Year: 1860

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.


We append some further extracts from
Vice President Breckinridge's speech at
Frankfort:


And now under the responsibilities that
surround me, and by the warrant of the
proofs have presented, and of many others
which are easily accessible, l charge that
the present and ulterior purposes Of the re-
publican party are:


To introduce the doctrine of negro equal |
ty into American politics, and to make it
the ground of positive Legislation hostile to
tie Southern States


To exclude slave property Of :he South
from all territory now in tho Union, orI
which may hereafter be acquired;


To prevent the admission, in any latitude,
of another slaveholding State;


To repeal the fugitivc-slave law, and prac
tically refuse to obey the Constitution on
that subject;


To refuse to prevent or punish by State
action the spoiliation of slave property, but
on the contrary, to make it criminal of
fence in their citizens to obey the laws of
the Union, in so far as they protect proper
ty in African slaves


To abolish slavery in the District Of Col
umbia;


To abolish it in the forts, arsenals, dock
yards, and other places in the South where
Congress has exclusive jurisdiction;


To abolish tho internal and coast~wise
trade;


To limit, harass, and frown upon the in.
stitution in every mode of political action
and by every form of public opinion;


And, finally, by the Executive, by Con
gress, by the postal service, the press, and
in all other accessible modes, to agitate
without ceasing, until the Southern States,
without sympathy or brotherhood in the
Union, worn down by the unequal struggle,
shall be compelled to surrender ignominious-
y and emaucipate their slaves.


Hence repeat that the spirit and pur-
poses of the party are utterly at war with the
Constitution, and the great objects of which
it was formed. If that instrument is al
lowed to remain permanently violated III
any of its vital provisions, what hope have
we for our institutions and liberties Brok-
en- in one important part it must soon fall
to pieces. The triumph of these principles
would subvert Southern society and des,
olate one of the faircst regions of America
while in the end it would be equally disas-
trous to all parts Of the Union.


THE PREVENTIVE AND THE REMEDY.
What can be done to arrest the impeud-
ing dangers? l will bring these remarks, al
ready TOO extended, to close, by suggest
ing what seems to me to be the duty of
every patriot


The republican party must be overtlirOwn.
The people of the free States must be made
to realize that its policy and purposes are
incompatible with the equality of the States,
destructive to the peace and dangerous to
the existence of the Union. The masses of
the people in that part of the Union have
no interests at war with those of the South
no motive to promote the schemes of am
bilious leaders at the peril of the country's
interests. Heretofore they have not be-
ieved in the existence of danger. Recent
events have contributed to dispel the delu
sion, and to show the real tendency of
things. If a reaction does not take place iu
the public mind, very soon some act of ag>
gression, or some movement towards a sep.
aration, will shock the Union and bring the
Government to stop. Theu would be
seen collisions between the Fedora Govern.
ment and the States, which, if not arrested,
would destroy our political system. pro-
position might be made for a convention of
all the States to secure new guarantees, or
to have a more explicit understanding as to
those which now exist. But this movement
would be fraught with danger, and be Of
doubtful result Besides, the Constitution
is now clear and explicit, and the South
should only ask for fair execution of its
language and spirit. Our immediate duty,
as think, is to unite as far as possible all
good men, and make solemn appeal to the
country against an organization which we
know to be unfriendly to its peace, and even
its existence.


But before we make this appeal, shall we
not perform our whole duty? May ] ven.
turej in deterential aud loyal spirit to say
that when we appeal to the Constitution aud
the laws we also should obey the Constitu
ton and the laws. Let the South, then,
obey the law which prohibits the foreign
slave trade. 1t rests not with those who
violate the law to denounce it in others. !
am happy that Kentucky is guiltless in this
respect; nor do believe that any South
ern Stats has taken steps to nullify this
law. 1t will give us just Tepute in the con
federacy when its violation by individuals
shall be promptly punished by Southern ju'
ries. Let us also frown upon and punish
all illegal expeditions fitted out within our
borders to invade feeble neighboring States
One of the highest duties of government
is to restrain its citizens from hostile de.
scents upon nations in amity with it. When
it fails to do this it ceases to be respectable
These expeditions are stain on the charac
ter of the Union. When we extend our
territory, let us do it with the majesty that
becomes a great people, and under the flag
Of the republic.


Then, having placed herself in an invul.
nerable attitude, the South, thoroughly uni
ted, will be in a condition to make solemn
and hnal onnaol ro oil kha hattar alan,onts