New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-27
nRECKIrRrDGE AND DIsUNIoN.

RRECKINRIDGE AND DEsUNION.
Considering the origin of the secession move
mtnt which led to the nomination Of NJ. Breckin-
ridge as o candidate for the Presidency, and the
antecedepts of many OF those who took part in it,
it is not surprising that he thinks it necessary ia
attempt TO clear the skirts of himself and bis
friends from the suspicion OF Dbunon principles
and projects. Though he affects to consider the
Convention which assembled at the Maryland lnsfi'
tute as the "National Democracy of the United
90 States" It cannot be denied that the leading
persopages in it have been mainly known to the
public by their ultra sectional spirit and their
threats Of dissoIvipg the Union in certain con-
iinQencies, while some of them have gone SO far
as to maintain that the interests Ct the South, on
general view, and entirely apart from any special
grievances, imperiously demanded such dissolution.
The first point which Mr.. Breckenridge urges,
by way of apology and defense is that the doctrine
of disunon is not made one Of the planks of the
platform upon which be is nominated. He has
read the resolutions constituting that platform with
great deal of care, and he does not see any dis
union in them. For all that, disunion may be,
and, all things considered, undoubtedly is, silly
slowed away under the platform, to be produced
and made the basis of action, 80 soon as the 0cca
sion shall occur. The number of those who 60 for
disunon, per So, and at all events is comparatively
small. The great body of those who have enter
tanned the idea Of setting up a separate Southern
confederacy look forward to that step only as an
alternative. SO long as they can succeed in
governing the Union and in making the Federal
Constitution subseryient to their ideas Of
policy, they are willing to stand by it.
The bulk Of the Maryland Institute politicians
who have nominated Mr.. Breckenridge, if they
could succeed in electing him, would be willing,
no doubt to remain in the Union for the four years
of bis term of Office Mr.. Yancey himself might
be appeased and reduced into silence for that
time by the sOpOriic cate of some honorable aud
lucrative Office. Even the bare contemplation of
such contingency has not been without its effect.
To have openly avOwed disuLion principles, while
still aiming to secure the control of the Union,
would have been absurd. But though Mr.. Brock
inridge does not find the secret and provisional
doctrines Of dsunioD, which, from all the antece-
dents of its leading members, may be fairly as
cribed to the Convention, openly paraded on the
platform, does be fad any thing in it declaratoryof
attachment to and regard for the Union, and deter
mnaton to preserve it in all events Considering
the suspected character of the Convention on this
score and the notorious opinions of some of the
persons most active in it, some declaration of that
sort would seem to have been eminently appropri-
ate. All, however, which Mr.. Breckenridge is
able to find in the platform looking in the slightest
degree toward the preservation of the Union, is the
resolution in favor of the Pacific Railroad. The
Pacific Railroad however which the Maryland
Institute platform favors, is undoubtedly railroad
by the Southern route, looking rather TO the pres
ervaton of California to the anticipated Southern
Conederacy, than to the binding together of the
entire Union, as Mr.. Breckenridge expresses it, by
+" iron bands"
Finally, in defect of other arguments, the Mary
land Institute candidate for the Presidency is
driven to yOuch in himself as security for the
attachment to the Union of the faction from which
he derives his nomination. Mr.. Breckenridge sees
in himself and the place OF his abode, " personal
' and geographical guaranty" of the devotion of
the Maryland Institute seceders to the Union aud
its preservation. We, on the contrary, can plainly
see therein an attempt to drag Kentucky and the
other Northern Slave States into the DsuniOn plot
which lies concealed under the Maryland Institute
platform. The great difficulty which the Disu-
niOnists have heretofore had to encounter has been
the disinclinatiOn of the northern tier of Slave
States to have anything to do with their
reasonable plans. Kentucky, especially, has
been known as staunch Union State-made
indeed to feel with special force the benefits and
even the necessity of Union from the circumstances
Of Der geographical position. Ii is highly desirable
for the Maryland Institute politicians, with view
to their Interior disunion projects, to rally as
strong force as possible in the border
'layeholdpg States. II they could unite all the
'layehOldirg States into q compact party they
might then feel strong enough to carry out those
threats Of dissolution which have been so freely In
iuiged in, should the Republicans elect their can
hdate, and obtain the control of the Federal Gov
erpmtnt. To have put forward so notorious
'ecessODist as Mr.. Davis of Mississippi would have
been, uider existing circumstances roo hazardous
! step. Mr.. Breckenridge is used merely as |
cover under which dsunion lodgment may be
Elected in Kentucky and tho adjoining slaveholding
States II is no doubt expected that he and others,
paving served the Disunion party in this prelim. |
nary step, will be ready to go with it in its Interior
movements.
Mr.. BANCROFT On THK DRCLARA-
TION OF INDEPENDENCE.