New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-09-06
rIr. Breckenridge ON the Stump.
HIS SPEECH AT LEXINGTON.

were crowded with people. At II o'clock salute Of
80 guns announced the arrival of Ar. Breckenridge.
He was hailed with enthusiastic demonstration. At
II 20 clock he arose and said:
beg you, my neighbors, friends, aud old consttu
ens TO be assured that feel profoundly grateful for
the cordial welcome you have extended to me. The
circumstances under which / appear before you
novel and unusual. do il in obedience to the request
of friends whose int igence have been accustomed
10 observe; and if it be uncommon thing for per-
In my position 10 address assemblies of people
OILY say hops to discuss topics in a manner not
altogether unworthy the attitude which / occupy I
shai certainly indulge in no language, which, in nv
opnion will fa below the dignity of political discus
sion. The condition of my health and my position
make it impossible to extend my voice over this vast
assembiage; but trust will become stronger as ]
proceed. have been asked fellow. citizens to speak
at my own home, because and the political organize
ton with which am connected, have been assaled in
al unusual manner, and charged with treason TO
my country. i appear before you to-day for the
purpose of repeling certain accusations which
have been made against me personally, and in-
dUstriously circulated through other States Of the
Unioni and Iext to show that the principles
upon which stand the principles Of both the Con-
sution and Union of our country, great applaqsel,
and surely if at any tine the justification could be
found by any for addressing the people in the posi-
ton which i occupy, IL will be found in my case.
Anonymous writers and wandering orators have
cho,eD TO tell the people that l. individually dis
unioDist and traitor to my country and they declare
with assurance that have exhibited treason, that
makes by comparison with II Burr patriot, and the
memory OF Arnold respectable but, feow-citizens,
before come 10 these topics / desire TO make and
prove comprehensive statement in regard TO my posi-
ton in connection with the Presidency of the United
States. have been charged with premature ambi-
ton. ] have been charged with intriguing for the
DOm1 atom have been charged with eapicg before
the wishes Of the people, and desiring TO thrust myself
before them for the highest Office In their gift. To
that answer it is wholly untrue. / have written TO
nobody soliciting support; have conversed with no
body soli,itiDg support have intrigued with nobody
! have promised nobody. To these statements chal-
lenge contradiction from any human being. Cheers
A voice-That 60 John c.
voice-Optn your mouth wider.
Mr. B-I did not seek or desire TO be placed before
tie people for the office of President by any Cory ven
ton When returned 10 the State OF Kentucky in the
Spring of 1859, and was informed that some partial
friends were presenting my nsme TO the public In that
connection, ard certain editor whose presence !
here had hosed my name for the Pres deucy said to
him friend am moi IN any sense candidate for the
Pre- sdercy and desired that my might be taken
down from the head Of your columns. 1t was done.
very eminent citizen of the Commonwealth of Ken
lucky presented for that office. grati6od to
see IL al as far as my own declarations were con-
cerned united cordially in presenting him for the suf
frages Of the American people. No time in out of
the Commonwealth of Kentucky, did ! do an act or
utter ord which would bring my in conflict
with his any other American citizen who desired, or
hose friends desired for him that position and if you
will take the trouble TO read the proceedings of the
Charleston Convention, you will remember when re-
ceved the vote of Arkansas, one OF my friends arose
and withdrew my name, declaring would not allow it
to come in conflict with this gentleman before the Con-
veLrion.
When that Convention assembled at Baltimore my
feelings and my conduct We're still unchanged. After
the disruption which took place there, my name was
used without any solicitation on my part Not
deeming the presentation of my name possible, said
did not desire TO be presented TO the American people,
was content with the hoDors which had been heaped
upon me by my State aid my country, and looked
UQFdx tn had nf
my country III the Senate Of the United States for the
next si4 years. Ny name, however was presented,
and felt could not refuse TO accept ths nomination
III der the circumstances without abandoning vital
principles and betraying my friends. 1t ia said was
not tgulaIly nominated and that an eminent citizen
Of Illinois was regularly nominated for the Presidency;
but that is ques ion have not time to discuss TO day
and it has already been thoroughly exhibited and dis
cusssd upon before the people. refer you TO the bold
letter of your delegates from this Congressional Die
tIict. i rsfcr you TO the mastery and exhaustive
speech recently delivered by my honorable friend in
whose grounds we now met. | can OILY cay
that the Convention which assembled at the
Front-street Theater at Baltimore. in my
Judgment was devoid, not only the spirit Of justice
but Of the forms of regularity. tCheers. Tue gen.
teman whom il presented received the vote re-
quiIed by the rules of the Democratic org inzauon
Whole States were excluded and dstranchsed III that
Convention, not 10 speak of individual. The most
grant If injustice perperated for the pur-
pose of forming particular dogma upon the Demo-
cratic organization, and the gentleman wac Is the rep.
rGEendtlve OF mat vi
principles which will be able to show repuguan al Ike
TO reason snd the Constitution. decided ma Orty OF
the delegates from your own State withdrew from tue
Convention, declaring that 1t was not National Con-
yentiOn of the real Democratic organization. The
entire delegation from the fifteen Southern
States and Of California and Oregon, with
large minorities from other States, making
in whole or In part deli cations from almost twothirds
of the States of the CoDfedeIacy. 1t represented
National Democratic Convention, pending upon the
authority aud loyalty of the Democratic party But,
after ALL The great question is what the principles
which Ought to commend themselves TO the American
people at In This canvass! These / Will discuss
before an done; but before proceed further, will
group Ogeh her and answer number OF personal accu
snicns, fome Of which emsnated in the State OF Ken
tn, ky, and others sewhere by which through me II
is attempted TO strike down the organization with
which am connected 1t begets in me almost feel
ing of humiliation TO sgme OF them but as
have imposed upon myset the task, i viii answer
them all briefly az j can.
A Voice" Go it, John"
Mr. B.-I believe it has been published in almost
every Southern newspaper Of the Opposition party
that signed petition for the paId IN OF John Brown
the HarperG Ferry murderer and traitor This Is un
tue. So much for that. Cries OF good II has been
extensively charged and circulated that was IN favor
OF The election Of Gen Taylor 10 the Presidency and
was opposed to the election Of Cass and Butler This
a'so is wholly untTu3. In the year 1917 there wac
Il eetirg 10 the Guy Of Lexington in which parhc.
mated aid in which Gen. Taylor recommended
Tor the Presidency of the United States difference
of opinion existed at that time 6s 10 the political 5en
ments Of that distinguished gentleman. was assured
upOn grounds satisfactory to me that they CONCEDED
with NV own political opinions, and / united in the
meeting Pretty soon afterward | went to Mexico
When returned, twelve months afterward, III 1915;
founc the campaign i'll full blast with Taylor as the
Wing ard Case AZ the Democratic candidate. IL IL
well known 10 thousands of those within the sound OF
INV Voice hat az coon az returned home took the
stump i'll behalf of the Democracy and maintained lts
doctrines 10 the beet of my ability.