The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-25

, or-in his integrity as a gentlenan-in hi
circumspection and caution as a statesman
: in his freedom. from the impulses of suddei
passion-in his deep devotion to the Union
! and his clear perception of the right anC
} wrong whenever he shall be called TO choos,
between them. / have marked him closely
in the high Office he has filed under this adj
miuistration. 1t has not required him to dc
much, but there is very high merit, and i
requires high qualifications, in an elevated
station, to do nothing and do it handsomely
Little men always fail at this, because they
cannot repress their desire to have hand in
the administration.
feel that the existing condition of affairs
has imposed upon Mr.. Breckenridge a still
more responsible position than any TO which
he has yet been called by the people. His
candidacy for the presidency asserts the prin-
ciples, on the part of all the States, of the
equal participancy of all the people of the
States in the common domain bought by their
common blood and treasure. 1t asserts the
constitutional rights of minorities; it repress-
es the domination of mere numbers it en-
forces the great principles advocated by Clay
and Webster, and of which have been an
humble advocate ever since 1850. There
fore sustain his nomination and while
take nothing back of my own views on 9th
er questions-while ask nothing, and ex-
pect 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 as it is shaped at present, he will
have no friend more ardent than | shall be,
or whose plume will be more 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 illog-
zeal points which distinguish, from first to
last, the unfortunate doctrine of "squatter
sovereignty" They never will be accepted
by the Southern people. Southern demo-
Gratis have always denied their existence in
their platform, and they now stand ready to
resist them. | extend the hand of true fell
lowship in the contest / will do my best to
sustain the rights which our people enjoy un-
der the Constitution. | am no extremest-I
love the Union--I will fight for the Union
but will never betray the equality of ourpeo-
pie in the Union. Sobcrly and quietly say
to you that love my wife aad 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 com
forts which now surround them, if these are
to be purchased by the surrender and sacri-
flee of the constitutional rights of our peo
pie. ! am among the humbcst of that peo-
pie hope to die on the soil of Kentucky;
but would prefer TO be an 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, anu no human power, no
party ties, no political watchwords, no per- !
sonal rcsentmeuts or disappointments, will
make them abandon their own rights. Mr. /
Webster embraced this whole question ten
years ago. His speech in the Senate in
$780, in twenty lines, contains all we 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 rea-
ding TO you what the great man of New
England said in 1850 On these questions.
Where he stood in that speech | stand now,
and it is interesting to observe how far North
ern sentiment has advanced, how steadily
Southern sentiment has settled on true
ground. We will not be diverted from it,
We will maintain it firmly and with success.
The step in the true direction is to rally up
on Breckenridge aud Lane, without regard to
party.
Mr.. Marshall then read the following ex-
tract from Mr.. Webster's speech after which
he retired with applause, and the stand was
occupied by Hon. Mr.. Burnett, of Kentucky:
"Thc argument is, that by possibility it
nav become necessary to pass laws respect
ing slavery, if it shall ever exist there. Now,
[ suppose that the amendment proper to be
for the purpose which has been
,ignifed by the gentlemen who have spoken
would be to strike out those words, and to
,av that the territorial legislature shall have
10 authority to pass any law for establishing
Or excluding slavery in the territory. 1t ap-
pears to me that this is the upshot of the
whole matter That is very proper, because.
take it that the meaning of the whole is
hat this question shall be left to the people
If the State to decide after it becomes a SOW
,reicnty by admission iuto the Union on the
same footing with the original States. 1t
nay then be question for the people them
selves to decide, because / take it TO be clear
hat it is a municipal question. 1t is ques-
ion for the decision of the people in their
State Sovereignty, and there may be pro-
certainly is no impropriety-