Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-16

coin We must Judge Of his public course by The par
ty that he consents TO represent"
Feliow-ctizens thank my venerable and dis
tnguished friend for the lingering nope he Jet
tertsios that am not disuniOnist. daughter sDd
applausel Like humane lawyer he gives me per-
eonally The benefit Of dorbt5 and for this toe i
thank him. (Renewsd chsers.) As to my eOnnec
tion with principles or party which tends in thst
direction, may speak eft presently Ny object is
now to relieve myself personally, from the imputs
ton of being dsunionist, and in this case would
greatly prefer 70 receive strong and direct blow
than to have il sound it does, like the reluctant
confession Of sOrrOwful friend. (APplause and
langhtsr.l
La passing, Imsy say in regard to the distinguish
ed gentleman associated with me candidate for
Tie Vice Presidency that his whole lfs is refuta-
North Carolina. reared in ksntueky, long living
in Indiana, more recently from far off Oregon, be
has been il all parts Of his couotry tried in ALL hon.
oFed in all. He has served his country with high
distinction in peace and war, and bears his per-
son enduring memorials Of his patriotism and cour-
age. His last act of treason was to add another
star to the gslaxy Of the Union. Loud applause J
When nan is before the people for public trust,
great desl depends on bis personal character and
sntecedents. Much then depends on the fact Ehsth-
er l an disanionist. fCries Of "You're not" u
Born within sight Of this spot whore We are met,
known to many Of you for nearly forty years. your
Representative in the Legislature Of Kentucky, in
the Congress of the United States, and other sta
lions Of public trust, invite any one TO point to
anything in my character or snteeedens which
w-7'S sanction such charge or SUCH an imputatiOn
(Cheers.)
vii not degrade the dignity of my declaration
this subject by epiihets; bull proudly challenge
the bitterest enemy may have earth to point
out so act, to disclose an utteranee, to reveal
thought Of mine hostile 10 the Constitution and Un
ion Of the States. Loud cheers. A VOice-"Hs
couldn't do il ~
No. my friends. the does not live, in out
ofthe c. mmonWealth of Kentucky. matter how
exalted his STATEN or character, who has power
enough to connect my name successfully with the
slightest faint of dsloyaly to the Constitution and
Uuion Of my country. fApplause A vOice-'No
you'd die frst.")
But, fellow citizens if there be nothing in my
character or sneeedents 10 Justify this accusation
Whst is there in the principles upon which stand
l. Is not pretended thai tbe resolutions which re-
late 20 the acquisition Of Cuba, the Pacific Railroad
the Tighs Of natural zed citizens, &C., contain dis
uaion sentiments. II must then be, # anywhere, in
the resolutions as to property in Territories and its
protection.
l 9ni read these two resolutions, and You can
judge whether they accord With the Constitution,
the decision of the Supreme Court, aud the prsc-
tice OF the government as have shown il to-day.
81. Resolved, That the government of Terrific
~, organ zed by act Of Congress, is provision Il
and temporary, and during its existence all citizens
Of the ULIted States have equal right to settle
with their property in Jhe Territory Eithout their
rights of either person property being destroyed
or impaired BY Congressional or Territorial legis-
lation.
go. ResOlved, That it is the duty Of the Federal
Government in sll its departments to protect, when
necessary the rights Of persons and property in the
Territories and wherever else its constitutional au
thority extends"
These sre the principles we svOw. Are they Con
stitutionali Are they just Are they sectional?
Ii they are Constitutional they are not sectional fer
the Constitution the whole Union. Cheers }
Why, be who stands upon the Constitution can ne-
Their be sectional nor dsunionist. have shown
you that these principles have been taken almost
word for word from the opinion of the Supreme
Court Of the UDited States. and fn5 they are
supported by almost all the presidents and practice
Of the Government. They are principles upon which
We may well live and by which lnsy well be will
ing to die. [Cheers. They are important, they
are vital. They concern the rights Of person and
property. They cannot be abstract they cannot be
minute unimportant for they concern the honor
and equality of the States of this broad Union.
What has been the position Of Kentucky that
platform? You remember tas position taken By the
candidates for Governor of this State last year Bth
held that Territorial Legislatures have no power to
exclude our properly snd each conteaded that every
department OF Government must protect it when it be-
came necessary Mr. Joshua f. Bell believe, went q
step further in thinking the time had now arrived
whenit necessary FOR the government interpose
The Congressional Conventions of both parties with
scarcely an exception, snd their nominees for Con-
gress Endorsed these principles The State Demo-
cratic Convention, the 9Th Of January last,
adopted by overwhelming vote The following
resolution, which embraces precisely the same prin
oiples:
al. RssoIUsd, That the Democratic party OF Ken
lucky believe that the Governm ,nt of the United
States holds the public domain in trust for the bene
fit Of sl the citizens Of the respective States; and
that Congress POSSESSES the power and in the faith
full discharge Of its trust is bound to exercise the
power, when il shall be necessary, to protect the
citizens Inhabitants of any Territory If the
and enjoyment CT every species Of property but
that neither the Congress Of the United States
sDy legislative sgent Of Congress can, by legislative
enactment, or by unfriendly legislation, deprive the
owner Of his properly, restrict restrain him
in the of the same"
Again:
The senate of Kentucky, last winter by unan-
nous of both parties, declared these principles
TO be important Constitutional and true by the fol
lowing resolution, which must read, il is apt,
so pertinent, conclusive:
''ReesIDsd That the Territories the common
property OF the Union, and field for the expsn-
sion Of the institutions and the development of the
energies Of an advancing aud progressive people
are open to the citizens Of all the States; and thst
there exists no power in the General Government or
the government of Territory during its continuance
IS such and until having attained sufficient pOpuls-
tion il shall have formed Constitution and been
admitted into the Union, 10 impair the RICH, of
sny citizen grating thereto IN the ownership
and enjoyment Of any species of properly which
may be recognized by the laws of any one Of the
S ates but that this right having been eoemnly
tribunals should be guarded by suitable laws fal h.
faly administered; and IT. in any case Territorial
government should asset that right by unfriendly
legislation experience should show that existing
Laws are inadequate for its protection it will then
be the duly of the Gene al Government in the exer
else f iss poWers-legisstiSe, Judicial and execu-
tive each acting within it5 appropriate sphere, to
provide such security and protection as the ext
gencies Of the occasion may demand"
A similar resolution was unanimously agreed to
in the House Of Representatives Of the Legislature
Wa, Is all this bot adopting IN principle and Ian
guage, the opiaion Of the Supreme Cod.t aud reso-
unions l have read Cf the National Democratic
Convention? Both parties in kentucky, at the
polls, twelve months ago, by unanimous votes in
both branches Of the Legislature, have declared
that these principles Constitutional, and vital
to the interests AID honor Of the state.
Surely / might pause here, but want in support
Of these principles, the individual authority OF
of cur most venerable Statesmen. | want the
thority of Mr. Crittenden himself. Appuse.
Gentlemen, Whatever doubts be may have TO my
hdelty to the Constitution and the Union Of these
States do not hesitate to ssy, that in my opinion,
thAt eminent geutleman is devoted TO tAe Union.
do not believe he would advocate principles which
he believed be unconstitutional or Calculated 10
destroy the Union, and il l can have his sanction
and Endorsement for the principles l advocate,
surely it will 90 great " in proving that they
are Constitutional, and the true Union principles.
hold ia my hand the Journal Of the United States
Senate, for the month Of May LAST when the follow
ing resolution was adopted by an overwhelming