Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-09-19
THE NORTH CAROLINA STANDARDS SEPT la 1850

lists in Kentucky; for he declares that those who
assert that the Territorial Legislature has no power
to exclude slave property, and that Congress should
interfere for its protection, are disunlonsts ana
that is what the whole Legislature of Kentucky said
last year. [Applause.l
In my own State, where certainly thought my
character and antecedents were known. one of the
Oldest and most eminent Of public men has not said
that was disunionist, but ntimated that am
connected with organization whose bone and
body is disunon. l refer to Mr.. Crittenden, in a
speech made at Louisville I have known and ad,
| ,nired him, and he has known me. Towards him
have cherished, and expect to cherish, relations Of
respectful and cordial esteem. These are reasons
| which, even if had ground for it, would prevent
any but perfect courtesy in reply After speaking
| of Mr.. Lincoln in terms as complimentary as his
| principles merit, and the Senator from Illinois in
terms of eulogy he speaks of his fel!owctizens in
! this language: -
Mr. Breckenridge here quoted the reference to
himself and closed as follows:]
| thank my venerable and distinguished friend for
the hope he yet entertained that am not dis
unionist. Laughter and applause. Like hu-
| name lawyer he gives me the benefit of doubt
and for this 1 thank him. Renewed cheers As
to my connection with party whose principles
tend that way, may speak of presently. My OBJ
ject is to relieve myself from the impuation of
being dsunionist, and, in this, would prefer to
receive direct blow than to have it sound like the
reluctant confession of sorrowful friend ZAP
plause and laughter.
mr. B., in passing paid an eloquent tribute to Gen.
Lane, and continued to speak Of the charge against
himself of being disunionist
TCries of "that your mott
| Born within sight of this spot, known to yon for
near forty years. your representative in the Legsla
ture in Congress- and having held other situations
of trust invite any one to point to anything in my
character antecedents which would sanction such
charge or such an mputation. Cheers. I will
not degrade the dignity of my declaration by cpl
thets; but proudly challenge my btterest enemy
veal thought of mine hostile to the constitution or
the Union of the States. Loud cheers.
| voice, "he couldn't do it"
The man does not live who has tie power to
couple my name successfully with the slightest
faint of dsloyalty to the Constitution and the Union
Applause
But if there be nothing in my character to justify
this accusation what is there in the platform and
| principles upon which stand? As it must, if any
where be in the resolutions as to property in the
Territories will read Them and you can judge
whether they accord with the position of the Su-
preme Court and the Government as have shown
| it to-day.
After reading the resolutions, he continued:
That is the platform, and these arc the principles
| avowed. If they constitutional they are not
sectional for the Constitution is broad enough to
cover the whole Union. [Cheers. He who stands
upon the Constitution neither be sectional nor
disunionist. These principles taken almost YER
batim from the opinion Of the Supreme Court
They are supported by the precedents and practice
| of the Government They are the principles upon
which we may well live. and by which we may well
be willing to die Cheers.
They are vital, important and concern the rights
of persons and property; and they cannot be alb
| stract or unimportant for they concern the honor
sition of Kentucky upon that platform? The can
didates for Governor of this State last year both
held that Territorial Legislatures have power to
| exclude our property, and each contended that
every department of the government must protect it
when it becomes necessary.
Mr. Joshua Bell, believe went step further by
expressing the opinion that the time lad
| rived when the government should interfere Your
conventions endorsed these principles and the Sen
| ate and Assembly of the Commonwealth of Ken
| lucky by the unanimous vote of both parties.
dorsed them being constitutional and true, by the
| following resolution, which l must read. It is so
apt, so pertinent so conclusive. The resolutions
of the last Legislature of Kentucky were here read
That is word for word the opinion of the Supreme
Court and the platform Of the National Democratic
Convention, on which stand to-day.
Both parties in Kentucky, at the polls and by the
unanimous votes of their representatives in the Leg
islature, have declared that these principles are
those of the constitution might pause here; but
in support of these principles want the authority
of Mr.. Crittenden himself [Applause Whatever
doubts he may have as to my fidelity to the Const-
tuition and the Union, do not hesitate to say that
eminent gentleman is devoted to the Union
/ do not believe he would advocate principles
which he believed were unconstitutional or calcula-
ted to destroy the union of this country; and if 1
could have his sanction and endorsement for the
principles advocate, it will 60 great way in prov
ing that they are constitutional, and not tending to
disunion.
| [Mr. B. here read the Sd, 4th and 9Th of Senator
DAVIS resolutions, and referred to Mr. Crttendens
vote for them.
Here have the vote of my distinguished friend
declaring that these questions are not minute nor
unmportant-that the union of the States rests up
on the equality of rights among them-that neither
Congress nor the Territorial Legislature has the
right to infringe upon the constitutional rights Of
any citizen and that if any right be assaed by the
Territorial Legislature it becomes necessary for
Congress to interfere to protect that rght-precise-
ly the principles upon which we stand to-day
ICheers =
Ny distinguished friend followed these resolutions
by speech, which find in the Daily Globe 1t is
true he expressed hope that the time might never
come when it would be necessary for Congress to
intervene to protect those rights. trust that the
time will never come when any territorial authority
will be reckless of its constitutional obligations as
to make it necessary for Congress to declare its acts
void. [Cheers But in his speech he sustains the
position on which we stand, in language which com.
pares well with the decision of the Supreme Court.
He says:-[The extract from Mr. Crittenden's
speech declares that territorial government is a
creature of Congress, endowed only with the powers
conferred upon it by its creator, and with no par
ticle of sovereignty Further on in the same
speech, Mr.. G. uses the following language:
Mr.. Crittenden goes on to say THAT as the terri
toral government has no sovereign Or independent
right to act on this subject, the Supreme Court O
the United States has determined that every either
Of the United States may go into that territory car
rying his slaves with him, and holding them there
My opinion is that the constitution is to protect thai
property which it has authorized to 60 there
Therefore when the proper or extreme case occurs