The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-15

Il
OPINIONS OF AN INTELLIGENT AND PATRI.
orIc DEuocRAr.-James I. Brady, Esq,
the Breckinridge candidate for Governor oi
New York at the last election, made speech
at the Union meeting at the Cooper insti.
tute, in New York, on Monday nyrning,
which deserves wide circulation. We copy
a portion of an abstract of his remarks in the
Journal of Commerce:
James L. Brady, Esq., came forward amid
great cheering. lie said it was not to be ex.
pected that all tho people present should
agree on all the points presented in the pre-
amble and resolutions. But he believed that
oil would unite in making the hall ring to-
night in favor of the union and the Constitu-
ton. As for himself, he had oil his lifetime
been fighting the battles of the South up to
this moment. He must say, however that
the South had not done justice to the politi-
cal organization with whichhc had bcen con-
nected'
Thomas Jefferson had said that absolute
acauiescence in ths will Of the majority is
the vital principle Of oil Republics. This
doctrine is now denied. So long as we can
claim to have governmental at all the Irinci-
pie laid down by Jefferson must be practical
~ believed in. The speaker touched briefly
upon the glories of the Republic, and referred
the audience for just treatment of that
theme to the speech delivered in Georgia some
weeks ago by Alexander Stevens. The great
nations of the past were not destroyed by their
own people. Dothepeople OF this nation in.
tend to put an end to their own greatness and
their own glory? He would like to have
some seeding Southcrner state distinctly,
and in writing, what cause justifes the
destruction of the Union.
As for the election ofLincoln, IL could not
be seriously regarded as verdict in favor OF
Abolitionsm. II was not true that all Re-
publicans were Abotitionists. Furthermore,
Mr.. Lincoln was elected by minority OF the
American people. There were people in the
Republican party who hated ranting, can't
ing, lantern.jawed Abolitionist Us he (thc
speaker) hated him. Pennsylvania was
certainly not an Abolitionist State-and yet
it gave a majority of $500 TOR Lincoln. AS
for New York he knew something about the
election here. lilo ran for Governor and
several of his friends assured him that he was
running yet What was the result? His
competitor, Mr.. Kelley, and himself, had
been consigned to that private life, which it
was, perhaps, supposed that both OF them
would adorn. Now, although the election
In this State resulted In majority for Nor
gan, it must be remembered by tho South,
that the State & We majority of 100000
against negro suffrage. =,
Thus the speaker claimed that he had
shown that the election of Lincoln was not
triumph of Abolitionism. And he thought
that the South ought to be generous enough
TO remain with us and give usa chance to
raise the Democratic banner again. Mr..
Brady denounced the sentiments of those
Southern champions OF secession who had
threatened to dissolve the Union II Lincoln
was elected. The uttcnpce of those senti-
ments had lost us thousands of votes. The
speaker paused to ask the audience to join
in three cheers for the "gallant Anderson,
who had stood by his country and his ilag.'
Mr.. Brady said that whatever was the re-
suit of this secession moyemcnt-whether
the Union remains or is dissolved-we are,
we must be, and always shall be. Americans.
AS for coercion, he believed it utterly i'm
practicable. lie would say to tho South, If
you wish us to remain with you and protect
your institutions, very well; but If you insist
on withdrawing, remember that we have
nineteen States with which to yindicate our
rights, whenever and wherever they may be
assailed. But it is said that the South will
appeal to the assassin and perjurer Louis Ma.
poieon, or TO England, which dismcmbercd
poor old Ireland. The people of the South
do not say this; but only those Southcrners
who misrepresent them. Finally, when the
excitement passes away, the Southern people
themselves will discover that the General
Government has dons nothing to justify SCI
cession; and that the tendency of the Rcpub-
lican party is conservative; then they will
find that they are much safer in the Union
than out of Il. Mr.. Brady sat down ainida
storm Of applause.