Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-03


can aud will keep US out, or will render our prop
erty useless if we do go in, our people are not so
stupid as 70 swallow what he offers, nor will |
they stand silently by and see him make state of
case which viii enable him to say hereafter they
did accept his doctrine the true of their
rights.
All butmethinks hear SOME one ask why we will
not stand by Bell and Everett under their patriotic
motto, The Union the Constitution and the enforce
ment Of the laws? Ianswer for myself: because
a question has been raised among US which their
platform does not solve and which would leave US
open to misnterpretaton and future misrepresenta-
ton. If the Douglas Democrats who advocate
squatter sovereignty, finding themselves in miner
ity, shall fuse with the Bell and Everett men to de-
feat Breckenridge their only object in doing so wlll
be, to give an appearance TO the result as having
decided the question, which Mr.. Breckenridge is
put up, against our view OF the equality to which
our people are entitled in the Territories. Under
ordinary circumstances, Bell and Everett would
make most respectable combnation-under ordi-
nary circumstances, the opposition to Democracy
would sustain it even on the broad generality which
the constitutional Union party has launched as suf
Gent and best for the times. But Charleston and
Baltimore have made extraordinary circumstances
which summon US all TO action in our own behalf,
in another direction Of a winters night would
prefer listen to the old farmer by his reside but
if news came that wolves were in the folds threat
eaing havoc among the sheep of our pastures, /
would leave the fireside and the farmer and follow
TO the field the young, vigorous, brave leader whose
energies and known character afforded me the hope
that he would protect my property and have pro-
per care for my interests. Applause.l
have thought much of this question on which
| Mr. Douglas essays to win in the coming canvass.
He would tell us slavery is the creature of munich
pal law, and wherever it goes beyond the municipal
law 'the shackIes of the slave fall and he stands
as free as his master" Take this case: l am a
Georgia planter, and want to go from Savannah to
Texas-changing my residence from one saveholding
State to another. embark my wife, children, and
servants an American vessel, and am soon more
than a marine league from shore-on the high seas
where no municipal law prevails. There Is nothing
over me but the flag of my country; under me the
deck of an American ship. Is my slave free Ae-
cording to this newfanged doctrine he Isl aid the
Black Republican will say he is, for he denies the
protection of the flag But will Mr.. Douglas say he
is free? presume not What protects my right?
The flag. Why and how? Because, by fiction of
law, it floats over the TERRITORY (the deck) of my
country If this be So will that flag protect
in the same property when it floats over the actual
territory of my country, where there is no munich
| pal law to prohibit me from being there with my
slave? say it viii, and would be glad to be cor
reeted fairly IN this argument II | am wrong lap
plausel
VOICES on the border of the crowd. HHurrah for
Douglass douglas foreTerl'
Mr.. MARSHALL. Ali my good friends, stand up and
hear sound argument and don't attempt to escape by
hurrah. 1t looks like sticking to your man in
spite of your principles
VOICES again. Hurrah for Douglas!
Mr. MARSHALL Well, there is fact will call
your attention to: You Douglas men who would dis
turb us are tonight where you will be in November
on the OUTSIDE OF CROWD. Immense laughter
and appause.]
A VOICE. Win you answer me question: civil
question!
Mr. MARSHALL Yes, if you will show your face
SAME. Have you abandoned your Amerieanism to
support John Breckenridge!
Mr.. MARSHALL No. My principles as an Amerl-
can are as warmly cherished by as they ever
were. and shall always believe that the best inter-
ests of my country would have been subserved by
adopting an amendment of our naturalization laws
and limiting suffrage to citizenship everywhere. l
cannot make the law by myself and other men,
calling themselves Americans have abandoned that
organization. | am just much American this
moment as have been, and all the time, as an
American, advocated, in Congress and out of Con-
gress the identical doctrines / advocate here this
night II have hope that ali true Americans who
like me, love the Union, will 90 with me now as
they have done heretofore, and, by giving to Mr.
Breckenridge hearty ard unequivOcal support will
lend helping hand to the maintenance of principles
which lie at the very base of the peace and union of
these States.
Itmay be proper, since have been thus question
ed that should say here that not seeking TO en-
ter the Democratic organization. l differ with Mr..
breckenridge upon many questions, perhaps, of pub
lie policy, but there arc many upon which agree.
have great confidence IN MS Of honOr-in his
integrity as gentleman-ln his circumspectiOn and
caution as a statesman-in his freedom from the
impulses OF sudden passion-n his deep devotion to
the Union-and his clear perceptions of the right
and wrong whenever he shall be called to choose
between them. have marked him closely in the
high Office he has filled under this administration.
