Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-08-17


& question of it.
What is the language employed by the great
parties with respect to all the otker candidates.
viii not repeat It. There is hardly any term Of re-
proach spared them. These other gentlemen stand
up in their solitary integrity and purity of character
unsullied and unquestioned. Immense applause.
They come with the Constitution In their hands.
They come imploring their brethren to forgive each
other tolay aside their hostties to cease those
fierce bros that are alternating section from section
and men from men, Let us join hands and be one
nation, one great and happy nation. (Applause)
II This is the appeal they make to the American
people. For itself the party claims nothing but the
character Of mediator, entertaining and cherish
ing the kndest and most fraternal feelings towards
all. This is the character in which IL presents
itself. have not, Think, overdrawn its features.
| think our party and its candidates deserve all
have said. Compare them with the competitors
that are now engaged in fierce contest before you.
If Bell and Everett succeed what is to be the con-
sequence Of their administration? Does IT not of
necessity bring together all parties? How can they
being elected by men from all parties, coming to-
gether mighty host of voters, help saving their
country? (Cheers.) 1t win be triumph of the
country not the triumph Of party applause
Who have the Union men to exercise any ven
geance upon? Who have they accused? Who
have they denounced? As individuals they have
their opinions and feelings with respect to all pass
ing puDnC MEASURES anu W prtStut puDhC
but party they are but of yesterday, brought
into existence by the countrys exigencies, and for
the countrys preservation. They come as peace
maker-as a mediator They have no vengeance
to wrcak upon any one. Thtir viotJry AMI their
triumph shall be the triumph and security Of ALL
| Enthusiastic applause.) This is a victory worth
winning In almost all victories,that are gained in
civil conflicts there is much to mourn as to
rejoice If there is one victor there is conquer
ed man upon whom he treads, and our sympathies
are divided between the conqueror and the pros
tratc man. Ours is avictory free from all such
furnishing reflections. 1t is of pure exultation
in our country triumph and in our country's good.
! (Cheers.)
Look at the other parties and see what must e
the consequence Of their victory. Suppose the Re-
publican succeed. what then? Mr. Lincoln may be
a very worthy, upright and honest man. He mar
ried a Kentucky girl, and that is wholesome in
fuence. daughter and applausc) Mr.. Lincoln
may be very honest worthy man butin poll
tical point of view be must be regarded as the re-
preventative of the party that has made him its
leader He is the Republican leader; and, like all
political leaders, he must obey the party that brought
him into existence or be put down and crushed out
| by it. He must be governed by the political influ-
ence and voice of his party. Mr. Lincoln is at the
head of the great anti-slavery party, purely sec
tiona party which according to all its antecedents,
threatens the existence of slavery everywhere; and
|
creased by the tact that although the leaders and
wise men of that party may not proclaim such SEN
| timents, there are enough among them in their
camp who do hold and proclaim such Abolition doc
| trnes as must make every man South feel uneasy
| in his condition and in his property. The mere
fact of Mr.. Lincons election would be, therefore,
great calamity to the country, though he should
never do an act positively offensive injurious to
any interest OF the country. His election would
create and continue an alarm that would keep the
country agitated and unhappy if not create an op-
position to the government ITSELF 1t is greatly to
be desired that he should not be elected 1t is hard
" necessary to say that should be forced to ap-
prehend from Mr. Lincoln's election that the impulse
which the ant-slavery feeling would receive there
| from would go further than it has yet gone, and
create still greater dangers to the peace and securi-
ty of the South This pervading apprehension
would necessarily make his election great calam-
| ity 1t therefore enters into no competition with
the election of Messrs. Bell and Everett on the score
of benefcence. From them there is nothing to be
looked for but peace and security with all the sane
ton that manly, brave and determined Admins
tration can give to both. (Applause)
Mr.. Douglas and his party come next. You all
know as we'll as do of the rupture that has taken
place in the Democratic party, and in its conven-
tion assembled for the purpose of nominating can
didates for the Presidency, it dividedone party Sc
ceded. Mr.. Douglas numerous adherents assem-
bled and nominated him, and the seceders went to
n neghboring house and made a nomination. That
nomination fell upon citizen OF cur own State
Mr. John G. Breckenridge.
/ Now, what is to be apprehended from Mr.. Doug
las If he is elected President2 Would not the
breckenridge men continue to make war upon him?
Would not the Republicans continue 10 make war
upon him 2 and irritated by common defeat
would they not be apt to form an alliance against
the successful rival who had succeeded to the Pres
dency Yes Mr.. Douglas would be in very diff
fcult situation in administering the government
! without the support aud maintenance necessary TO
the task. / know Mr.. Douglas very WELL ladies
and gentlemen. From Mr.. Douglas personally, ]
should apprehend no danger. | have never been a
Democrat, as you all know applause. frank,
. fair and honest opponent of the Democratic party,
| have ever been found acting upon Whg princi-
pies from the first to the last Increased applause
But have known Mr.. Douglas in the public coun-
ellis and have acted with him. Although general
ly opposed and especially upon party questions; we
have at times acted together; and particularly upon
one momentous occasion, when we acted together
in opposition to that infamous Lecompon Constitu-
ton. (Dcafcning applause.) Mr.. Douglas was
there making great sacrifice to his sense OF duty.
Applause.) He was sacrificing his connection, on
that occasion, with many old political friends he
was breaking up the relations of a long political
life; he sacrificing as fatterng prospects for
the highest Office of the Government as any man in
the country had. | fully believe he did what he
conceived to be his duty, and in defiance of all the
opposition, the rack of the President offended
friends and open foes he acted like a man. [Tre-
! menduous cheering.l lie might have been mista-
ken in what he did, but that little diminished the
value of the act He thought he was right and he
knew he was making sacrifice, and he was capa-
, BILE of making it, when he believed the interests OF
: : the country demanded it. Cheers,l | can have
no quarrel with him; he is a Union man. [Cheers.
> And a Union man can always trust when | be-
|, lieve him to be sincere and in earnest as believe
! Douglas to be. Continued applause,]
But still this is not the question. Mr. Douga:
represents an old party at ued in the first instance
with the Republican party, calling forth its bitter
n est opposition and now at feud it'll the Southern
- wing of his own party, that has rejected him fol
another. His would be administration of con
A tinual conflict The country could hope for no re-
!, soratiouof peace and good government. He there
fore ought not to be preferred in my Judgment tC