for the pres-
dency asserts the principles, on the part
of all the States, Of the equal participant
cy Of all the people Of the States in the
common domain bought by their common
blood and treasure. 1t asserts the con
stitutional rights Of minorties; it re-
presses the dominationof mere numbers
it cnforccs the great principles advocated
by Clay and Webster, aud Of which ]
have been an humble advocate ever since
1850, Therefore, | sustain his nomina-
ton and while | take nothing back Of
my own views on other questions while
| ask nothing, and expect nothing, in The
event of bis success, (for he has political
friends nearer to him than am, who are
better qualified, and have higher claims
than I-I say here that, in the contest
as it is shaped at present, he will have no
friend more ardent than | shall be, or
whose plume will be more forward IN the
fight for the assurance of that safety of |
the Union which has been so highly ;eo-
parded by pressing forward in this crisis
those illogical points which distinguish
fcom 6rst 10 last the unfortunate doctrine |
Of " squatter sovereignty They will |
never be accepted by the Southern PEG
pie. Southern democrats have always I
denied their existence in their platform,
and they now stand ready to resist them.
[ extend the hand Of true fellowship 10
the contest; ! will do my best TO sustain
the rights which our people enjoy under
the Constitution. | am no extremist
love the UDion-I will fight for the
Uuicn--I would die for the Union-bui
] will never betray the equal rights Of
our people in the Union Soberly and
quietly say to you that l love my wife
and children, who ale now in my Ken
lucky home but rather would zee them
turned into the woods to live among the
forests of our hills, without shelter from
the storm, than to enjoy the comforts
which now surround them, if those are
to be purchased by the surrender and sa-
criiiee of the constitutional rights Of our
people. | am among the humblest OF
that people. hope TO die on the soil Of
Kentucky, but | would prefer to be an
exile from my native country than to live
upon it, deprived Of my birthrigbt. We
will have equality ] tell you our peo-
pie will have equality under the Consti
tuition, and no human power, no party
ties, no political watchwords, no personal
resentments or disappointmeuts, will
make them abandon their own rig ts
Mr Webster embraced this whole quos.
lion ten years ago. His speech in the
Senate in 1850 in twenty lines contains
all we have ever advanced upon this
question Of Territorial sovereignty and Of /
protection to property in the Territories,
keep that speech always by me, and
will close these remarks by rcnding to |
sou what the great man Of Now England |
said in 1850 on these questions. Where
he stood in that speech / stand now, ana
it IS interesting 70 observe how fal
Northern sediment has advanced, ho4 I
steadily Southern sentiment has settled |
upon the true ground We will not be |
diverted from it. We will yet maibtaiu
it firmly aud with success. The step in
the true direction is to rally upon Breck-
iuridge and Lane, without regard to
party.
Mr.. MARSHALL then read the follow
ing extract from Mr.. .Websters speech
after which lie retired with applause. and
the stand was then occupied by Hon
Mr. BcRNrTr, Of Kentucky;
The argument il, tLat By possibility
It may become necessary TO pass laws re-
specting slavery, if slavery shall ever
exist there. Now, snyposo that the
amendment proper b be introduced for
The purpose which has been dgnifed by
the gentlemen who have spoken would
be to strike out those words, and to say
that tie territorial legislature shall have
no authority 70 pass any law for estab
fishing or excluding slavery ii The terri.
tory II appears 10 me that this is the
upshot Of the whole matter. That is
very proper because | take it that the
meaning Of the whole Il that this ques-
ton shall be left 10 The people Of The
State 10 decide after il becomes soye-
reignty by admission into the Union 90
the same footing with the original States
IL may then be a question for the people
themselves to decide, because | take il 10
be clear that il is municipal question.