1t has not required him to do much, but there is a
very high merit and it requires high qualifications
IN an elevated station, to do nothing and to do it
handsomely. Little men always fail at this, because
they cannot repress their desire to have hand in
the Administration.
Ifeel that the existing condition of affairs has i'm
posed upon Mr.. Breckenridge still response
bic position than any TO which he has yet been call
ed by the people. His candidacy for the presidency
asserts the principles the part of all the States
of the equal particpancy of all the people of the
States in the common domain bought by their COM
mon blood and treasure. 1t asserts the constItu-
tional rights Of mnorties it represses the domna-
ton Of mere numbers it enforces the great prnci-
pies advocated by Clay and Webster, and of which
have been humble advocate ever since 1850. |
Therefore sustain his nomination and while take
nothing back of my Cwn views on other questions
while ask nothing, and expect nothing, in the
event of his success for he has political friends
nearer to him than | am, who are better qualified
and have higher claims than ID say here that in
the contest it is shaped at present ne will have no
friend more ardent than shall be- Or whose plume
will be forward in the fight for the assurance
of that safety of the Union which has been so highly
jeOparded by pressing forward in this crisis those
illogical points which distinguish from first to last
the unfortunate doctrine of squatter sovereignty
1lley never Will DG dCCepLeu
Southern democrats have always denied their eXis-
tence in their platform, and they stand ready
to resist them. l extend the hand of true fellow
ship In the contest will do my best to sustain the
rights which our people enjoy under the Constitution
| am no extremist love the Union-I will fight |
for the UniOn-I would die for the Union-but will
never betray the equal rights Of people in the
Union. SObery and quietly say to you that love |
my wife and children, who are now in my Kentucky !
home; but rather would see them turned into the
woods to live among the forests of our hills without
shelter from the Storm than to enjoy the comforts
which now surround them, if these are to be pur-
chased by the surrender and sacrifice of the conSt
tutiOnal rights of our people | am among the |
humblest of that people. l hope to die on the soil
of Kentucky, but would prefer to De exile from
my native country than to live upon it, deprived of
my birthright We will have equality. tell you
our people will have equality under the Constitution
and no human power, no party ties, no political |
watchwords, no personal resentments or disappOint
ments, will make them abandon their own rights |
Mr.. Webster embraced this whole question ten |
years ago. His speech in the Senate in 1850 in TWEEN
ty lines contains all have advanced upon this |
question of territorial sovereignty and of protection
TO property in the Territories. keep that speech |
always by me, and will close these remarks by |
reading to you what the great man of New England !
said in 1850 on these questions. Where he stood III
that speech stand now, and 1t is Interesting to OBJ
serve how far Northern sentiment has advanced /
how steadily Southern sentiment has settled upon |
the true ground. We will not be diverted from it. |
We VIII yet maintain 1t FIRMLY and with success
The step in the true direction is rally upon Brock
inrIdge and Lane, without regard to party.
Mr.. Marshall then read the following extract from |
Mr.. Webster's speech; after which he retired with |
applause, and the stand was then occupied by Hon. /
Mr.. Burnett, of Kentucky:
1.-THE argument Is; that by possibility it may be-
come necessary to pass laws respecting slavery, If !
it shall ever exist there Now, suppose that the /
amendment proper to be introduced for the purpose
which has been signifed by the gentlemen who have
spoken would be to strike out those words, and to /
say that the territorial legislature shall have
thOrity to pass any law for establishing excluding
slavery in the territory. 1t appears to that this
is the upshot of the whole matter. That is very
proper, because l take it that the meaning of the
whole is that this question shall be left to the peO
pie of the State to decide after it becomes
egnty by admission into the Union on the foot
ing with the original States. 1t may then be ques
ton for the people themselves to decide, because
take it to be clear that it is municipal question. 1t
is question for the decision of the people IN their
State sovereignty, and there may be propriety-
there certainly is no ImprOpriety-in excluding the
exercise of any power in the territorial govern
ment for the establishment or exclusion of slavery.
"It has been advanced that these people, while
Territory. have a right to do anything and every
thing that belongs to the rights of man. cannot
bat ba,ra