Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-13

9th inst From tnat paper VIC copy lSc"nero
the Official Report Of Gen. Mcdowell of the
great Battle Of Manassas. We copy also the
following from the same paper:
Speech Of the Hon. r. c. B~recsinridRe.
LARGE %coNcoURsE OF PEOPLE AT TIE EcFA"
OUTRAGEOUS sD DIseRAcEruL PROCEEDINGS
ENCOURAGED AND ApErTED By TUE >DopoE
Police Force.
The announcement that q serenade would DC
given to Messrs. Breckenridge and Vallandlg.
ham last evening attracted TO the Eutaw House
M immense assemblage Of persons long be-
fore tho hour appointed for the serenade. The
windows and balcony Of the Eutaw were
packed with ladies, whilst every available
space in the street surrounding the hotel was
crowded to excess. Mr.. Breckenridge was alb
sent in the early part Of the evening, but re-
turned to the hotel about half past nine o'clock,
when he was greeted with cheer after cheer by
the multitude.
A few minutes afterwards Mr.. Breckenridge
appeared on the balcony of the hotel fronting
on Eutaw street. when he was again cheereo.
he began by expressing his surprise MT the
demonstration, as he had not expected SO large
and so enthusiastic a meeting. lie presumed
the demonstration was o token of their conf
dence, personally and politically, and OF re.
spect for the quiet and temperate, but decioed
manner in which he had asserted the prtncl'
pies Of personal and political liberty IN
the Congress of the United States. The de.
tenders and friends Of the Constitution and OF
rights Of the States could hardly be heard.
The cry in Congress was faction, not WORDS
argument is exhausted; we want to know moth
ing of the origin and causes OF our dlthcui-
ties. But a small, undaunted band OF patriots
determined to bs heard; they attempted to call
the public mind 10 the present condition oil tho
country; to those principles Of personal and
public liberty which have existed, and will
continue to exist, whether the Union lives or
dies. Here the speaker was checred; but it
had hardly begun, when several vice.polIcemen
made an attack with their clubs upon a citizen
who proposed 'three cheers for JET. Davis"
The greatest uproar prevailed for about i've
minutes lie hoped that the few remarks he
had to deliver would bs heard in silence by his
friends and his foes. On this occasion he
would not undertake to discuss tue CAUSES OF
the present troubles, or the manner Of settle
ment; but he would speak Of the right Of the
people to the safe guards Of political and per.
sonal freedom. He said we were living to-day
under the broad shadow OF a spreading mill
tary despotism. He would repeat that he-a
Senator in Congress-was living under the
shadow of an irresponsible military despotism.
How is it in Maryland? [Cries Of That's
So" lie exhorted all to be quiet, and then
proceeded. Maryland was a State OF the
Union-a co.cqual member OF the contederacy.
TAnother premeditated assault was here made
upon tho citizens by the vice police, and a panic
was created which caused a portion OF the
great essemblage to retire for 4 moment They,
however, soon came back, and the rowdles
and vice. police, numbering in all about one
hundred, kept quiet for a while. One of the
rowdies called to Mr.. Breckenridge to lesve tho
stand or they would hang him.
Mr.. B. continued as follows: We will Stay
here and cannot be driven away. This uproar
don't disturb me. Kentuckiaus are used to
such things. rThe rowdies here proposed
three cheers for Kentucky" and hissed the
speaker. Now, if that enthusiastic little
squad on my right will listen, will recipro-
cate. propose three more cheers for Ken
tuckv," for never in my life have | uttered q
word or committed an act in violation OF the
Constitution.
After this interruption, he continued to speak
of Maryland. lie said that the Police Com.
missioners of Baltimore were Imprisoned with.
out the shadow of Law, without specification,
without charge, in q fort in Maryland, and
then removed beyond the limits Of the Gem.
monwealth to another fort. And when the
House Of Representatives passed a resolution
asking the President TO inform the people why
these arrests we're made, he answered that it
would he adverse to the public interest to let
the people know the Police Commissioners Of
Baltimore were thrown into prison.
Do YOU call this liberty2 Do you call this
law? There we're loud cries Of mo! No! Ne!'
from the crowd, when ~rufians instantly com.
menced another onslaught. and after the yico.
policemen had beaten numerically a man WHIT
cheered for JEFF. Davis, quiet was again re.
stored. Mr.. Breckenridge asked them 10 BIT
quiet. BE was pleading their cause, not his
own. 1t was the cause OF the rich and the
poor--or every man, however humble he might
be, who relied upon the Constitution for his
rights.
The rowdies continued to make q great deal
Of noise, and the speaker asked them what
they came for but to hear him speak. Poor
fellows, said he, you are weaving the cords to
bind your own limbs; your children wall
bless me for what I am now saying. Poor,
miserable wretches, | am acquainted with your
character, and do not intend to be intimldated
by you. I.have said nothing inilammatory,
but came here to speak to you, OF your rights,
which are being trampled in the dust. Then,
why not listen to reasony'
He said that he knew they were not a fair
representative Of the sentiment Of Baltimore
or of Maryland. Whenever they were ready
to hear him, be would prove to them that eve
~ right they had under the Constitution Of
Maryland or of the United States was tram.
pied under foot by the Administration at
Washington. Talk Of the dungeons Of Ma.
plesI the Inquisition Of today outstrips every
thing in the shape Of usurpation which the
world has ever heard Of; there has been nothing
to equal it since the time when mankind first
undertook to rule the will of despots.
The action of the Federal Government in
relation to your Police Commissioners is un-
equalled in the annals of outrage and despot-
ism. lie was here to contend for the eternal
principles Of political and personal liberty
principles which had lived before the forma'
ton of the Colonies; before the Union Was
formed, and which would survive after the
Union was gone. The Union is a means, rot
an end; the Union was formed to secure ard
make eternal these principles. When the 81
tempt to preserve these principles becomes in.
consistent with the preservation Of the
Union, the principles will live whatever else
perish.
Whenever the issue arises between the pre-.
servation of the Union and the preservation OF
the principles Of personal liberty, personal
right and public liberty, the Union will have
to so down. The speaker was here hissed BY
the ~rowdies, and another disgraceful squabble
ensucd. After quiet had been restored, Mr..
Breckenridge said be would give his observa-
tons to the country; DO had watched these
disturbances and they were invariably gotten
up by men with sticks in their hands, called
police.
II the police would let the people alone, he
would be enabled to proceed. He knew he
would have met Il hearty welcome in Baltimore
il a down.trodden and oppressed people were
allowed TO speak. 4 Just God, who rules all