Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-12-27
Letter from DR.. Breekiurid,e,

The following extracts are from
recent letter OF Rev. Robt. Breck-
nridge, D. D., uacle Of the Vice
President, to friend in Oswego, New
York:
DANvILLE, Ky, 1860. = Dear SIR
| have read your letter with deep
interest; but the time is past when |
can do anything, towards directing
the passions Of our countrymen.-I
What | could / have attempted long
ago, and under auspices far more
hopeful than any that now exists.
Asamongst other things, my publish
do letters to Mr. Sumner, Mr.. Seward
rand Mr.. Breckenridge. may attest.
All that isleft to ms is to stand 10 my
lot. look the future steadily in the face,
and abide whatever my come. If
the North insiits on using thu Ma
tiobal Government to put down
slavery -or il the South insists on
using it to perpetuate and extend
slavery--ia either case the oontiu-
uance of the National Union is i'm
possible.
Ia other words, there can be no
union Of Slates--exoept by force or
on equal terms. For nearly ninety
years from 1875 till 1860 the
public idea Of the institution of
slavery has found it compatible with,
the union Of Colonies and Of States.
1t is no longer SO. The opinions Of
men must change, and their passions
must moderate, or we must not only
divide, but must afterwards draw The
sword--and. if possible, destroy each
other. If Gcd has forsaken Us, our
country is wrecked. IfGod ia still
gracious to US way will be found to
sxtricate it from impending revolu
/ ton. At present the human means
i. of deliyerance seem to me to con-
sist merely in these two great con.
yiclions, which, after all, are deeply
settled in the hearts Of men every.
where, namely: that theirs are un.
speakable evils in the dissolution o
0 the Union, and that there are ines
: Unable blessings 10 its preservation
J., | do not sec hsw these convictions
: are 10 make themselves effectually
manifest; hut neither do / see it t,
5 be impossible that they should do SO
: II We can escape i'm
n mediate convulsiGns, What will occur
o in my opinion, viii be the gradua
: consolida ton G. The entire Soutb,i
S one opinion and upon one man (prob
d ably Mr.. ,Breekinridge) by 1864
: and the permanent triumph Of tb
Q Democratic party in 1864, by tn
: means Of the unit cd South, aud
s certain portion, more or less consid
t erabla, Of the Northern States
: This ia the best result l sea to b
q possible; sad | who say this am a
Il old fashioned Republican Of tn
school Of l793--a Clay Wing
steadfast Know othiDg-and neve
yet voted for John G. Breckenridge
5 though be has stood towards m
nearly in the relation of a son sine
). bis orphanage in very tender infancy
1t is hardly wort
e while TO cay that Kentucky is, an,
q always has been thoroughly for tn
e Union, and that no man in it is NOR
O devoted to it than Mr.. Breckiuridg
II himself. Nay, he is one of the yer.
few eminent public men from who's
. lips not evea a Hypothetical case 0
a jusiiliable dissolution was ever heard
And the day may come when th
). recompense to his country for tn
e terrible abuse lavlshed on him as
|. traitor to il, will be toe sublime ex
S ercise Of his grea., wise aud daunt
v less nature in the preservation @
" ,hat very Union, which the passion
5 OF men and the violence of par
a Ties have put in so much peril.
g have departed from my almos
e uniform habit in taking any motto,
J. OF your long,earnest and deeply affect
|. ing letter. Accept what ! have Sal,
e ms proof Of my sympathy with ID,
!. patriotic spirit your letter breathes
q and as token Of my respectful con
# sideration of such special views pre-
]! sented in it as seem to me erroneo us
Your friend and servant,
0 L. j. BRECKENRIDGE,
The Effects af Jincnln's Elert;ou