Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-09-11

lav last, Will DC reau Will
ont crisis. by men Of all parties. We have room
for only about onc.hulf of it to-day, which IS
however, very imperfect ms it comes through
the telegraph.
SPEECH OF Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE
beg YOU, my %neighbors, friends and old con-
st;tuents, TO be assured that | feel profoundly
grateful for the cordial welcome you have ex'
tended to inc. The circumstance under whlct
I appcar before you are novel and unusual
| do it in obedience to the request OF friends
whose intelligence | have been accustomed 10
observe.
And il it be an uncommon thing Tor 4 person
in nv position to address assemblies OF people,
| can only say that | hope to discuss topics
which are in u manner not altogether unworthy
the attitude which | occupy. | shall certainly
indulge in no language which, in my opinion,
will fall below the dignity Of political discus
sion. The condition Of my health and my pc
sitinn, make it impossible for me to extend my
voice over this vast assembly, but | trust l VIII
become stronger us | proceed. :,
have been asked, my fellow.cltizens,t TO speak
at nv own home, because | and the political
organization with which | am connected have
been assailed in an unusual manner, ana charg'
cd with treason to ray OWL country. | appear
before YOU to-day for the purpose of repe'ling
certain accusations which have been made
against me personally, and industrlously clrcu
lated throughout other States OF the Union;
and next, to show that the principles upon
which I stand are the principles OF both the
Constitution and the Union of our country
Great applause And surely, if at any time
the justification could be found by any man fol-
addressing the people in the position which
occupy, it will be found in my case.
ANONYMOUS writers and wandering orators
have chosen to tell the people that /, individu'
ally. am a disunionist and n traitor to my coun'
try: and they declare, with assurance, that
have exhibited = treason that makes, by com
parison with it, Burr o patriot and the memo
~ of Arnold respectable!
But, fellow-citizens, before | come to those
topics, I desire to make and prove a colnprehcn
sivc statement in regard 10 my position in con
uection with the Presidency ofthe United States
T have been charged with intriguing for this
nomination. l have been charged with leaping
before the wishes Of the people, and desiring
10 thrust mvsel! before them for tie highest
office in their gift.
To that | answer that il is wholly untrue.
have written TO nobody soliciting support.
have conYersed with nobody soliciting support,
| have intrigued with nobody. | have pro
missed nobody. To these statements | chal
lrnr. contradiction from any human being
Cheers. :,
Mr.. Breckenridge, resuming.-I did not seek
or desire to be placed before the people for the
Office Of President, by any Convention, or any
.-- To--apt,op Nha0 / rptnrnAH RI
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 con
nectlon, and a certain editor (whose presence
see here in this State, had hoisted my name
for the Presidency, | said 10 him. Friend,
am not in any sense n candidate for the Prcsl'
dencv." and | desired that my name should be
taken down from the head Of his columns. II
was done.
A very eminent citizen Of the Commonwealth
of Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) was presented 70,
that office. ! was gratitied to see it, and as ia,
as nv own declarations were concerned,
united cordially in presenting him for the sui
fragcs Of the American people; though, at nc
time, in or out OF the Commonwealth Of Ken
lucky, did I do en- act or utter q word which
would bring nv name in conflict with his, OF
that of any other American citizen who desired
or whose friends desired for him, that posi-
ton. And if you took the trouble TO read tlt
proceedings Of the Charleston Convention, you
will remember that when l received the vote
of Arkansas. one Of my friends arose and with
drew my nan,c, declaring that | would moi
allow it TO come in opposition to the gentlemen
before the Convention.
When tina, Convention assembled a. Balti
more, my feelings and my conduct were stii
unchanged. After the disruption which tool
place there, my name, without any solicitation!
on my part, was presented rs L candidate
Previously, not deeming such . thing possible
| said | ibid not desire 10 be presented to thu
American people, but am content with thu
honors which have been heaped upon me BY
my State and my country, ami look forward
with pleasure TO the prospects | have Of scrr
ing my country in the Senate of the United
States for the next six years My name, how
over, was presented, and | felt that | could moi
refuse to accept the nomination under the cir
cumstances, without abandoning vital princi
Piles and betraying my friends.
1t is said | was not regularly nominated, ant
that an eminent citizen Of Illinois was regu
larlv nominated for the Presidency, but thai
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 10 the bold letter of your delegates from
this Congressional district. | refer you to the
mastery and explanative speech recently de
livercd by my honorable friend in whose
grounds we are met. | can only say that the
Convention which assembled at tue Front
Street Theatre at Baltimore was devoid, mo-
only Of the spirit of justice, but Of the forms o
regularity. iChcers.l The gentleman whom
it presented never received Il vote required by
the rules Of the Democratic organization.
Whole States were excluded and disfran
chised in that Convention, not to speak Of indi
viduals; the most fragrant acts Of injustice
were perpetrated for the purpose Of forcing Q
particular dogma upon the Democratic organi
! cation, and the gentleman who is the reprcsen'
tative Of that dogma and principles, which
will be able 70 show are repugnant alike te
reason and the Constitution. Owing TO the I'M
propricty o: those proceedings, II decided ma,
lority Of the delegates from your own State
withdrew rom the Convention. declaring thai
it was not a National Convention of the real
Democratic organization. The entire dclcgu.
ton from the fifteen Southern States. al,d o.
California and Oregon. with large minoritics
from other States, making in whole or in part
delegations from almost two.lhirLs Of the
States Of the Confedcracy. represented a Ma
tional Democratic Convention, depending upon
the authority and loyalty Of the Democratic
party.
But, after all, the great question is, what are
the principles (Which ought to commend them
selves to the American people, at issue in this
canvas? These | will discuss before | ain done;
but before | proceed further | will group togc
t!lcr and answer q number of personal accusa
tions, some of which cmanatcd in the State OIL
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 L feeling .! humiliation &c
answer some Of them, but as | have imposed
upon myself the task | will so through them
all as briefly rs | eau. ICheers. \ S"icc-"Gr
it, John"
| believe it has been published in almost ev.