The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-09-27
OFFICIAL PAPER OF THE PARISH OF oUACH1rA.

Nss....s.s....-.-..~.-.s.>
s. SP EECH
HON. J. G. BRECKINRlDGE.
DELIVERED AT ASHLAND, KY, SEPT. &
HE REVIEWS THE wHeGE GROUND. AND REPLIES
TO ALL CHARGES AGAINST HIM, PERSONAL AND
POLITICAL.
beg you, my neighbors friends and Old con
stituents, to be assured that r feel profoundly
grateful for the cordial welcome you have cS-
tended to me. The circumstances under which
appear before you are novel and unusual.
do 1t in obedience TO the request of friends whose
intelligence have been accustomed to observe
and if it be an uncommon thing for person in
my position to address assemblies of Mpplc, |
can only say hope to discuss topics which are
in manner not altogether unworthy the atti-
tude which OCCUPY. shall certainly indulge
in no language which, in my opinion, will fall
below the dignity of political discussion.
1ne condition OF my health and my position
make It impossible that can extend my voice
over this vast assembly, but trust 1 will be-
come stronger as proceed. Ihave been asked,
tellow-citlzens. to speak at my own home, be-
cause | and the political Organization with
which am connected, have been assailed in an
unusual manner, and charged with treason to my
country. appear before you to-day, for the
which have been made against me personally
and industriously, through other States Of the
Union, and next, to show that the principles
upon which l,stand are The principles of both
the Constitution and the Union of our country,
(great applause,) and surely, fiat any time the
justification could be found by any man for ad-
dressing the people in the position which oc.
cupy, it will be found in my case. Anonymous
writers and wandering orators have chosen to
tell the people that ], individually, am q dis
unlonlst and traitor to my country, and they
declare, with this assurance affirm, that have
exhibited a treason that makes by comparison
with it, Burr patriot, and the memory of Ar
mold respectable; but, fellow -citizcns, before |
come to these topics, desire to make and prove
comprehensive statement in regard to nv no.
sition in connection with the Presidency Of the
United States.
have been charged with premature ambi-
ton i have been charged with intriguing for
the nomination. have been charged with leap
ing before the wishes Of the people and dcsir-
ing TO thrust myself before them for the highest
office in their gift To that answer that it is
wholly untrue. ! have written to nobody So
liciting support have intrigued with nobody.
have promised nobody. To these statements
| challenge contradiction from any human be-
ing. (Cheers) ~
A voicc-"That's so, John C-.n
A voice" Open your mouth wider"
did not seek nor desire to be placed before
the people for the office of President by any
convention, or any part ofany convention
When returned to the State of Kentucky in
the spring of 1859, and was informed that some
fai tial trends were presenting my name to the
puotc IN that connection, and q certain editor.
whose presence see here in this State, had
hoisted my name for the Presidency, l said to
MN, ~ am not III any sense a candidate for the
Presidency, and desired that my name might
be taken down from the head ucthcir columns y
1t was done.
a very eminent citizen fthc Commonwealth
OF Kentucky was presented for that Office, |
was glatticd to see it, and as far us my own
declarations were concerned, united cordially
in presenting him for the suifrages of the Amc-
rican people. though no time in or out of the
Commonwealth Of Kentucky, did ] do an act.
OR utter word which would bring nv name in
conflict with his or any other American citizen
who desired, or whose friends desired for him,
that position; and if You take the trouble to
read the proceedings of the Charleston Convcn-
tlon. you Will remember that when I received
the vote OF Arkansas, one of my friends arose
and withdrew my name, declaring tina! would
not allow my name to come in opposition to
this gentleman before the convention; and
when that convention assembled at Baltimore.
my feelings and my conduct were still unchang-
cd. After the disruption which took place
there, my n;'lhc without any solicitation on my
part (and no modest man presumed his name
would be presented by couvcniion) l said II
did not desire TO be presented to The American
people, but am content with the honors which
have been heaped upon me by my State and!
my country, aud | look forward with pleasure
to the prospects | have Of serving my country
in the Senate of the United States for the next
SIX years" My name, however, was presented.
and felt could not refuse TO accept the nom
lnaton under the circumstances without allan
doning vital principles and betraying my
friends.
1t is said was not regularly nominated and
that an eminent citizen Of Illinois was regularly
nominated for the Presidency. But that is a
question have not time to discuss to day. and
it has already been thoroughly exhibited aud
discoursed upon before the people. lrcfcr Won
to the bold letter of your delegates from This
Congressional District. l refer you TO the mas
terly and exhaustive speech OF my friend on
whose grounds we are met. l 1can only say that
the convention which assembled al Front street
Ihealer, at baltlmEre, in my Judgment, was
~ 'io' ny VI 'uS eIllip VI JtSiICc puG OF
the forms of regularity. (Chccrs.)
The gentleman whom it presented never re-
ceivcd the vote required by the rules of Demo-
cratic organization. Whole States were cxclu-
ded and disfranchiscd in that convention, not
to speak of individuals. The most fragrant acts
ofinjustice were pcrpetrated for the purpose of
forcing particular dogma upon the Democra-
tic organization, and the gentleman who is rep
resentativc of that dogma Of principles, which
will be able to show is rcpugnant alike to
reason and the Constitution. Owing to the
mpropriety of those proceedings, a decided
majority OF the delegates Of your own State
withdrew from the convention, declaring that
it was not a National Convention of tile real
Democratic organization.
The entire delegations from the fifteen South
EN- States and Of California and Oregon, with
large minorilics from otheg States, making in
whole or iii part delegations from almost two.
third, OF the States Of the Contederacy, repre-
sontel National Democratic Conv vention mend.
ing upon the authority aud loyalty ofthe Dem
ocratic party. But after all. the great question
is. what are the principles which ought to com.
mend themselves to the American people at
issue in this canvass? These will discuss be.
fore am done but before proceed further
viii group together and answer number Of
personal accusations, some of which emanated
in the State Of Kentucky, and others elsewhere
by which, through inc. it is attempted to strike