Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-08-09

and recommitted to the Ways and Means The committee
reported back the same BILL and entrusted Mr. Breckin
ridge with Its management In the House. 1t was vigorous
ly resisted The discussion lasted several weeks Mr.
Breckenridge was always at bis post answering objections
speeches from friends turning OF the hostility of opponents
by kindly word and finally with scarcely Inc loss of
In The course of the debate Mr. Breckenridge said am
perfectly aware Mr. Chairman of the responsibility which
through committee [of Whole and that would
be impossible having the bill in charge to engage in
levant and heated dscussi rs"
Upon the advent of the Know Nothing party Mr. Breck
nre the first to take the stump in Kentucky
it. There he laid down the broad proposition that all men,
citizens by our laws were&qual and that distinction
made account of birth creed with the
principles of our government and tended to overthrow the
liberties of our country and in Congress he made the first
speech upon the subject in which, standing this
position he exposed in most mastery manner the faacy
and destructive tendencies of its creed as at war with the
social relations OF e and fatal blow aimed al civil and
religious liberty.
In a debate on bin reported by Mr. Wentworth, of
Massachusetts, the Sd March, 1856 to prevent the i'm
portaton of certain classes of foreigners to this country
after able exposition of its absurdity and iDjus Mr.
Breckenridge said
~ do not propose to enlarge this subject. regard
this bill of the fruits Of the proscrpve feeling which
Just pervadrg this country. know it is popular.
and know it is sweeping like hurricane from one end OF
the country to the other but it is in conflict with the
willing to oppose my hand to it, and await the tine
when there shall be reaction in the public sentiment as
know there will be. want the gentlemen OF this House to
know that they vote for this b they draw distinction
between the poor and the rch allow only the latter class C
like negro going from plantation to another.
The reaction public sentiment which Mr. Brecknridge
sagacity foresaw, quickly came when Know N0thngsm
vanished before the light of investigation like the mIsts OF
the morning before the rising
In general debate MIR. Breckenridge discussed IN a
philosophical and elaborate some of the greatest
questions of the day. aLd distinguished himself by his hand
Ohand encounters @h the most expererced Eadators Of
the House Thus, in the discussion between hm and nj r.
Fl. Marshall the real issue 80 directly and Vigorously
thrust back by the forper that Notwithstanding Mr. Mars
halls great logical and fertility of resource the
equilibrium OF the contest fully restored Mr. Brock
that the latter ecey denied the power OF the federal
ernment to enact augve slave law or to enp" the force
of the country to enforce it, But he particularly sgnaz
ed his fidelity his friends and principles by his defence OF
the galent soldier of Kentucky Gene al William ~ Butler
and of long array of able and experienced statesmen at
tackled in the January and February numbers OF the Dem
ocratc Review, 1852. The of General Butler had
been presented the Democracy of Kentuckyas nominee
for the Presidency. Francis P Blair having III this event
signifed his intention for him, General Butler
falsely charged with being infected with free soil sentiments
and indeed with having formed coalition with the Free
Sellers These charges epeatedand grossly exaggera
ted in the February number OF The Democratic Review
An incidental ausion having made the floor of the
House the Islander against General Butler Mr.. Brecku
RIDGE on the Sd March 1882 rose III his Vndlcaton ana
that OF the other statesmen vied and sandered IN the
Democratic Review. The letter of General Butler the
| subject, which endorsed by Mr. ecknrdge, and
which the latter read to the House sound nation
enuncation constitutional rights and principles
to forever rest the infamous Islander uttered against
him. Taking the sentiments of this letter in regard to the
Territorial question: which endorsed and defended by
Mr. Breckndge in connection with the several speeches OF
the latter and especially his speech in the House OF Re
Nebraska Bill it will be found that the question of the equal
right of the several States participate n the enjoyment
adoped june as by the
party which put MIR Breckenridge in nomination.
At the risk of suhecng ourselves to the impuatlon OF
presenting this question out OF its regular order will
consider Mr. Brecknrdges view in regard to the slavery
question.
