Year: 1860

The charge that John C. Dreckinridge and Jo.f y


Lane are OisuniOnists.


The charge that Breckinridge and Lane are dis
uniosts is unfounded and absurd. All their ante.
cedents are with and for the Union. Can any one
believe that Kentucky and Oregon are d,sunion
States9 No. Both these men have perilled their
lives in battle in defence of the honor and rights of
the Union. All their interests and hopes are den-
fed with Constitutional Union. I'VE are the ad.
vocate of the Constitutional Union and opposed to
secession and disunon and yet are not afraid to
trust Brecknrdge and Lane to the fullest extent Let
the friends of Judge Douglas remember that when
they charge that Buchanan and Lane are disuniof-
lists, they reflect and reflect unustly on thousands
and tens of thousands of their supporters who are
as good Union men as any in the country. The
following remarks Of Gen. Lane delivered recently
before the National Democratic Volunteers Of New
York, disposes Of this charge in plain and emphatic
terms: -. ..t


General Joseph Lane, the Democratic candidate
for Vice President of the United States, who is on
visit to this city. addressed the National Demo-
cratic Volunteers on Wednesday night, at their
rooms in Broadway. Gen Lane was waited upon by
committee of the Volunteers, at the Everett House,





ter the organization of the meeting he said Ma
tional Democratic Volunteers, thank you for your
kind invitation to meet you, and for the cordial
greeting with which you have received me. Had
you convened public meeting and called upon me
for speech, l should have hestated about accept
ing the invitation, for am averse considering the
position occupy, as candidate for Vice President
to enter actively into the campaign. may be per-
mitted however, on this occasion to make few
hriac opI fatp ho Of
the eloquent addresses you have heard from your
chairman, DR.. Miller, and from Mr.. Daniels, Mr.
Genet, and Mr. Lawrence. Gentlemen, We have
been charged-Jofn c. Breckenridge and have
been charged-the ticket which you feel proud to
support has been charged-with secession, disunion
and even treason. The great party to which we al
belong has been called disunion party, secces-
sion party. Now, who, with any common sense,
can believe that John c. Breckenridge, the high
toned gallant and chivalrous Breckenridge, the pa
triot and statesman, who loves the Union, and who
has throughout his life fought so bravely for the
Union and the Constitution-who, say, can be-
leve that he is dsunionist a secessonist My
friends as well might it be said that fond father
desires the dismemberment and bitter conflicts in
his family. One statement would be as reasonable
as the other No; Breckenridge is the best of Union
men; and it is great libel to charge him with dis
union sentiments or designs. No man would soon-
er lay down his life for the Union than the noble
Breckenridge. know him well, and say what
know of him. And, as to myself why, gentlemen,
nv whole life gives the lie to such charge. No
man loves this Union more than l do; and none
would 20 farther or do more within the power of
man to perpetuate it. But my friends, if you would
preserve the Union you must maintain the consti
tuition. for they are inseparable, if you would pre-
serve the one you must maintain the other. The
equality of the States is the principle upon which
the confederation was formed upon which the Union
was made, and without which there would have
been no confederation or Union. The equality of
the S.ates-that is the principle now at issue be-
fore the country-thc equality of the States. not
partially, not with any reservation But in full re-
cogniton of the original compact. Tn this you will
see that Breckenridge and your humble servant
better Union men than those who make the foul
charge of disunonism against u.s. because are for
maintaining the Union upon the principles of the
constitution, strictly and fairly interpreted, and not
interpreted in latitudinarian manner, for the pur
pose of political expediency. Are We not then the
best Union men, for the reason that would main
tain it upon the principles of the constitution while
| our enemies who make unfounded and base charges
against us would destroy the Union by sapping its
very foundations And now. as to the party which
is identified with and supports the Brecknridge and
Lane ticket That party is not secession or dis
union party. am not here to defend the past his
tory Of men who may now support this ticket, nor
to offer excuses for explain away charges against
| individuals; but maintain that our party is par
excellence, Union party. If it were not neither
Breckenridge nor I would be identified with it
The dsnionists are really those who would sap the
foundations of the constitution by denying or des.
troyng the equality Of the States Preserve in good
faith the original compac. of the equality Of the
States, and the equal rights Of the citizens of each
of the States in the common Territories. and every


where else where the flag of these United States
floats, and the Union will be preserved to all time
and this great and glorious country will fill the most
important page in the history Of nations. Let US be
Just, deal fairly by every portion of this country
and by every State of this confederary, and this
family of States will live together in harmony for al


time to come Now, my friends, having made these
few remarks, in response to your fattering recep


tion, thank you again, one and ALL and bid yor
good night" ~.