Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-14
Let,er from, Or. Rreck,nrlage.

The following extracts from e recent letter Of
Rev. RoBT. BREcnSmDoE, D. D.. uncle Of the Vice
President, to a friend in Oswego, New York.
DANyILLE, KY, IS6O.7Dedr Sir: have read your
letter with deep interest; but the time is past when
can do anything towards directing the passions Of
our countrymen. What l could have attempted
long ago. and under auspices far more hopeful than
any that now exists. As amongst other things my
published letters to Mr.. Summer, Mr.. Seward and
Mr.. Breckenridge, may attest All that is left to
is to stand in my lot look the future steadily in the
face, and abide whatever may come If the North
insists on using the National Government to put
down savery-or if the South insists on using it to
perpetuate and extend slayery-in either case the
continuance of the National Union is impossible
In other words. there can be no union of States
except by force or on equal terms. For nearly
ninety years-from HIS till lSG0the 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, we must rot only
divide, but must afterwards draw the swOrd-and,
if possible. destroy each other. If God has forsak-
en- US, country is wrecked. If God is sill gra
cous to US, way will be found to extricate itfrom
impending revolution At present the human
means of deliverance seem to me to consist merely
in these two great convictions, which, after all are
settled deeply in the hearts Of men every W here,
namely: that there unspeakabe evils IN the dlsso-
luton of the Union, and that there are nestlmabe
convictions are to mako themselves efectuSly man
fest; but neither do | see it to be impossible that
they should do so.
five can escape immediate commissions,
what will occur in my opinion, will be the gradual
consolidation of the entire South, in one opinion and
upon one man (probably Mr.. Breckinridge) by 1864;
and the permanent triumph fthe Democratic party
in 1864 by means of tie united South, and certain
portion more or less considerable, of the Northern
States This is the best result see to be possible
and who say this am an old fashioned Republican
of the school of 1854 Clay Whig-a steadfast
Know-Nothing never yet voted for John c.
breckenridge though he has stood towards me near
ly in the relation of since his orphanage in very
tender infancy
1t is hardly worth while to say that
Kentucky is, and always has been thoroughly for the
Union and that no man in it is more devoted to it
than Mr. Breckenridge himself. Nay, he is one of
the very few eminent public men from whose lips not
even q Hypothetical case of unsuitable dissolution
was ever heard. And the day may come when the
reeompense to his country for the terrible abuse Law
ished on him as a traitor it, will be the sublime
exercise of his great wise and dauntess nature in the
preservation of that very Union which the passions
of men and the violence of parties have put in so
much peril.
have departed from my almost uniform habit in
taking any notice of your long, earnest and deeply
affecting letter. Accept what have said proof
of my sympathy with the patriotic spirit your letter
breathes and as a token Of my respectful consider
alton of such special views presented in it as seem
to me erroneous. Your friend and servant.
K. ]. BRECKENRIDGE.