The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-07-18

Monday i "a
Tuesday 2 80
Wed'sday I" 80
Thursday 80
Friday 2 &" 81
Saturday 20
Sunday 3 90
Monday 2 10
Substance Of the Remarks Of Hon
Humphrey MarsLall, on the evening
of June 25th, when called ont by tn
Serenaders.
GESTLENEN: am not in the habit of re
ceiying calls from Democratic masses but,
would be an afectation to conceal my know
eige that am indebted for the honor of thi
visit to your desire to hear, from my own lip:
a confirmation of the rumor, that | will SUP
port Breckenridge and Lane at the next Pre-
sidential election.
Icheerfully render my own testimony
the truth of that statement Applause.
It might have been more prudent to defe
this declaration until after free conference
with those friends in Kentucky with whom
have heretofore acted, and by whom my pas
career has been 50 generously sustained
Others may watch the direction Of the popula
current, who wish to swim on its tide to Ia
ven Of success my ambition is not for plac
or preferment it rises no higher than TO tn
simple performance Of duty, and ! leave con
sequences to take care of themselves. hay,
no hesitation as to the position it becomes me
at this crisis, to assume and should be re.
creant to nv own sense Of the obligation 8
a free citizen owes to his country, were | moi
when called upon, 10 advance to the occupan.
cy of that position with the firmness and the
alacrity which import a union of my con.
science and my action upon the line of con-
duct l meant to pursue.
Gentlemen, | am familiar with the points
upon which the Democrats have failed to
agree. They involve principles which have
frequently discussed, in Congress and ont OF
ton the stump, at home, and elsewhere
I am not now taking stand for the first time
upon those principles. / made, in 1856, a
somewhat celebrated declaration, that be-
tween Jas. Buchanan, If he were the expon-
emit Of the doctrine Of squstter sovereignty.
and J. C. Fremont, IS the exponent Of the
doctrine of the Wilmot Proyiso, / would not
toss up copper for choice. I was then dis
cussing the Cincinnati platform before the
people, and ! then saw the ambiguity which
made it Janus-faced-presenting one view to
the North and another to the South. South
ern Democrats did not believe me. They de-
nounced my suspicion as the effect Of partizan
rancor. told them, that Mr.. Douglas did
not entertain the same view Of the Platform
they did, and that, one day or another, they
would find all the evils which could flow
from such persistence in maintaining party
lines at the expense of important principles,
would iicome home TO roost" must be
permitted to say did not anticipate the rup-
ture which occurred at Charleston, and was
consummated at Baltimore. Il may sever
the ties which bound the Democratic party
together, North and South, but it Is hon.
age to principle It exhibits the democrats
who have nominated John G. Breckinridge as
az last awakening 70 @tne NETS winch 7 nave
stated to them thousand times, and ready
to prefer sound principles to unsOund party
associations.
Irender them the tribute Of my respect for
the choice they have made, and think their
country viii do the same.
FeIlow-citizens, the rupture Of the Demo-
cratic party has taken place essentially on the
same ground upon which the Wing party
went to pieces, and which afterwards rent
the American party in twain. The same
cause severed relations Of the church, North
and South. 1t is not astonishing that under
its force, though last Of all, the tower Of De-
mocracy has fallen. 1t is evidence, which q
considerable people viii regard, that there is q
wide difference of principle-of cardinal, vital
principle-that no force Of party attraction can
withstand, and which demands settlement
final and satisfactory.
Gentlemen, after the Wing party went to
pieces on the issues in 1852, because North
ern Wings ssspit upon the platform which
pronounced IN favor Of the principles Of the
compromise of 1S50-after the American par
~ severed in 1856, because Northern Ameri-
cans would not yield this most banefnl theme
of s.auti-slayery agitation,'-I tried in vain m
the last speech made in Congress, to eyade
this issue. By creating some other upon which
to divide parties, until time could cure the
evils which would flow from this agitation.-
I appealed to the conservative North to come
TO the rescue, and to refuse 10 follow the Re-
publican leaders into the new campaign under
banners which had no inscription upon their
folds but antagonism to the slaTeholding States
OF this Union, bat anathemss against slave
holders, and an afiirmance Of the doctrine Of
an irrepressible conflict between systems, un-
til homogeneousness Of labor should be es-
tahlished everywhere through the land. |
appealed in vain. Satisfied that could no
ongerrender my country service in the exis-
ting condition of things, discontinued to stand
as l had stood for four years between the
Democratic and Republican parties, while
both of them occupied wrong positions upon
this great question-which involved the
equality of the States and the equality of the
people Of she States II withdrew from the
public councils, and returned to the more
quiet walks Of my profession. But have been
an anxious spectator Of the signs Of the times.
Your action 1t Charleston and Baltimore Is
50 definite that see i must change the issues
Of the approaching canvass. The question
comes up for . definite solution. and the peo-
pie ofboth sections end themselves in crisis
to demand the exercise Of ell Their prudence
and all their patriotism.
/ understand the matter thus aAlter the
delegates met at Charleston the committee on
resolutions was appointed, and n that CON-
mittee i was proposed to reannounce the Gin
cinnati platform Of 1856 IS the platform Of
principles maintained By the Democrats par
But . part Of that commitfee, represep-
ting constituencies in the slaveholding States,
asked that this reimbursement should be ac-
companisd By explanatory resolutions to this
purport
- ! AAS StA1tsAE11 l4o 10 EUHGF 70 4flOt-
ish slavery in the Territories. Second
That the territorial LegisIaturs has no power
to abolish slavery in any Territory. nor To
< prohibit the Introduction Of slaves therein !.
nor any power to exclude slavery therefrom,'
nor any power 10 destroy or impair lie r;ehl
Of property IN slaves BY any legislation What
ever.
2. Resolved, That it S the duty of d. Fad.
enl Government TO protect, when nscessarv
the rights Of persons and property on the h;gh
seas, in the Territories or wherever 10 n
constitutional authority extends.
IS That when the people Of ! tarr;tn~v
come to make their State Constitution-uh;cl
isan act Of soyereignty-their admission mt
the Union should not depend on the onesf;or
whether they choose that their State shs1l 4.
q slaFeholding State or : free State,
The other part Of the committee refns..a !.
accede to these propositions, and, on tie con
frary, adhered to the doctrine annonaeea :,
Judge Douglas, which asserts the right of n,
people Of Territory, while in their fer,;so
rial condition, to legislaie 50 as to excind
shareholders from an enjoyma2 Of Sheir slay,
properly in the Territory, and denies a Con
eress the power 10 extend 10 them any M
lection AGAINST unfriendly legislation.
believe have truly stated that the no;nt
J. Of difference which ultimately severed n
Convention, and have presented to the ernr
try the nominations Of Senator Douglas snd
Vice President Breckinr.dge. It s also IN
that from the slaveholding States, many d.
mocats were present who refused to Lea,
the Convention upon these points Of Difference
regarding them IS of no consequence viii
others distinctly conceded with and embrace
the doctrines advanced BIZ the Senator fra,
Illinois and upon these points the latter 81,
missed The acauiescence Of the people Of ii
slavsholdine states, to Be shown By the 4
feat Of Mr. Breckinndge. g