The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-10-04

These principles have their root in the constitu-
ton, and no party can be sectional which main
tains constitutional principles none! none!
Are we to be driven from their main
tenance? Is this State. to be twisted
around the finger of politicians as they
would twist gum-elastic band upon
their finger? Are the people of Ken
lucky to turn their back upon the
principles which last year they felt to
be true?-Driven by loud and false
clamor? Are they to be bewildered
and staggered by cry from maintain
ing their right, and when Kentucky is
asked to express her own opinion as to
her rights, is the chivalry Of the Com
monwealth sunk so low TIT she dare
MOI assert it? Such were not the men
who lid the foundation Of the State.
Such were not your fathers in '9S.--
They took the lead in vindication Of
the truth. The New England States
stigmatizcd them as disunionists; but
undeterred they stood by their rights,
and inaug urated a political revolution
that preserved the true principle Of
our system. These were your fathers,
the men Of 1913. Now in 1860, the is
sue is distinctly presented TO you. Will
you express your own opinions Of the
equality Of your own State in the Un-
ion? Will you by your vote, assert
your own rights in the Confederacy ?
The Supreme Court of the United
States says you have them. You your.
selves have said you have them. In
every form in which you can express
your opinion to the world you have
claimed these rights. Here they are
embodied in this platform of principles.
Upon them are standing men who you
cannot deny to be true TO them, and
whose loyalty to the Cons citulion and
the Union of the country no man can
successfully attack. Then will you fly
from your own principles, as asserted
by yourselves, at the clangor of bells
and unreasonable orators ? That is
The issue presented to the people of
Kentucky
[voices--"Good," and applause.]
Fellow-citizens, can you bear with
me lite longer?
A voice--"Yes, week, go on."7
You mast allow me, then, to make
a few remarks in tone more subdu
ed, and l must apologize to you for the
loo~e way in which l am going on
smittcn as I am by sickness.
! know Of but ono political organi-
cation before the United States which
asserts the principles l have underta.
ken to vindic.te and defend. The r..
publican organization has taken pre-,
ci-cly opposite principles. They say
we have no right in the Tertitorie
with our property. They say Con
gross has right to exclude it, and ii
is ills duty to do so, and they ere will.
ling to see The Territorial Legislature
do it if Congress does not.
In regard to the Platform adopted
by the Convention which nominated
Mr. Bell, Of Tenn, and Mr.. Everett, of
Mass, l h"vc only to say, that certain
ly it announced no principle at all up
on the suhject-none whatever. Gen
tlemen tell us they are advocating the
claims of these distinguished gentle
men upon the principles Of the Consti.
tuition, the Union, and the enforcement
of the laws.
presume that there is scarcely a
man in this assembly, perhaps no one
North or South, who will admit that
he is against the Union, the Copstitu.
ton, and the enforcement Of the laws
but yet they entert lin the most diverse
and opposite opinions as to the best
mode of preserving the Union, of sus
tanning the Constitution, and as TO the
character Of laws which ought to he
passed. Mr.. Seward, of New York,
Mr.. Burlingame, OF Massachusetts, Mr.
Giddings, Of Ohio, and all those emf
ncnt gentlemen thoroughly identified
with the ultra anti.slavery party Of the
United States, will tell you that they
ale for the Union; but it is their OWL
sort of Union that they want. They
say they are for the Constitution but
they construe the Constitution so as
to take away all our rights. They
tell you they are for the enforcement
Of the laws; but they are for laws
which would take away our property
Cheers. For the Union, the Consti
tuition, and the laws, they shake hands
with yoa on that, but You cannot agree
on single thing under heaven after
wards. Laughter and cheers
Then this platform practically de
clares nothing. The platform which ]
have reed to you does contain q dis
tinct cnmciation of certain principles
which touch the rights Of property and
persons in the Territories, and we re
gard it to be the equal rights of the
States, and we want to know if tho
people Of Kentucky are ready to meet
the issue. We appeal to you, not il
behalf Of any individual, but to stand
by your own principles, founded OF
the Constitution of the country. Cries
Of "good"]
Now, if it be true that l am not 8
disunionist, and if be true that the
political principles advocate are moi
disunion principles, but are the princi
pies of the Constitution, is it not right
hard to establish disunion on SOUND
men with Constitutional principles
lCries of chats sol That, gentle
men, would seem to exhaust the sub
ject. Sound men with Constitutional
prinrip1nc which prinrinlaS b,x-o ON