General Butler in his letter Mr.. Brecknridge said
6 In few years wild Territories will become
prosperous States and each 81 ite will settle within It's own
borders the question OF slavery by
That question In the meantime the right OF the
contendng parties whether real or imaginary Will remain
unmpaired"
Thus carly day. the veteran hero and statesman of
Kentucky and his champion the floor of the House clear
enuncated the great principle held this day by the Ma
onal Democracy the question of slavery in the Ter
rtores be settled by constitutional enacments
their admission States into the Federal Union In the
speech of Mr. Brecknidge the Kansas snd Nebraska
BILL delivered the House of Representative the 23d of
March, 1884 the souDdest and most enlarged views are given
upon the subject Of territorial power. Not sentence to
be found this speech conflict with the platform of the
National Democracy in june 1860 with the speech of
Mr. Breckenridge at Frankfort accepting the office of Sen
Congress- to which he had just been elected by the
Legislature of Ken'ucky.
This speech remarkable for its clear statement Of the
legislation of at critical periods of history and
its powerful analysis of the motives aid of
ties The compromise of 1920 simply plan of adjust
ment ward off threatened peril to country. 1t
abridged southern rights. 1t gave to the North undue in
fuence and ascendency Yet MIR nrdge showed that
repeatedly violated by the parties under and
abolition Influences that repeated epochs of his
torythe admission of Mssour-the annexation of Texas
there had been exhibited the part of the great Democra
tic party of our country fixed determination to abide by
it, The great struggle 1850, when that compromise
was ramped under foot by the refusal to extend the line
SO deg 80 min to the Pacific and the issue was Joined be-
those who insisted upon Congress prohibiting slavery
in the Territories and those who demanded that the que
ton of slavery in the Territories houd be left to the
pie who nhab them, subject only the Federal Consttu
ton. This latter principle prevailed 1t determined
that all parties should abide by the decisions of the courts
in the matter of the title of to his slaves the Ter
rorles Thus these compromise measures OF 1850 pracl
cay repealed the Missouri compromise line and established
the principles of the Kansas aska and of the plat
form of the National Democracy Of 1850
Referring to the compromise of 1850 Mr. Breckindge,
the speech alluded to- said:
But by the other construction THAT it permanent
pocyl it was indeed final settlement settlement Whcf
disturb our domestic tranquility, and leaves Congress
the tdre nothing to do in connection with it, except to
ply the established principles the occasions arise. No
sir; whatever some gentlemen may say now the people
were not guilty of the folly imputed to them by the oppo
nents of this bill Their patriotic accamatOns went up tc
Heaven act of healing craftsmanship, not pc
tical job They accepted those not truce
to faction, but as bond of lasting concord.
Again, speaking Of the compromises of 1920 and 1850
They 1.-THE aboitionists opposed both these settlements
They Will adhere to neither III good faith but will appeal
purposes " These are the questions tC
be decided good faith by those who recognize compro
misses something more important and durable than ordi
acts of legislation While for those who opposed then
BOTH and who spurn all settlements touching slavery the
less that said either OF compromise or of faith the
better" " Such not the sense IL
that great f 1851 was Soo f5te by the
agitators Who faithful to the compromise of 1850 p
In discussing principles of the Kansas and Nebraska
bill, Mr.. Breckenridge used the following expressions
" The effect of the repeal missouri compromise ne,I
therefore, is neither to establish to exclude Slavery
but to leave the future condition of the Territories
dent wholly the action of the inhabitants subject only
such limitations the federal Constitution may impose
IL 1T will be observed that the right OF the
people to regulate in their way all their domestic in
stutons left wholly untouched except that whatever
done be accordance with the Consti uton the
preme law for ALL And the rights of property under the
Constitution we'll legislative action properly left tc
the decision Of the federal judiciary.
"Then, neither the purpose effect Of the bill tC
legislate slavery into Nebraska and Kansas but its effect
this vestige of dctaton On this
subject allow the
territory with the Constitution and the bill alone
hands, and to remit the decision of their rights under
both the of the country Who before his
stituens refusing to stand the platform of the Consttu
ton? Who make to them of refusing to abide
the decision of the courts of the Unionr'
After discussing the relations between the General Gov
eminent and the Territories he thus sets forth the principle