Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-10-04
A Melancholy and Dl.graeerul Spectacle.


We published on Yesterday all the facts that have yet
reached us in regard TO the pushing electiOneerug
t,rr Of John Breckenridge, among the mountains Of
Kentucky. And surely, in the view Of every rgh'thnk-
inc and rirbtfeeng man. these facts disclose specn-
Gle the most melancholy and the most dsgaeeiu IN our
annals Never before has any candidate for the Presi-
dency stopped so low and played the role OF the mou-
sing demagogue 20 such perfection. We had believed
shat John C. Breckenridge was at least man OF rare
sense Of deIcacy and true sense Of honor high
toned pure gentleman, and frank, dsnihed high
minded politician. But his recent conduct in sHeltfH0
away from home and "5uAing" il for votes among the
mountains Of Kentucky is conclusive Of the fact that
as man. he {, vulgaran, and politician, the low
esi sort Of lemagogue'
Canvlssrg for the Presidency in the open, bold,
sboyeboard manner Of Douglas is bad enough in all
coascience-for q, not only without preocten. in our
history bur {. out-agcs all notions Of decacy and
p-cpicy and degradcs the Presidential Office itself
Blt how infinitely wors is The conduct OF Mr. Breckr-
rrlce' How infinitely more unmauy, more dcmagos,-
al more lo How infinitely more dissJaccll and degrac
iae 10 tie man. and how ilu;tay more shocking TO Che
..r.b.9ties of The whole nation, What, A caudiat'
for ,te highest and most responsible Office ia the world
snpkns through The country, and "aushios it AMONG
the people and "buton-boleas' Geu for their votes
who could have imagined chat thi- great country would
ever. even ga che most degenerate tiue, have witness
"a spectacle so melancholy di,sracsiul 20 degrad-
irg. 30 revot0gs
P,or Er,csurl.a len home, Il appears, With none
knowing Of Die intention or bis object; eyeep. che two or
tire, bosom ferl, who accompanied him. and traye''-
"a ia sort Of dsgi.e AID was inst heard Of al dc
H b.. d q O.
leaked ol. somehow cha, be was HIS way to a Dem
o.rc Barbecue 10 Morgan couaty which bad been got
ten uo very secretly and quietly and for his especial ben
e6t We are tod that, during hs stay at Mt Sterling,
uot half iozea gentlemen called upon him., aud that
che evidently noticed his cold reception, for he looked
c-as.-flIea and sublued." We well imagine how
NEARLY poor Breckenridge must have ielt, when thus
clurbt in the scaryy trick Of making candestine pill
mage 10 the mountains Of Kentucky for the purpose
Of attending secretly gotten up Barbecue, and soliciting
the people for their votes The people Of the village OF
t erIng let-to their honor be it slid-an inexpres
,5le disgust and contempt Tor poor Breckenridge when
they became acquainted with the purposes and objects
Of his travels The fact Is saws lstterWriier a. Mt
Sterling, "when our people found out that the rumor
that be intended to be at l,tle erthsd Barbecue IN
Morgan was really So they lost az respect for s Hd
And well they might have Lost all respect for poor Brec
iarfre Il was smrly impossible for hoaest aud gentle
manly people not to lose an respect for him. And where
ever the melancholy story Of bis shame and degradation
shall be known, the people Of the United States will feel
tor him-cdn feel for hm-noue other than sentiments
.os the mos. profound adherence and contempt Poor
B-eekinrdge has reached that clover deep Of iniamy
rom which there is no possible rescue. The sloT-moy-
Ing finger Of public scorn is fixed upon him forever
n affords US no pleasure to chronicle the downfall and
tbs degradation Of man uho only little while back
as an object Of universal respect aud admiration aud
80 rih in promise for the future. We have long main
t,ned that when the idea Of the Presidency made iru
Indictment in mens minds in nne cases out Of ten the
victim Of that idea would make political wreck Of him
a,l sooner or later That is that in spite Of the re-
rnonstraaces and admOu,ons Of even his best friends
he would accomplish his oEn run-commt suicide, and
ma, from, the sage 20 be heard Of forever
Poor Rrecknrdse in bis anxiety 20 be made President
Il living confirmation Of theory. lie has ruined
himself and degraded himself 10 such extent by BIZ
recent sneakiLg "bushing eectoueering tour, that al
honorable men viii turn from him with feeling Of utter
Iolthiag and contempt
In conclusion, le. "a ask the manly and hgh-tonei
people Of Virginia Of all parties, and let Us ask then
luly aud dispasionately whether tLeY can honestly
aud eousceuousy consent to support poor BreeuTdg'
70, the Presidency, after the late dsgraceiul aud degr
ding exhibition be has made Of himself in SHsakias
among the bye-uays Of bis State, aud "Js1iiHg" it iOl
vo,elg Can you, vii you vote for man 50 lost to al
dignity aud self respee-an regard for the high ohce oi
which be Is eandidatss As this the first time in our
national hiory-and God grant it may be the lasttba'
candidate for the Presidency has thus meany and base
y stopped for votes invoke you Wings and Democrats
Of Virginia put your eternal seal OF rePro6aaon upon
sl;h miserable demlgogca conduct BY voting against
BOcknrdgc, and by voting, as one man. for that disn
fed AID bones.beazed s.atsman and patriot John Bel,
OF Tennessee.