The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-09-19

6 ;oniss fGhsera end iarghser.l, Indeed. B
his declaration we must be I'll disunionis.s i
r Kentucky, for he declared that those who a:
Q sent that Territorial Legislature has no pow
J. er to exclude slave property, and that Congress
!. E4should interfere for its protection, are dsun
4 ionists, and that is what the old opposition {
: Kentucky said last year, and which wi
t prove to have been their position, expresses
f in every form that it could be.
g Feliow-citizens, even in my own State
where / thought certainly my character an.
antecedents were pretty well known. one G
the oldest, one of the most honest-in all re
spects one of the most eminent of all our pub
| lie meu-has not indeed said that l was
disunionist, but has intimated, il not one.
am connected with an organization who's
bone and body is disunion. | refer TO TIL
speech Of Mr.. Crittenden, made at Louisville
| have known and admired Mr.. Crittepde1
since was a boy. He also has known me
Toward him and his have ever cherished
and expect to cherish relations of the mos
respectful and cordial esteem. There are
reasons which care not to give the public
that, even if bad grounds for it, would pre-.
vent me from venturing beyond the limits Of
the most respectful courtesy, in answering
what he has said. After speaking of Mr.
Lincoln in terms fully as complimentary, it
seems to me, as his principles merit, although
opposing him firmly, as Mr.. Crittenden does,
and after speaking of the Senator from Illinois
in terms of the highest eulogy, as it seems to
Inc, he comes to speak Of his fellow. citizens,
expressing the lingering hope that am not a
disunionist. Laughter Like humane
lawyer, he gives me, personally, the benefit
of doubt, and for this do | thank him.
Laughter and applause
A yoice-"Hurrahf for Breckenridge !"l
As to my connection with principles, or a
party, which tend that way NAV speak of
that presently. My object nov is, to relieve
myselfspersonally from the accusation or i'm
putation that am such I would greatly
have preferred that should have received a
strong and direct blow, than to receive as
do, the kind and reluctant confession of a
sorrowful friend. Applause
In passing, may say in regard to the dis
tinguished gentleman who is associated with
me as candidate for the Vice President, that
his whole life is REPUTATION of such charge,
| if made against him. Born in North Caro-
lima, reared in Kentucky, long living in In
diana, now coming from Oregon, he has been
in all parts of the country, tried in all, and
| honored mall. Heloves them all, and brought
the last. as State, into the galaxy of the
Union. Applause.
When a man is before the people for public
office great deal depends upon his personal
character and antecedents and he gets much
il he can show that he is not liable to an in
furious report. Much depends, therefore,
upon whether am disunionist
Born within sight of this spot; known to
you for nearly forty years your representa-
tive in the Legislature, in Congress, and other
situations of trust, invite any one to point
to anything in my record which would sane
ton sucha charge or such an imputation.-
GCheers. Twill not degrade the dignity of
my declaration by epithets, but l proudly
challenge my bitterest enemy to point out an
act, to disclose an utterance or reveal thought
of mine, hostile to the Constitution or the
Union of the States. Loud cheers. A voice ;
ale. couldn't do iti'1 The man does not
live, however exalted his character, who has
power enough to couple my name successfully |
with the slightest faint of disloyalty to the |
Constitution and Union of my country
fGreat Applause.
But, fellow citizens, if there be nothing in
my character OF antecedents to justify HIS ac-
'cusation, what is there in the platform of prin-
ciples upon which stand 1t is not preten-
ded that those resolutions which relate to the
acquisition of Cuba and railroad to the Pa
cific. contain anything having the slightest ten
dency in that direction. | can, therefore,
mean only those resolutions which have rela-
ton to the question of Territorial power and
slave property, in the Territories Twill read
to you those resolutions, and you will see if
they be according to the decision of the Su-
preme Court, as have shown it to be to-day.
What are they This is the platform
adopted by the Baltimore Convention, which
me for the Presidency of the Uni
ted States
Ffrst-That the Government ola Territory
organized by an act of Congress is provisional
and temporary, and during its existence all
citizens of the United States have an equal
right to settle with their property in the Ter
.ory, without their rights, either Of person or
property, being destroyed7or injured by Con-
,ressional or territorial legislation. -.
Second-That it is the duty of the Fed
,ral Government in all its departments to
protect, when necessary, the rights of
persons and property in the Territories, and
wherever else its constitutional authority ex- I
=
The third sgscsution provides that when
hey come to form State Constitution. they {
elves.
That, fellow-citizens, Is the platform of prin- '
iples avowed. Are they constitutional p G
Are they just2 Or are they sectional If }
hey are constitutional, they are not sectional !
or the Constitution is broad enough TO cover
he whole Union. Whoever, therefore, stands
lpon the Constitution, can neither be Sec I
ionaliSt or disunionist. have shown you
hat the principles are taken almost word for =
word from the opinion of the Supreme Court !
+ the United States. Tney find their root j
n almost all the precedent and practices of the c
government. They are principles upon e
which we may well live and by which we 2
nay well be willing to die. Cheers. They c
re vitality important, and they concern rights .
# person and property; they cannot be abb
tract, minute, or unimportant, for they con- y
ern the honor and equality of the States.
What has been the position of Kentucky e
Ipon that platform? You remember the $
POSITION taken by the gentlemen who were
adidates for Governor of this State last year.
they both held that Territorial Legislatures \
ave no power to exclude our property, and \
ach commended that every department fgoy-
must protect it when in became ne
essary Mr.. Joshua Bell, 1 believe, went a o
tep further than his competitors, by express t
ing his opinion that the time was at that in o
tant arrived, when it had become necessary C
o interpose the arm Of the Federal Govern I
nent to protect our property. Mr.. Magoffin t
eld, if it became necessary, private property n
must be protected from Territorial interior il
nee and confiseaton The whole people of r
kentucky voted for one or the other of these s
gentlemen. Your Congress- s
onal Conventions, that nominated candidates Il
Or Congress, Endorsed this principle by most e
ecisive and overwhelming majority. Nay, t
more; if may refer to the proceedings of s
arty Convention, the Democratic Convention t
which met on the 9th of January last at U
the same principle by an t
majority. 1 hold in my hand
he resolution by which it was done. But t
leither the time nor,my strength suftices for J
ne to read it. I shall incorporate it in my re- Q
Marks. ss@s5t
Nay, more. The Senate of the Common
wealth of Kentucky,.by The unanimous vote |
f both parties, Endorsed this same principle as
'eing true, by the following resolution e
Resolved, By tho whole Senate ofthe State 9
f Kentucky, that the Territories are the com +
non property of the Union, and as a field for f
he expansion of the institutions, and develop 4
nent of the energies of our advancing and a
people. are open to the citizens of t
II the States and that there exists no power +
n the General Government, or the Govern. o
nent of q Territory during its continuance t
S such. and until, having attained sufficient r
population, it shall have formed Constitution 3
nd been admitted into the Union TO impair
he right OF any citizen who may have emf
rated thereto to the enjoyment of any spe- {
lies of property recognized by the States.-
eut that this RIGHT hayingbeen soIcmlv affirm-