Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-09-15
patriot and the memory of Arnold re

| YUM obdbchlChI III W InV
position in connection with the Presidency
of the United States. 1 have been charged
with intriguing for this nomination. l
have been charged with leaping before tho
wishes of the people and desiring to thrust
myself before them for the highest Office in
their gift To that, answer that it is
wholly untrue. / have written to nobody,
soliciting support. 1 have intrigued with
nobody. | have promised nobody. To
these statements challenge contradic-
ton from any human being. [Cheers.]
Mr.. Breckenridge, resuming-I did not
seek or desire to be placed before the peo
pie for the Office of President, by any
Conven ton, or any part of any Convention.
When [ returned to the State of Kentucky
in the spring of 1859, and was informed
that some partial friends were presenting
my name to the public in that connection,
and certain editor (whose presence see
here,) in this State, had hoisted my name
for the Presidency, said to him "Friend
| am not in any sense candidate for the
Presidency" and desired that my name
should be taken down from the head of
their columns. 1t was done. A very en-
inent citizen of the Commonwealth of Ken.
tucky, (Mr. Guthrie,) was presented for
that office. l was grati6ed to see it, and
as far as my own declarations were con-
cerncd, | united cordially in presenting
him for the suffrages of the American peo.
ple-though at no time, in or out of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, did do an
act or utter word which would bring my
name in conflict with his, or that of any
other eminent American citizen who dc
sired, or whose friends desired for him,
that position. And if you tc ok the troub.
lie to read the proceedings of the Charles
ton Convention you will remem ber that
when | received the vote of Arkansas, one
of my friends arose and withdrew my name
declaring that l would not allow it to come
in opposition to the gentlemen before the
Convention. When that Convention as
sembled at Baltimore, my feelings and my
conduct were still unchanged. After the
disruption which took place there ,my name
without any solicitation on my part, was
presented as candidate. Previously not
deeming such thing possible, said did
not desire to be presented to the Ameri-
can people, but | am content with the hon
ors which have been hcapod upon me by
my State and my country. and | look for
ward with pleasure to the prospect | have
of serving my country in the Senate Of the
United States for the next six years. my
name however was presented, and | felt
that | could not refuse to accept the NOM
iation under the circumstances without
abandoning vital principles and bctraying
my friends. 1t is said | was not regularly
nominated for the Presidency; but that is
a question have not time to discuss to
day, and it has already been thoroughly
exhibited and discoursed upon before the
people. | refer you to the bold letter of
your delegates from this Congressional
district. l refer you to the mastcrly and
exhaustive speech recently delivered by
my honorable friend in whose grounds we
are met. l can only say that the Con-
vention which assembled at the Front
Street Theatre, at Baltimore, was devoid
not only of the spirit of justice but of the
forms of regularity. [Chcers.] The gen,
tleman whom it presented never received a
vote required by the rules of the Demo-
cratic organization. Whole States were
excluded and disfranchised in that Con-
vontion, mot to speak ofindividuals; the most
fragrant acts OF injustice were pcrpetrated
for the purpose of forcing particular dog
ma upon the Democratic organization and
the gentleman who is the representative of
that dogma and principles, which | will
be able to show are rcpugnant alike TO
reason and the Constitution. Owing to
the impropriety of those proceedings, a
decided majority of the delegates from
your own State withdrew from the Conven-
ton declaring thatit was not National Con.
vention of the real Democratic organiza-
ton. The entire delegation from the ff-
teen Southern States, and of California
and Oregon, with large minorities from
other States, making in whole or in part
delegations from almost two.thirds of the
States of the Coafederacy, represented a
National Democratic Convention, depend
ing upon the authority and loyalty Of the
Democratic party. But after all the great
question is, what are the principles (Which
ought to commend themselves to the Amer
lean people, at issue in this canvass, These
| will discuss before | am done, but before
| proceed further, | will group together
and answer Il number of personal aceusa
lions, some of which emanated in the State
of Kentucky and others elsewhere, by
which, through me, it is attempted to strike
down the organization with which am
connected. 1t begets in me almost fee
ling of humiliation to answer some of them
but as | have imposed upon myself the
task l will go through them all as briefly
as | can. [Cheers.
4 / believe it has been published in almost
9 every Southern newspaper Of the opposition
I. party, that | signed petition for the par
Q don of John Brown, the Harpers Ferry
Y murderer and traitor. This is wholly un
: true. So much for that. Cries of &C ood' j
: 1t has been extensively charged and cir
culatcd that was in favor of the election
!. of Gen. Taylor to the Presidency, and op