Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-09-21

Ciieu III lne main with those nelQ, ana ullltet
in the meeting. Soon afterwards went t
Mexico. When ! returned, twelve months at
tcrwartlS, in lS+S, found the campaign in full
blast, with Taylor the candidate Of the
Wings, and Cass and Butler in nomination
by the National Democracy. 1t is well
known to thousands Of those within the sound oil
my voice, that as soon IS returned home
took the stump in behalf Of the Democratic
nominees, and sustained them 10 the best oi
my ability. \ voice" All right. 1t gives
ME pleasure to add that worked all the more
zealously, because lie Of the gentlemen for
whose success labored was keniuckian, my
old commander, and my friend. Cheers.
It's said was hot present and did not vote
ut the election in Lexington, in 1913. That is
true. But with the statement there ought to
have gnnc IN explanation well known, but
which my opponents never have published,
that is entirely satisfactory. You well know
that at that time tbeiOrc the adoption Of tho
present Constitution citizen might vote any
where in the State It so happened that after
the labors Of the canvass and the courts had
gone on my annual hunting trip to the noun
tains. There was with Inc party Of six or
eight gentlemen, MI Of them belonging to the
Whig party; and on the day Of election. they
proposed to INT, that instead Of going, rs in
tended, 10 the nearest voting place, some tf.
teen miles, we should devote the day to the
chase. If they had voted there would have
been six or Seven votes cast for Taylor and but
one for Cass and Butler. Cheers. accepted
the proposition, and we went hunting, laugh
ter and if every man had done rs we'll US my
sell, We would have carried the State by forty
thousand majority. Applause. Among those
gentlemen | remember the names Of my friends
Thos. S. Redd, Nelson Dudley, George p. JOu-
EFT, and others, who will doubtless rccollcct
those facts, if anything were necessary beyond
my word. \ voice None; nothing more
needed here.
Another charge actively circulated through.
out the Southern States asserts that was an
Emancipationist in 1872 at least voted for
an EmancipationiSt. Gentlemen, in coEnec.
ton with this accusation, | feel it my duty
to call your attention to 4 paper which receiv-
cd last evening from one Of the Southern
States, called the Tnskegec, (.ilabama) Rcpuhll.
can, and which contains letter written by one
Of our own citizens, III reference to my public
position and even in regard to my private az
fairs. 1t was written by Hon. Geo. Robertson
to Mr.. Alexander, Of Alabama and is dated
August 23d, 1860. quote 50 much Of it as |
desire to comment upon:
John G.. Breckenridge has not been counted
here an Enancipatonst, however much he
may have been suspected by some, for sympa-
thy with bis uncle, the Rev. Robt. j. Brcckin-
ridge. lie does not keep house and owns no
slaves, unless lie retains two that came by his
wife know nothing Of the Investment
in Ohio, concerning which you inquire
But we all know here that he was committed
to Squattrr Sovereignty ever since bis nornina'
ton in 1856, until finding that Douglas would
overwhem him in the North, he changed his
creed, and in his Frankfort speech last January
turned Southerncr, and advocated protection
by Congressional Intervention"
As to the part Of that letter relating to my
personal affairs / have to say, that do not
envy the taste or character Of L gentleman who
would be engaged in writing letters through
the Union touching the private business ofhis
ncighbOrS. Whilst lie is incorrect in some oil
these statements, ! will not merit the contempt
of this audience by entering into details in re-
gard to my private aiInlrs. voice THAT is
manly"
That part Of the letter which relates to Squat.
ter Sovereignty, will be disposed Of in answer
ING the accusations Of other men but ain
now on the question Of emancipation. Observe
the wording of the sentence:
"John c. Grcckinridgc has not been counted
here an cmancipationIst, however much be
may have been SUSPECTED by soiuc H,r rympa
thy with his uncle, Rev. Robert J. Breckin
ridge"
Now, il there is an individual here, among
the thousands within the sound Of my voice
who ever heard or knew Of my synpathizing
with the doctrines advanced by Rev. R. j
Breck inridgc, let him now speak or forever
hold his peace Cheers. And when Hon.
George Robertson will produce one respectable
man, in OF out Of the county OF Fayctte, who
will say he believed or suspected that was m
cmancipalonist, will even confess that it was
proper 10 write that letter. Cheers. II the
gentleman means that there has always existed
between Rev Mr. Breckenridge and myself
those relations of cordialty, respect and aitec,
ton which are natural and proper, the insinua'
ton is true but that is not the purpose OF the
letter; it is in connection with the subject o.
emancipation that he was speaking, and he
would convey the impression that ! had been
suspected Of sympathy with my uncle upon
tlla. subject That is the meaning Of that let
ter.
Judge Robertson, when called upon in re-
gard to the authenticity Of the letter, replied
that it was genuine, but that it was "coniiden
tial letter." 4 voicc-"Condential to be pub
lshed. " do not think that mends the case
much 1t would have been even better TO write
it for the public than as confidential letter
Don't you think so: 4 voicc-"lcS."
But have other things to consume
my time to-day than such "coniidcntlaI
letters rs that. Laughter. come TO thu
fact. The only time that the question O
emancipation has been raised in Kentucky ir
my day, WAS in 1919, when VIC were electing del
cgatcs 70 the Convention to form new Con
slituton. Then DR.. Breckenridge and Mr.. Shy
were Emancipation candidates. ], rs Il candi
date for the Legislature, canvasSed the county
to the best of my ability in opposition t
emancipation, believing the interests Of botf
races IN the Commonwealth would be promoted
BY The continuance Of their present relations
and on that issue as yon know, was elected
At the polls DR.. BrcckiHrls sc voted agains
me, and voted against him cheers because
We were representing opposite principles; ant
just so would it bc again undcrsmilar circum
have seen pamphlets published and circu
lated all over the Union for the purpose o
proving that | vas Il knowNolhlng in the yea
1855, in the State Of Kentucky. Laughter.
| have no doubt that Il very considerable pro
portion of those listening 10 lie were mem
bcrs Of that order; and if there is man anon!
you who belonged to the order, who eve
saw me in one Of your lodges, or who doe
not know that was recognized from the be
gining as one of the most uncompromiSing op
poncnts, le. him be good enough to say so now
a voice, she amt here Why, gentlemen
| believe was one OF the first in Congress
who took position against the organization
and when returned home 10 the State OF Ken
tncky, in the Spring Of 1850, finding it wa
making great progress in the Commonwealth
although | had withdrawn from public life t
attend to my private affairs, opposed it in re
peatrd speeches all over tins part OF tn
State. Cheers This statement may not b
very acceptable to some gentlemen within tn
sound Of my voice; but do not want to dc