Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-17
Mr.. Breckenridge and EmancipatIOn---An
Errsr Removed.

-. NEWCASTLE KY, July p, 1860.
Hon. A. B. MEEK-Dear SRA few days ago. l
| noticed an extract from newspaper published in
Alabama, giving account Of speech said to have
been made by a Douglas OratCy in winch the spec
er represented the Hon. John g. Breckenridge as hav
ing been at one time an emancipationist That dis
tinguished gentleman is now in position which
forbds his noticing misrepresentation vi ms pre-
sent or past political sentiments, and that duty ne
eessariy devOlyes on his trienGs. Such statement
made in Kentucky, where Major Breckenridge is
well known would only subject its author to con-
tempt. But made iii a distant State amongst peO-
pie who have no sympathy with anti-slavery senti
ments. the charge, il uncontradicted, may injure
him. The Louisville Democrat, which is the princi
pal squatter sovereignty organ in Kentucky. express
es the opinion in late number that the charge may
be true, because Major Breckinridges uncle, the
Rev. DR.. Robert j. Breckenridge Emancipa-
ton candidate for the Constitutional Convention in
this State IN lS49. What could have been the object
of the editor it is impossible TO determine unless it
was to give color to a charge which he must know
is untrue. It may be that the editorial alluded TO
will be garbed in your State so as to make it posi-
tive evidence that the charge is true But TO
the facts.
In lS49 Kentucky elected delegates to a conven-
ton TO revise her State Constitution. Emancipation
was of the leading questions in the election. In
may parts of the State il the paramount ques-
ton, and this is certainly true of Fayette county,
where Maj. b. then resided, and now resides. That
county was entitled to delegates. For the pur-
pose of testing the question its merits, il was
agreed to form ticket consisting of Wing and a
Democrat to be run as pro-slavcry ticket, and
similar one to be run as an emancipation ticket
Hon. Robert Wickliffe Democrat and Hon. A. K.
Wooley, Whig selected as the pro slavery
candidates and Rev. DR.. r. j. Breckenridge and
Samuel Shy, Esq, were the emancipation candi-
dates. A similar arrangement was made in regard
to selecting candidates for the Legislature to be
elected at the same time. Hon. J. O. Breckenridge, |
Democrat, and DR.. Price, Wing, were nominated as
pro-slavery candidates for the Legislature. During
the canvass Messrs Wyckliffe and Wooley, were
both attacked with cholera, and the latter died.
Gen James Dudley was put on the ticket in his |
stead, and Wyckliffe and Dudley.
During the illness of Wyckliffe and WooIley, DR.. |
Breckenridge was making powerful speeches in be-
half of his cause. Fearing the consequences of
permitting so able an advocate as DR.. B. go unan-
swered, end having in the county no other pro- |
slavery advocate who could participate in the can
and do justice to the cause Major Breckenridge
was induced to temporarily abandon his own can, |
vass and meet his distinguished relative in debate
This he did to the entire satisfaction of his friends
He spoke and voted against the emancipation can
didates
In Kentucky the voting is done Uiua uoce each |
vote is recorded in favor of the candidate for whom it
is cast and the poll books preserved in the Conn
ty Court Clerks offices of the respective counties
By writing to the County Court Clerk of Fayette
county you can obtain Major Breckinridges vote in
lS49 officially certified The facts which | have
just stated proven by multitude of witnesses
in Fayette county.
regret the necessity of ever having to meet I'M
just and false charges against a political friend.
Major Breckenridge never was an emancpationist.
had hoped that in the South at least we would
have honesty and fairness in conducting the can
yass. ...ga H.. -.E-.r...f
If the slavehodng States are willing to relinoush
their equality in the COnfederacy let it be done in
an open, manly way. Very truly. yours,
JAMES G. LEACH. g