Year: 1860




Wednesday, the 9th day of September, has
become an epoch in the political annals of the
country-a grand event in the constitutional
history of the government. 1t was an occasion
pregnant with vast results immediate and re-
mote; its circumstance, incident and influence
will never be forgotten by the youngest partici-
pant A few months may or may not vindicate
the justice and wisdom of its grand purpose, but
as surely as time lasts, the inevitable triumph Of
truth and right will present it in bold relief as
one of the great stand-points in the progress of
constitutional liberty.


The immense assemblage Of people, gathered
without the employment of those appliances
usual in partizan conflicts, manifested popular
interest in the great absorbing issues of the can
vass calculated to inspire with hope those who
look to the calm reflection and intelligent inves-
tigation Of the masses to stem the tide of pas
sion and prejudice lately so threatening. The
crowd is yariously estimated at figures between
5000 and 10, 900, and we assert that less effort
was made to secure large attendance than upon
any previous occasion of one-tenth the import
ancc The people came of their own accord and
came because they wanted to hear and under
stand. The day was warm but the fixed at
tention of the assembled thousands was never
for moment interrupted, except by the out
bursts of appreciation and zeal with the state
ments and sentiments frequently elected We
have never seen a crowd so thoroughly cnchain-
ed, so interested and moved as upon this occa-
sion


Mr.. Breckenridge consumed about three hours
in the delivery of his speech. Physical indis-
position, added to the heat of the day. had the
effect of almost exhausting him, but his voice
was clear and his thoughts lucid and vigorous to
the close. We but echo the unanimous verdict
of the crowd, and express the opinion of all who
heard him. friend and foe, when we say that the
speech was thorough, able and conclusive. 1t
is conceded to be the great speech of his life, and
by many of the most intelligent men is held to
be the ablest political address the pending issues
have elected Its effect was manifest upon the
listeners, and we confidently believe will be ire
sistible upon the millions who will eagerly Pc
ruse its pages.


Amid the clamor of party strife, in this the
hour of unbridled passion and wild prejudice,
when reason seems for time to be dethroned
and raging deirium of excitement has seized
hold Of the popular mind, Mr.. Brccknridge's
speech stands the proudest monument which
could be erected by the proudest votares of true
constitutional liberty to those great immovablc
principles upon which our whole governmental
fabric is based. Viewed relative to its sur
roundings with an eye to the condition of the
public mind, all the circumstances and incidents
Of the time combined, it must stand upon the |
page Ct our political history high in comparison
with the grandest efforts of American states
men. y vindication Of principle so strong, so
unanswerable, rising above the din and mist of
political strife, and wholly above the storm of
passion, of itself places the speaker foremost
among the statesmen of the age.


Mr.. Brcckinridges speech will not fail to rivet
the attention of the country. 1t will arrest the
and stay the widest fanatic, who
may be rushing headlong he knows not whittier.
1t will recall the masses to reason, and if we do
not greatly ovcrcstimate its power, It will allay
the storm and rally around the Constitution
such host Of intelligent electors as will trium-
phantly protect it from the pcrils of the day
The occasion was an epoch never to bcforgotten,
and the speech eminently worthy the time.


kentucky Statesman.