Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-07-02
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE TWO BlsEClSlNR.pGEs.


post as temporary chairman of the Union
National Convention ut Baltimore, on the
9TH of June Gnst.), was most impressive.
There stood one of the historical characterc
of the 'spotless divine, a self sacrili-
cling idealst, an unseltish patriot-o one,
across whose evcntfu path not single
doubt as to his sincerity had ever thrown a
shadow, and whose lofty moral integrity
had never been questioned either by the
enemies of his Church nr the advocates of
slavery. What he said before the COnven-
tion has been wildly and protitably read.
But how he said it could not he painted or
printed. First of all was the evidence, not
necessary to be made clear to those who sat
in rapt attention under his uttcranCes, of
the perfect uprepdroRhtss of his speech.
J The shorthand reporters took it down as
it fell from his lips, and then carried 1t to
Washington hy the evening train, wrote 1t
out for The Daily Chronicle, in which it was
published next morning. without the sight
esi revision by the reverend author. And
/ assert that never has any production been
more logically and rhctorically exact. The
voice of Dr. Breckenridge is weak, although
he is not sixty five; but his manner could
not be more graceful Every word dropped
from his lips like coin of gold clear cut, ,
]
were begun with Il higher than artistic skill.
\ few instances will suffice to prove this
last assertion. Here is one:
"Iou have to organize this party tho
roughly throughout the United States. You
have to put it into form. in whatever form
your judgement may suggest, that 1t will
contribute all that wisdom, backed Ivy ener-
~ and the most determined effort, can pro
ducc, to gain the victory which / have al
ready said was in our power. More than
that, you have to lay down with clcarncss
and precision the principles upon which you
will carry on this great political contest,
ard prosecute the war which is underneath
them, and the glory of the country which
lies before Us, if We succeed Plaincly, not
in double sense, but briefly, and with the
dignity and precision Of great people
uttering 10y its representatives, the political
principles by which they intend to live, and
for the sake of which they intend to die, so
that all men everywhere may understand
precisely what we need; to run yOur turrow
So deeply and so clearly that, while every
man who is worthy TO associate with free
men may see it, and pass over it to Us, every
man who is unworthy may he either unable
to pass or may he driven from us. We
want none but those who are like US to lie
with us"
The wav in which these sentences were
cnuncilted showed the practical ms well as
the natural orator and the master of his sub
icct. But it was when he addressed himself
To the moral issue at the stake, that he rose
the dignity Of his theme. and thrilled the
vast audience that almost hung upon his
I lips. Observe, after laying down the pri-
mary duty of serving the nation, how clear
Is and yet how originally. he discusses his
idea of our relations to the Federal COnstitu-
ton, and the relations 10 th;N charter of those
who formed it, There is "A rare philosophy
in the following extract:
"From among those principals-if you
Will allow me for one moment To say So
the first and most distinct i that we do not
intend To permit this nation to be destroyed.
/ Great applause We are now a natioU-
/ no doubt Il peculiar Onc--a nation formed
/ of States, and no nation, except rs the
States form it and they are States, Jt they
( are 10 States crcrlt o~ thcv are states IN that
RatioR. LApplausc.' Historically they never
were anil Hey hare M Btoye riyhtt 10 rpEdiGtc
The Rdtion, thdH the H0tjoH has rigtt to relH-
8idte Mtm anG heIiher If them have any
shadow Of such right anl we intend, God
helping us so to yindiCate that truth that II
shall never be disputed any more IN the
world Great applause 1t is fearful
alternative that Is set before us, d"d get
Mcre arc no grtt gcrSiiioh&, tDT Il. Those
of you who have attended to this subject
know, or ought to know, that from the
/ foundation of the present Government
using that word in its proper sense, this
present COnsttutiOn-thcre have always, III
every generation, been parties that had 10
faith in it, Tie b,tu wh0 foTned Il "ere
J a L. In M
posed its formation did not desire its sue
cess and am bold to say, without detain-
ing you upon this point, that after all the
outcry about our violation OF the Constitu-
tion, this present hiring generation and h''
present. Union party are mare horo"ghty DE-
! r0ted 10 that Constitution than 0ay generation
/ that has eror Liced uHder Il. Loud applause.
while say that, and while ! solcmnly
believe it-while believe it is capable OF
the clearcst historical proof will also add
that it is q great error, which Is being propa-
gated in our land, 10 say that our Federal
/ liie-our national liie--dcpends merely upon
the existence of that Constitution. Oul
fathers made it, we love it, and We intend
to maintain it. Applause Bw y a
suited rs 10 chaEge Il, ne ~0"td chdAJe q
lapplausel anil ,rhea il slits as 10 cha'ge d
,ee aH change il. APPLAUSE II n tfcrs 10 b
tern iato a Mousand titces- brOGcH alt oter, m
natila uoaH be as much ct q mutton ds "a "to
day-as much nation rs II WAS before tn
particular Constitution was made-n nation
which alwny, declared its independence ~
a people. and who have lived, united unti
now, q nation hi,pcad,Ih II ho l'ri'r"ht
Institutions uad,f Ghich hey hrr', aug
o,paJle ~ mod,isiiiHg hem precis'iN as M
Institutions 81 "a, sacc,ssice gt"o"itoHs ma.
require. Applause. We ought to have !
distinctly understood, both 10y friends nlH
enemies, that white We love that instrument
snd are in most rcpec,s satisfied wllh IT, an,
will maintain it--and that We NH, "'lI
induhilahle certainty, put 10 dehlh IA
friend or lne that uaderiakes Ia lfample u uli
der foot, IL re caa get rid eftAem a. 100 gih,
Wag-y,f, tegoad doaii, 40 NW "feT q
ssd oVrssioes T,oH' gsarratioa q gsf''''""'
, Cries of "good, gnod. and appause
do nni quote In,se pas'ases I" give
political aslHst a. this skrteh, hnl 1" sh"'
The Peculiar qualitirs of miud and enlseirhr
Of a remarkable pullic characier Nhi'r ~
wAs speaking hc reminded me- ioelhll "l hl
nephsw, John a. hI,ckinudge, The tone
of the tao voices aFv wonderfully aimllal
aud ii ia hr, IA IL h 10 my mind ihNafiabl
true. thai the voice, like ih, iealuivs, iia
bv traced ihfongA gensali"ns, ihe l''."f
lAas stfang.ly Nefllsd on this occasion
N. NH H.. IA