The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-09-19
SPEECH
Hos JOHN c. BRECKENRIDGE,
DeEiversd at Ashland, Kentucky ssptembe,
S. 1860

beg you, nv neighbors, friends and old
constituents to be assured that feel pro-
fohndly gratified for the cordial welcome you
have extended to me. The circumstances un
der which appear before you are novel and
unusual / do it in obedience to the request
of friends whose wishes have been accustom-
ed to observe, and if it be an uncommon thing
for person in my position to address assem-
blies of the people, l can only say | hope to
discuss the topics which are in manner not
altogether unworthy the altitude which ] &C.
cupy. I shall certainly indulge in no Ian
guage which, in my opinion, viii fall below the
dignity of political discussion.
The condition Of my health makes it impos-
sible that | can extend my voice over this
vast assembly, but I trust l will become
stronger as / proceed. / have been asked,
fellow citizens, to speak at my own home, be-
cause and the political organization with
which am connected, have been assailed in
an unusual manner and charged with treason
to our common country. appear before you
to- day, for the purpose, first, Of repeling GER
tain accusations which have been made against
me personally, and industriously disseminated
over other States of the Union, and next to
show that the principles Of both the Ccnstitu-
ton and Union Of our country, [great ap-
plause and a voice. 'That's right, John,
give it to 'em y surely, if at any time a JUS
tification could be found by any man for adj
dressing the people in the position which |
occupy, it will be found in my case. Anony-
nous writers and wandering orators have
chosen to tell the people that |, individually,
am diSunionists and traitor to my country,
and they declare, that in the form that have
exhibited that treason it makes, by compari-
son with it, Burr patriot, and the memory
of Arnold respectable But, fellow citizens,
before ! come to these topics, [ desire to
make brief and comprehensive statement In
regard to my position and feelings in connec-
ton with the Presidency of the United States.
have been charged with premature am
bition | have been charged with having IN
trigued for this nomination. hayedeen char
ged with leaping before the wishes of the peo-
pie and desiring to thrust myself before them
for the highest office in their gift. To that /
answer that it is wholly untrue. Ihave con-
versed with nobody soliciting support | have
written to nobody soliciting support have
intrigued with nobody. have promised no.
body To these statements l challenge con-
tradiction from any human being. Cheers
A voce-"That's so, John c."
y FOlCt- opSI yOuE hiuCl
Nay more | did not seek or desire to be
placed before the people for the office of Presi-
dent by any Convention, or any part OF any
Convention.
+ When returned to the State of Kentucky
in the spring of 1859, / found that some par
tal friends were presenting my name to the
public in that connection, and that the editors
of certain presses in the State had hoisted my
e., 4to I RI m
friends, 81 am not in any sense candidate"
| have in my eye more than one conductor of
a public journal to whom wrote private let
| lers requesting that my name be taken down
| from the head oftheir sheets. 1t was done.
A very eminent citizen OF the Common
wealth of Kentucky was presented by his
friends for that office. | was gratifed to see
| it, and SO far as my own efforts and conduct
were concerned, united cordially in present
| ing him for the suffrages Of the American peo-
| pie. At no time, in or out of the Common,
wealth of Kentucky, did do an act, or utter
a word which would bring my name in con-
| flict with his or any other American citizen
who desired, orrw hose friends desired for him,
| that position. If you take the trouble to read
| the proceedings of the Charleston Convention,
you will remember that when my name was
presented and received the vote of the State
| OF Arkansas, one of my friends arose and
withdrew my name, declaring that | would
| not allow my name to come IN opposition TO
/ those of the gentlemen before the Convention;
| and when that Convention re-assembled at
Baltimore, my feelings and my conduct were
unchanged. After the disruption which took
| place there, my name, without any solicita
ton on my part, was presented, (and no mod
| est man presumed his name would be pre-
sented) | said did not desire to be presented
| to the American people, but / am content
with the honors which have been heaped upon
me by my State and my country, and | look
forward with pleasure to the happy prospects
had, Observing my country in the Senate
of the United States, for the next six years"
My name, however, was presented, and felt
aa siasa the &c er asa bandonng
vital principles and betraying my friends.
1t is said | was not regularly nominated,
and that an eminent citizen of Illinois was re-
gularly nominated for the Presidency. But
that is question have not time to discuss
to-day, and it has already been thoroughly
exhausted in discussion before the people. I
refer you to the bold and able letter Of the
delegate from this Congressional District. I
refer to the mastery and exhaustive speech
lately delivered by my noble friend in whose
grounds we are met. can only say that the
Convention which assembled at Front Street
Theatre. at Baltimore, in my judgment, was
devoid not only of the spirit of justice, but of
the forms of regularity. CHEERS
The gentleman who was presented never
received the vote required by the Democratic
organization. Whole States were excluded
and DISTINGUISHED in that Convention, not to
speak ofindividuais. The most fragrant acts
ofinjustice were perpetrated, and that for the
purpose of forcing a particular dogma upon
the Democratic party. (of which l will speak
particularly 4hereaffer) and to force the gentle
man upon the country who is the representa-
tive of that dogma of principles, which will
be able to show is repugnant alike to reason
and the Constitution. So improper did these
proceedings become that decided majority Of
the delegates from your own State withdrew
from the Convention, declaring it was no lon
ger National Convention of the National
Democracy.
Almost the entire delegation from the South.
ern States of the Union-the entire deIega- |
tons from California and Oregon, with large
minorities from other States, making in whole |
or in part delegations from almost two-thirds |
of the States of the Confederacy, repudiated it |
as National Democratic Convention, binding
upon the party loyalty of the Democracy
But, after ALL the great question is what are |
the principles which ought to commend them
selves to the American people, at issue in this |
canvass These will discuss before | am
done; but before l proceed further, | viii
group together and answer number of per-
sonal accusations, some Of which emanated in /
the State of Kentucky, and others elsewhere,
by which, through me, it is attempted to
strike down the organization with which l am
connected.
1t begets in me almost feeling oil humilia-
ton to answer some of them. but as / have
imposed upon myself the task, | will 60 4
through them all as briefly as can. Cheers
A voice-"Go it John.''
" Ibelieve it has been published in almost
every Southern Newspaper of the Opposition
party, that I signed a petition for the pardon
of John Brown, the Harper's Ferry murderer
and traitor. This is wholly untrue. So much
for that tGries of good, and some ap.
1t has been extensively charged and circula-
ted that ] was in favor of the election Of Gen.
Taylor to the Presidency, and opposed to the
election Of Cass and Butler. This also is
wholly untrue.
In the year 1647 there was a meeting in
the city of Lexington, in which participated,
by which Gen. Taylor was recommended for
the Presidency Of. the United States. A diff
ference Of opinion existed at that time as to
The political sentiments of that distinguished
gentleman. ag
/ was assured upon grounds satisfactory to 4
me, that they conceded with my own political
opinions, and united in the meeting. Pretty
soon afterwards went to Mexico When
returned, twelve months afterwards, in 184S,
| found the campaign in full blast, with Tay-
or for the Wings, and Cass and Butler in no.
by the National Democracy. 1T is
we'll known to thousands of those that am
low addressing, that as soon as / returned
lome Itook the stump in behalf of the DEM
ratio nominees, and maintained the princi-
,les and doctrines of the Democratic party.
n the election Of the State to the best Of my
bility. voice-"All right."l And was t,
lot afraid to do it, because they were the. re.st
of my principles; and you may
Judge OF my zeal, as one of those gentlemen |
vas my old commander and NV G;ar1 n In