The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-09-28
Douglas Reply to Breckinridge's
Speeh--Sharp Words.


We make the following extract from
the late speech of Judge Douglas at Read
ing, Pennsylvania, in reply to Breckin-
ridges Lexington address:
| stand to day before the democracy OF
Berks county in support and defense of
the principles set forth by the Reading
Convention, SC far as the question of slav-
cry is concerned, which are tie time hon
ored principles of the democratic party,
as proclaimed in all the National Conven
tons. Cheers.
| How, | ask, can a Breckenridge man
vote for General Foster On the Reading
platform, and object 10 ME on tie Charles
ton platform Three cheers for Doug
las. General Foster was nom mated at
Reading on the Identical principle that |
was nominated upon at Baltimore, and
he his thus pledged by bis nomination to
the Identical princi pie to which | am ire
vocably committed. How can man vote
for the one without supporting the other,
if he processes to be governed by princple7
Three cheers. l trust that every demo.
crat in Pennsylvania will rally zealously,
cordially and heartily around the banner
o. Foster ana nonintervention, three tre-
mendous cheers, and when you shall have
done that, how can you refuse to sustain
me on the same plvtform9 Voices-"we
can't" I'VE are in for you all the time,"
&c True, Mr.. Breckenridge tells you
that the National Convention adopted
dogma contrary to reason and the const,
| tu,ior. If what he tells you is the truth
the Reading convention adopted the same
dogma, equally hostile TO reason anG the
constitution. Cheers l am very free
TO say to you, that in my opinion, the ma
tional platform and The Pennsylvania
Stare platform are both in harmony with
reason and the constitution. Immense ap-
plause.
But l find that Mr. Breckinridge has
declared in his Kentucky stump speech,
that was not nominated according to the
usages of the democratic party, Voices
-" You were | suppose Mr. Breckin-
ridge thinks otherwise, or he would not
have said so. But he only shows his ig
norahce of democratic usages. when he
makes the declaration. The record shows
| that in 1S4S General Cass received at
Baltimore one hundred and seventy votes,
two thirds of those present, but not two
| thirds Of a full convention, and thereupon
the president proceeded 10 declare him
the regular nominee of the democratic
| party.
The record poves that in the Baltimore
Conveniion of this year, received one
| hundred and ejghtyon and half votes
more than two thirds of all those present
| but less than two thirds of full Cunven-
/ lion llense was nominated precisely AS
Gen. Cass was nominated. according TO
! The known usages Of the party. But
suppose Mr.. Breckenridge viii ex,ue him
self for net regarding the nomination of
Ca>s as regular, upon the ground that at
t at time he did not belong to the demos
cratic party, laughter and applause, and
was not bound by It's usages You all re
member that in lo47 Major Breckenridge
went into meeting at Lexington, Ken
tIckv, and there denounced the democratic
party as a corrupt faction, and declared in
| favor of General Taylor for the Presidency;
and no doubt his apology for not being
bound by TIE regularity OF the nomination
of Cass is, that he did not belong to the
party at the time lie was nominated, and
further, that he went hunting on election
day aud did not vote. [Uproarious laugh
ter. But my friends, While Major Breck-
inridge, in his Kentucky stump speech,
confesses that be was in favor of Taylor in
1917, and went hunting in 1S48, SO tina;
lie could not vote for Cass, asserts that
he made speeches for Cass because the old
veteran then represented his (Brerkin-
ridges principles. Now, all you have to
do in order to discover what Mr.. Breckin-
ridges principles then were, is to inquire
wha; General Cass wes in favor Of, IA
voice-the Nicholson letter Yes, my
friend, you have hit it exactly. Laugh,
ter and three cheers You have saved
me the trouble of telling it. General Cass
had Jus; written the Nicholson letter, in
which he asserted thai Congress had no
power to interfere with the slavery question
in the Territories.
Mir Breckimijee says that lie made a
speech for Cass, although he lad up to that
time been for Ia, lor, when lie found that
Cass advocated his principles Thus it
appears that in 1S4s Mr. Breckinridge was
for Cass and the Nicholson letter Laugh
ter and cheers And I too was for Cass
and the Nicholson letter. Cries Of good,
and applause So we were together in
1913 Laughter Again, in 1852, Mr.
Pierce was nominated at Baltimore, on
the platform of non intervention by Con
gress with slavery in the Territories. AS
| before remarked, | came to Reading
that year, and made a speech for Pierce
and non intervention from yonder market
bouse, James Buchanan presiding over the
meeting. Voices-That's so.
And appeal to every old citizen here
present to bear testimony whe ber or TO
aid not advocate then the same principle,
90 to day Cries of Yes" three cheers
for Douglas aud great enthusiasm Penn
syyania sustained Mr. Pierce by her elec
toral vote on the Goetlir OF non in:erven
tion. Again, in 1856, the party assem-
bled in convention, at Cincinnati, reassert
ell he doctrine of nor interference BY Con
gress with slavery in the Territories, ant
p,,l an ayd Rract,;.,; I,,. ,raro ,to.,.