The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-08-01

and grateful acknowledgements for your kind
ness. Perhaps, however, may be allowed
here, in the midst ofmy old district, and sur
rounded by my neighbors and friends, on the
the soil Of Kentucky to make one or two ex-
planatory statements and I forbear on this oc-
cason to enter into any statement or argtment
in reference to the circumstances that occurred
at Baltimore and which resulted, unexpected
ly to me- in placing me before the country for
the office OF President. But think it dte to
you, and TO myself to say, that being cognizant
of all these facts, having observed all these
transactions, having pondered carefully over
them, haviag consulted with my friends, an-
conscious altogether Of being animated or sus-
tanned by a hot ambition, feel that the posi-
ton which occupy to-day is right. [Great
cheering 1 fee! that could not have shrunk
from it without being false TO my country, false
to my friends, and false to myself Consequent
| ly accepted the nomination with all. its re-
! sponsibilties. To those who take advantage
Of the position ofa silent man, to heap upon
execrations, l say, pour on. | can endure. [Ap-
pIause.l leave 1t to others to explain more
fully The facts and circumstances Of this nomi-
nation Perhaps, also, may be allowed to say
that the charge that stand before the country
er reference be had to the number Of the States
which CO. operated in the nomination, or to the
character of the principles which animated
them. When you find the Democratic organ,
izaton aided by large, conservative elements OF
other parties in all the Southern States, and in
those two States upon the Pacific ocean, which
have been so far removed from, the contests Of
the Atlantic and Mississippi valleys, that their
Judgment as to what is sectional ought to be
conclusive; and when you find majority of the
Democratic organization of the State Of Penn
sylvania, and supposed majority of New Jer-
Connecticut and Massachusetts, with large and
imposing organizations in all the other States
cooperating; how can such nomination as
that be properly called sectional. A majority
Of the States OF the Union sectional and at war
with the principles upon which the Union itself
is founded! Fellow citizens, as to the charge
that the Convention to which owe my nami-
nation. or that support. or that / myself am
tainted with sptit Of Disunion how absurd
to make a response to Kentucky audience,
and IN this old District too2 l am an Amer-
o;t rbn
act or cherished thought that was not full
Of devotion to the Constitution and to the
Union-who feels as you do upon this Sub
iect. But perhaps it would have been better,
both in your behalf and in mine, if had re-
fused to respond to the sentiment! ...
Fellow citizens, this is perhaps the last time
that I will have an opportunity to say anything
to nv neighrors and friends, during the PEN
dency Of this canvass. While, therefore, l shall
enter into no argument upon the particular top
les of the day, perhaps you will pardon me for
making two or three observations, which, it
seems to me, should commend themselves to
all parties, everywhere Fellow-citizens, we
live under the best government on, earth. We
are the only country in the world where the
experiment is demonstrated, that free institu-
tons may Be established over great popula-
ton and large area Of territory, and be con-
sstent with public order. 1t has been demon
strated in our case. for the first time in the
history Of the world. How are we to preserve
these Institutions? How are we to preserve
intact that double form Of government, Stats
and Federal, that has been handed down to us
by our forefathers. My answer is, that we can
only do it by clnsing with unfaltering fidelity,
unmoved by policy, 10 the Constitution they
bequeathed to us. / hold that fidelity to the
Constitution ofthe United States in all its parts
and in all its obligations, is the condition Of
the American Union and Of its perpetuation.-
That Constitution was framed ard transm tilted
BY the wisest generation Of men that ever lived
iii the tide Of times 1t may be called an indpi.
red instrument. 1t answered them at an early
Day 1t has answered our purpose tits good
enough for our posterity to keep pure,
Fellow citizens, every human being in the
United States, whatever may be his position,
Has resting upon him as a citizen, personal OBJ
legation to see chat the true character OF the
Confederacy is preserved. Each in his place, is
responsible, and no man can cast off the obi
cation. We must abide by that Constitution.
We must not cast away its obligations and dd-
ties on the one hand, nor claim for it power not
contained therein.
The moment we do that, we change the char.
acter Of the Government. The moment we VII
olate one principle of the Constitution for poll
cy, the moment it ceases to be the Government
our fathers made us, and when once we have
drifted away from the landmarks Of the fathers
Of the Government, we may find that the sys-
tenn of Governments has been changed. What
are two or three Of the fundamental principles
Of the Constitution? assert without fear of
successful contradiction anywhere, that the
great fundamental principle underlying it, is
the Equality of the States Of the Union.
They were equal and independent s6Fctsigns
before that instrument was framed. 1t was
framed to preserve and certainly not 10 violate
this equality. This government is confedera-
ton Of equals, and tie very moment that ap-
pled to States, Or the citizens Of the States, Or
to property Of citizens Of the States, you dis
crminate between one citizen and another, you
discriminate between one description OF proper
sEy recognized in one State, and tbet in anoth
cr and chat very moment you destroy ONE por.
zion n the con faderarv and il becomes aGiirion