The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-25
Substance OF the Remarks of Hon.
Humphrey Marshall, on the Even
ing of June 25lh, when called out
by the Screnaders.


GENTLEMEN am not in the habit of re-
ceiving calls from Democratic masses but,
it would be an affectation to conceal my
knowledge that am indebted for the honor
of this visit to your desire to hear, from my
own lips, confirmation of the rmor, that
will support Breckenridge and Lane at the
next Presidential election.
IcheerfuIly render my own testimony to
the truth of that statement (Applause.)
1t might have been more prudent to defer.
this declaration until after free conference
with those friends in Kentucky with whom !
have heretofore acted, and by whom my past
career has been so generously sristained.-
Others may watch the direction of the pop
ular current who wish to swim on its tide to
haven Of success my ambition is not for
place or prefement; it rises no higher than
a simple performance of duty, and leave
consequences to take care of Themselves
have no hesitation as to the position it be-
comes me, at this crisis, TO assume and |
should be recreant to my own sense of the
obligation free citizen owes to his country
were | not, when called upon, to advance to
the occupancy of that position with the firm
ness and the alacrity which import union
of my conscience and my action upon the
line of conduct meant to pursue.
Gentlemen, am familiar with the points
supon which the Democrats have failed to
agree. They involve principles which have
frequently discussed, in Congress and out of
it: ON the stump, at home, and elsewhere
am not now taking a stand for the first
time upon those principles. Imade, in $50,
a somewhat celebrated declaration, that be-
tween Jas. Buchanan, if he were the expo
nent of the doctrine of squatter sovereignty,
and ]. c. Fremont, rs the exponent of the
doctrine of the Wilmot Proviso, would not
toss up a copper for choice. was then dis
cussinp the Cincinnati platform before the
people. and then saw the ambiguity which
made it nus-faced-presenting one view to
the North and another to the South South
ern Democrats did not believe me- They
denounced my suspicion as the effect of par
iizan rancor. told them that Mr.. Douglas
did not entertain the same view of the plat
form they did, and that, one day or another,
they would find all the evils which could flow
from such persistence in maintaining party
lines at the expense of important principles, /
would "come home to roost." | must be
permitted to say did not anticipate the rup- I
ture which occurred at Charleston, and was
consummated at Baltimore. 1t may sever
the ties which bound the Democratic party
,cether. North and South, but it is HON |
age to principle. 1t exhibits the democrats
who have nominated John c. Breckenridge /
as at last awakening to the facts which have |
stated to them thousand times, and ready /
to prefer sound principles to unsound party
associations.
render them the tribute of my respect |
for the choice they have made, and l think
their country will do the same.
Fellow-citizens, the rupture of the Demo
cratic party has taken place essentially on
the same ground upon which the Wing par
ty went to pieces, and which afterwards rent
the American party in twain. The same
cause severed relations of the church, North |
and South. 1t is not astonishing that under
its force, though last of all, the tower of De
mocracy has fallen. 1t is evidence, which a
considerable people viii regard, that there is
wide difference of principle-Of cardinal, vi
tai principle-that no force of party attrac-
ton can withstand, and which demands a
settlement, final and satisfactory.
Gentlemen, after the Wing party went to
pieces on the issues of 1852, because North
ern Wings spit upon the platform which
pronounced in favor of the principles Of the
Compromise of 1s5O-afer the American
party severed in 1856, because Northern
Americans would not yield this most banefnl
theme of " anti-slavery agitation tried
in vain in the last speech Imade in Congress,
TO evade this issue, by creating some other
upon which to divide parties, until time
could cure the evils which would flow from
this agitation. appealed to the conseva-