The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-09-18

proceed further viii group together and answer
a number of personal accusations, 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 feeling of
humiliation to answer some of them, but as | have
imposed upon myself the task will go through
them as briefly as can. .-.
L believe it has been published in almost every
Southern newspaper of the opposition party that
signed petition for the pardon of John Brown,
the Harper's Ferry murderer and traitor This is
wholly untrue. So much for that [Cries of
good" 1t has been extensively charged and
circulated that | in favor of the election of
General Taylor to the Presidency, and opposed to
the election of Cass and Butler. This, also, is
wholly untrue. In the year 1917 there was
meeting in the city of Lexington, in which | par
tcipated, in which General Taylor was recon-
mended for the Presidency of the United States.
difference Of opinion existed at that time as to
the political sentiments of that distinguished gen
teman | was assured, upon grounds satisfactory
to me, that they conceded with my own political
opinions, and [ united with the meeting Pretty
soon afterwards I went to Mexico, and when | re-
turned, twelve months afterwards, in 1913, |
found the campaign in full blast with Taylor the
candidate Of the Wings, and Cass and Butler as
the nominees of the National Democracy 1t is
we'll known to thousands of those within the sound
of my voice. that soon as | returned home, |
took the stump in behalf of the Democracy, and
maintained its doctrines to the best Of my abilities
= voice-'all right" and [ was not afraid to
do it, because they were the representatives of my
principles; and you may judge of my zeal,
OF those gentlemen my old commander and
my friend 1t was said that I was not present,
and did not vote at the election in Lexington in
194S; and that is true, but with the fact has gone
he w my ntS hay
published showing that it my intention to be
absent during the canvass, but that it not my
intention to lose my vote.
You all know that at that time, as a citizen that
could vote anywhere in the State, being before
the revision and adoption of our present Constitu
ton, but it so happened that there were six or
eight gentlemen accompanying me, all of whom
belonged to the Wing party, and they proposed to
me that if would not return to my own town and
vote, they would not. If we had all voted, there
would have been six or seven votes cast for Tay-
or and only one cast for Cass and Butler. / ac-
cepted the proposition and went hunting. And if
every man had done as well as myself we would
have carried the State Ny forty thousand majority.
Among those with me | remember the names of
three Of my friends-Thomas J. Redd, Nelson
Butler and George Z. Jewett.
Another charge has been extensively circulated
throughout the Southern States that was an
pat1OnlSt IN 1919, OF at leaSL NOCeu lOr All
emancipationst at some time.
Here Mr. B. read an extract from letter from
Hon George Robertson, published in Southern
paper, having reference to his position this
question, and alluding to his private affairs and
commenting on it at some length and much Sc
verify.
[ come to the fact that the only time L knew of
the question of emancipation being raised was in
1S49, when we were eecting delegates to the Con-
vention to form Constitution. Then DIR.
Breckenridge and Mr. Shy were emancipationists.
Mr. Wictlife and | canvassed the county to the
best of our abilities, in opposition to emancipation,
believing that the interests of both races in the
Commonwealth would be promoted by the con-
tnuance Of their present relation. At the polls,
DR. Breckinridge voted against me, and l voted
against him, because we were representing oPpo-
site principles, and just would it be again, un
der similar circumstances. So much for that
charge. .-. g.. .--.-...
But have seen pamphlets published and cir
culaed all the Union for the purpose of prov
ing that | was a Know-Nothing in the State of
Kentucky. have no doubt that very consider
able proportion Of those listening to MEM
bers Of that order in that year, and if there is
man among you who belonged to the order, who
ever saw me in one of your lodges, who did not
know that was recognized as one OF the most un-
be good enough to say so now. l believe | was
the first gentleman in Congress who took position
against the organization. When returned home |
in the spring Of 1855, it was making great pro-
gress in this Commonwealth, and although l had
Withdrawn from public life, to attend to my pri-
vate affairs, opposed it in repeated speeches all
over Kentucky. -.-. .....-.- .---z
The statement may not be very acceptable to
some gentlemen within tie sound of my voice, but
| do not want to deceive any l stand upon
my principles and am willing to view them with
out the slightest regard to consequences. am
represented to this day having said that would
make difference between one of my own religious
belief aud another, and that between an unnatural
lied and naturalized citizen would make politi-
cal difference. l never uttered such sentiment.
The underlying principle with me was this: that
the condition of citizenship being once obtained,
no question: either of birth religion, should be
allowed to commingle with political considerations.
deem it only necessary to make these statements
here succinctly and pass on, because am speak
ing to assembled thousands who know this in-
Justice. -.- g g
But fellow-ctiZens, to come to more extended
TOPICS it has been asserted that |, and the poti-
cal organization with which | am connected, have
abandoned the ground on which We stood In re-
gard to the territorial question in 1854 and '56-
that we then occupied position which is now oc-
cupied by the friends and supporters of Mr. Doug
las and by that eminent gentleman himself. /
deny it, and [ shall now proceed to prove my de-
NAL, both as to myself and as to the party therein
involved. s.. .--..a r.rs a.- ys.s1 Il
There Was a body to whom we could refer the