Gazette and sentinel., 1860-09-22

canvass? These | will discuss before l am
done; but before | proceed further, | will
group together and answer a 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 i am
connected.
1t begets in me almost a feeling of humilia-
ton to answer some of them, but as i have
imposed upon myself the task, l will go
through them all as briefly as l can. CHEERS. }
A voice-"Go it John"
l believe it has been published in almost
every Southern newspaper Of the Opposition
party, that l signed a petition for the pardon
of John Brown, the Harper's Ferry murderer
and traitor. This is wholly untrue. So much
for that. (Cries of good" and some APP
plause.)
1t has been extensively charged and circu-
lated that | was in favor of the election OF
the election of Cas- and Butler. This also is
wholly untrue.
In the year 1917 there was a meeting in the
city of Lexington, in which l participated, by
which Gen. Taylor was recommended for the
Presidency of the United States. a differ
ence of opinion existed at that time rs to the
political sentiments of that distinguished gen.
tleman.
L was assured upon grounds satisfactory to
me, that they conceded with my own political
opinions, and l united in the meeting. Pretty
soon afterwards l went to Mexico. When
returned, twelve months afterwards, in 1873,
| found the campaign in full blast, with lay
Tor for the Wings, and Cass and Butler in
nomination by the National Democracy. II
is well known to thousands of those that L am
-. -1l---.-- 49, - -,A. n- rnttfrnnl
home | took the stump in behalf of the Dem
~ocratic nominees, and maintained the princi-
piles and doctrines of the Democratic party in
the election of the State to the best Of my
ability. "a voice-"A All right.") And | was
not afraid to do it, because they were the rep
resentatives of my principles and you may
Judge of my zeal, US one of those gentlemen
was my old commander and my friend. 1t Is
/ also said that | was not present at Lexington.
and did not vote at the election in 1913. Thai
is true; but with that has gone an explanation
which nv opponents never have published,
and which is entirely satisfactory-shOwine
that it was not my intention to lose my vote,
| after having canvassed as energetically as
could in their behalf. l happened to be alb
sent from the city. You all know, at thai
time. as a citizen | could vote in any part o
the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
}, 1t was before the adoption Of the presen'
Constitution. l was out hunting, but on the
morning of the election my horse was saddleC
and l was going to the county town TO vote
1t so happened that there were six or eigh'
gentlemen in my company, all of them be
longing to the Wing party. They proposed
TO me, if l would have a hunt that day, OF
accompany them TO the hunt, they would no
/, 90 the polls and vote, and if / went to thu
: county town and voted they would do likewise
, and there would be seven or eight votes cas-
for Taylor and but one for Cass and Butler.
accepted the proposition, laughter and W
went a hunting, %(renewed laughter and /
q every man in the Commonwealth had done q
we'll as myself, we would nave carried tn
: State by forty thousand majority. Applause.
Among those gentlemen with me on that oc
. %casion, l remember the names of my friend
Thomas S. Redd, Nelson Dudley, and Geo. I
: Jewett, citizens, and all well known to you
\ To them / refer if anything is wanted to for
tify this statement beyond my word. Is no
: that u dead charge?
: Another charge which has been extensivel,
q circulated throughout the Southern States, as
I serts that l was an E~mancipationist in 1S49
or at least voted for an Emancipationist a
: some time.
Gentlemen, in connection with that / feel
r my duty to call your attention to a pape
which l received yesterday evening from on
n of the Southern States, published in Tuskee
gee, in Alabama, which contains aletter writ
i ten by one of our own eminent citizens to
citizen of that State in reference 10 my owl
: private business and my own affairs. / shat
e comment upon it briefly, with all due respec
a to the character Of the gentleman from WHOM
d it emanated. 1t is "A letter written by tn
q Hon. George Robertson, of Lexington. l re
|. ceived the paper last evening, and requisite
two gentlemen, my friends, to call upon tina
9 gentleman and ask if it was genuine. TIL
h letter reads thus:
"John c. Breckenridge has not been counte
o here an Emancipationist, however much Ia
may have been suspected by some for sympa
thy with his uncle, the Rev. Robert j. Breck
inridge. He does not occupy a house i
a town, and owns no slaves, unless he retain
two that came by his wife. l know nothin
concerning the investments in Ohio, of whic
@ you inquire. But we all know here that b
< was committed to Squatter Sovereignty eve
! since his nomination in 1856, until 6ndin
e that Douglas would overwhelm him in tn
North, he changed his creed, and in his speec
v at Frankfort last winter, ETC."
As to the personal part that relates to m
d private affairs, / have only to say, l don
v envy the gentleman who could be engaged i
writing over the United States touching til
rs private affairs of any man. The gentlema
N is mistaken, but l won't merit your contemI
by going into my private affairs. Great az
Al ~plause, and voices good and "that
manly.") That part of it which relates
N Squatter Sovereignty, 1 will attend to in th
1t proper place, but Iamnowu upon the question
Emancipation. "John G. Breckenridge h;
not been counted mere an EmancipatiOnis
however much he may have been suspected b
some for sympathy with his uncle"
a If there is an individual from the county
Fayette, or the city Of Lexington here to-da
y within the sound of my voice, who ever hear