Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-12-29
Rev. r. J. Breckenridge on the
Political Crisis.
DANvILLE, Ky, 1860.

DANvILLE, ky, ls6O.
Dear Sir.-I have read your letter
with deep interest, but the time is past
when I can do anything towards directing
the passions of our countrymeh. What l
could, have attempted long ago, and un-
der auspices far more hopeful than any
that now exist-as, amongst other things,
my published letters to Mr.. Sumner, Mr..
Seward and Mr.. Breckenridge may attest.
All that is left to me is to stand in my
lot, look the future steadily in the face,
and abide whatever may come. II the
North insists on using The National Gtv-
ernment to put dorm &avery-~ If the
South insists on 'tsing ii to perpetuate and
e1iend Siavsry--in either case the con-
tinuance of the National Union is impos-
sible.
In other words, there can be no union
of States-except by force or on equal
terms. For nearly ninety years-from
1775 till ls6O-the public idea of the in
stitution of slavery has found it compati'
bic 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 di-
vide, but must afterwards draw the sword,
and, if possible, destroy each other. If
God has forsaken US, our country is
wrecked. If God is still gracious to us,
way will be found to extricato it from
impending revolution. At present the
human means of dcliyeranec seem to me
to consist merely in these two great con-
yictons, which, after all, are settled deep
ly iu the hearts of men everywhere, ,name-
ly: that there are unspeakable evils in
the dissolution of the Union, and tina.
there are inestimable blessings in its pres
ervation. I do not see how these convic-
tiohs are to make themselves elfectually
manifest; but neither do [ see it to be
impossible that they should do SO.
If we can escape immediate convulsions
what will occur, in my opinion, will be the
gradual consolidation of the entire South
in one opinion, and upon one man (proba
bly, Mr. Breckinridge) by 1854 and the
permanent triumph Of the Democratic
party in 1854, by means of the united
South, and a certain portion, more or les:
considerable, of the Northern States
This is the best result l see to be posi-
BILE; and l who say this am an old.tash.
ioned Republican of the school of 1905
Clay Whig-a steadfast Know Nothing
and never yet voted for John G. Breck-
inridge, though he has stood towards me
nearly in the relation of a son, since his
orphanage in very tender infancy.
1t is hardly worth while to say ha
Kentucky is, and always has been, thor
oughly for the Union, and that no MAJ
in it is more devoted to it than Mr.. Breck
inridge himself. Nay, he is one of til,
very few eminent public men from whose
lips not even hypothetical case OF justi
fable dissolution was ever heard. Ant
; the day may come when the recompens'
to his country for the terrible abus,
| lavished on him as traitor to it will b,
the sublimest exercise of his great, wis
S and dauntless nature in the preservation
} Of that very Union which the passions o
men and the violence of parties have pu
in so much peril.
L have departed from my almost uniforr
3, habit in taking any notice of your long
d, earnest and deeply affecting letter. Ac
e cept what have said as proof of IN
i sympathy with the patriotic spirit you
# letter breathes, and as token of my re
n specful consideration of such special view
n presented in it as seem to me erroneou
:, Your friend and servant
1 II. j. BRECKENRIDGE.