New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-09-20
wa. snncK1N.s1pen,s srnneH.


In the Louisville Courier OF the 18th We find
what We suppose is an authorized copy of the
speech delivered by Mr.. Breckenridge ut LeSng-
ton, Kentucky, on the 9TH Of last month.
We have read the speech with some care, as we
were anxious to see what Mfr. Breckenridge had to
say. He begins by declaring that he appears be-
fore the people under unusual circumstances, but
that he wishes to repel certain accusations that
have been made against him, and to show to the
people that the political principles of which he is
the representative are the true principles of the
Constitution and the Union.
He then denies that he intrigued for the nomina-
ton, or that he was anxious to receive it but
that he united with other citizens of the State in
sustaining the claims of Mr.. Guthrie for the nomi.
nation, content, for himself with the prospect be-
fore him of six years service in the United States
Senate. All Of which we believe to be true. But
we think Mr.. Breckenridge has given undue import
anee to the charge. Nobody believes that he " in
tIguedr for the nomination, or that he would have
done SO, even il the nomination had been equiYa-
lent to an election.
Next he denies that Douglas is the regular nomi-
nee, but does not declare that he himself is. He
says, however, that the real question Isl not who is
the regular nominee, but who represents the best
principles.
| Mr.. Breckenridge next answers the charge that
he had signed the petition in favor Of pardoning
John Brown. by declaring it wholly untrue. The
| same also of the charge that he had supported
Taylor for the Presidency in ls4s. On the con
| trary, he made stump speeches for Cass, Nor was
| he, as has been asserted by some, an emancipa-
| ZIONIST in 1919. He was q candidate for the Com
vsntien against the Emancipation ticket, and was
| elected. Equally unfounded was the accusation
4 that he said he would make political dscrimi-
nation between citizens of different religious be,
| lief, and between citizens native and naturalzed.
| He never said il.
So far as we are concerned, we have never pre-
ferred or circulated any of these charges against
Mr.. Breckenridge, andare therefore under no special
obligation to publish his denial of them. Yet it is
but fair to do So and will say further that for
US, Mfr. Breckinridge's denial was not necessary.
We did not believe the charges; and even had we
done SO, our opposition TO him is on other and
! higher grounds.
| The orator, having cleared away all these per.
sonal accusations next proceeds to prove his con
sstency on the subject of nonintervention, squat
ter sovereignty, etc.; and, according to his own
construction of his language various occasions,
makes satisfactory explanation. He attacks Mr..
Douglas for acting in bad faith in that he did not
observe his promise to abide by the decision of
the Supreme Court in the bred Scott case Touch
ing the subject of dsunion, Mr.. Breckenridge de-
MES vehemently that he ever did anything, or said
anything, or thought anything, that would justify
such charge. All of which is no doubt correct.
But the charge is, not that Mr.. Breckenridge him
self is dsunonist but that all the disnionists are
sustaining hi-and this circumstance, it is feared
would influence Mr.. Breckenridge if he be elected,
in the policy of his Administration
Finally, he concludes with an eloquent perora-
ton, exhorting the people of Kentucky to stand
BY sound principles, with the assurance that they
will sooner or later triumph.
These are the principal points of Mr.. Breckin-
ridges speech, and we have endeavored to state
them fairly. 1t was an able speech, and we have
no objection to make against the propriety of ts
delivery. He did not answer the questions pro.
posed to Mr.. Douglas at Norfolk, nor were thew
presented to him.
The great question, though, in our opinion-tbe
oVershadowing issue in this contests. not what
Mr. Breckenridge has done, or Mr. Bell, or Mr..
Dougias-or what they now think about old thread
bare issues of party policy. The great question,
alter all is whether Lincoln is to be elected and
sectional administration fastened upon tile nation
If the different national candidates, and their
friends, instead of disputing among themselves,
would address themselves to the work Of defeating
Lincoln, there would be something worthy of
struggle. As it is, everything portends the cleo.
ton ola Black Republican President, by minor
ity vote of the people. There is time enough yet
to combine against him and defeat him. Unless
that can be done, it is waste of time to be dis.
cussing outside matters, either personal or pc.
litcal.