Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-10-30
ADDRESS OF THE HON JOHN c. BRECK-
INRIDGE


address to the people Of Kentucky. We have room
Tor only the Closing portions After reviewing the
outrageous course Of the Kentucky Legislature in
turning over that gallant State to Lincoln and his
minons Mr.. b. says
Fellow-cltizeI,ss you have to do not with this
fragment of Legislature with its treason bills and
tax bills, with its wou subservieEcy to every de-
mand OF the Federal despotisu and its woful neg
lcct of every right Of the Kentucky citizen but you
have to deal with power which respects neither
constitution or laws. and which, If successful will
reduce you to the condition of PROSTATE and bleed
ing Maryland. Gen. Anderson, the military dicta-
tor OF Kentucky announces in one of his procana-
lions thai he Will arrest who does not act write
or speak in opposition to Mr. Lincoln's Government
1t would have completed the idea if he had added
or think in opposition to it. Look at the condition
of our State under the rule of our new protectors
They have suppressed the freedom of speech and of
the press They seize people by military force up
on mere suspicion, and Impose on them oaths I'M
known to the laws. Otacr citizens they imprison
without warrant and carry them out of the State so
that lse writ of habeas corpus cannot reach them.
Every day, foreign armed bands making seiz-
ures among the people. Hundreds of citizens, old
and young, venerable magistrates, whose lives have
been distinguished by the love Of the people, have
been compelled to fly from their homes and families
to escape imprisonment and exile at the hands
of Northern and German soldiers under the orders
OF Mr. Lincoln and his military subortlnates. While
yet holding an important political trust confded by
Kentucky was compelled to leave my home and
family ar suffer Imprisonment and exile If it is ask
ed why did not meet the arrest and seek trial,
my answer is, that would have welcomed an ar
rest to be followed by judge and jury; but you
well knew that couG not have secured these con-
sttutional rights. | would have been transported
beyond the State, to languish in some Federal for
tresS during the pleasure of the oppresscr. Witness
the fate Of MOrehcad and his Kentucky associates in
their distant and gloomy prison.
The Case Of the gentleman just mentioned is an
example of many others, and it meets every element
in definition of despotism. If it should occur in
England it would Gc righted or it would overturn
the British Empire. lie is 4 citizen and native of
Kentucky. As member of the Legislature
Speaker of the House. Representative in Congress
from Ashland District, and Governor of the State,
you have known, trusted and honorcd him during
public service OF quarter Of century. lie is
eminent for his ability, his amable character, and
his bameess life. Yet this man, without indict-
ment, without warrant, without accusation, but by
the order of President Lincoln, was seized at md
night, III his own house and in the midst of his fam
i", was led oush the streets Of Louisville as am
informed with his hands crossed and pinoned be-
fore him, carried out of the State and District
and now lies prisoner III fortress in New York
harbor, a thousand miles away. Do you think that
any free Leg iSlature ever assembled in kentucky
since the days of Charles Scott and Isaac Shelby,
unit; now, would have permitted such spectacle to
dishonor the State: No! fellow Citizens the Leg
iSlatu:e could net have been free!
would speak of these things with the simple
soemnity which their magnitude demands yet it
is difficult 10 restrain the expression of Just indig-
nation, while We smart under such enormltics. Mr..
Lincoln has thousands of soldiers on soil nearly
:, he md n ki
whom he employs his instruments TO do these
things. But few kcntucklans have enlisted under
his standard, for we are not yet accustomed to his
peculiar form of liberty.
will not pursue the diSsraccful subject Has
Kentucky passed out Of the control of her own poo
pie. Shall hirclingS Of the pen recently Impaired
from the North, sitting in grand security at the
Capitol force public opinion to approve these usur-
pation>, and point ont victims: Shall Mr. Lincoln,
through his German mclccnaIics, inpllSon or exile
the children Of the inen who Ibid the foundations of
the Commonwealth, and compel our noble people to
exhaust themselves in furnishing the money to de-
stroy their own freedom! Never, while Kentucky
remains the Kentucky OF oid-never. while thou
sands Of her gallant have the will and the nerve
to make the State sing to the music of their rifles
The Constitution of the United States, which these
invaders unconSttutionaily swear every citizen
whom thew unconstitu:ionaly seize. to support, has
been wholly abolished 1t as much forgotten as if
it lay back in the twilight Of history. The facts
have enumerated show that the very rig iits most
carefully reserved by it to States and to individuals
have been most conspicuoSly violated. And this
destruction has been accomplished not by the Prcsi-
dent alone, but by the Congress also, and with the
approval of his Northern States and people. They
have deliberately made the contest constitutional
struggle between So many millions on one side and
SO many on the other party fighting for su5ju-
CATION the other in setdefense and for independence
Whatever NAV be the future relations of the two
cunfederaceS the idea Of restoration of the Union
under the old constitution, is wholly visionary and
dclusive If the North should conquer the South,
(Which it will perceive to I've impossible after few
hundred millions more shall hc expended and a few
hundred thousand lives lost) the character of the
Government would be radically changed 1t would
probably not take the form even of mixed govern.
ment but would soon end in a military despotism.
1t must soon become apparent to all thoughtful men
that the last hope of constitutional liberty lies in
the early recognition of these great truthsin an
honorable peace and friendly intercourse.
! You declared your purpose not TO engage in the
war to subdue the South, and that you would be
neutral and mediate in the interests of peace wher
an opportunity shod offer. This is the recorded viii
of the State as expressed by the people. But those
! who assume to represent You have violated tha
| will. They have attempted to burden you will
)
to sustain government which has trampled under
foot every safeguard of Constitution which wa
the only bond Of your political connection with it
while they have allowed that government to cut yo,
off from the only avenues of trade which would en-
able you to pay these taxes. They have invited
military force of that government to take possession
of the State, ard practically supercede the Stat
Government and they have seen, with complacency
these foreign soldiers seize, imprison and pursu
hundreds nj your fellow citiZenS.-flui;iycS withOu
crime-over the plains and mountains of Kentucky
In word, they have attempted. without consulting
you, and against your recorded wishes to place yo
in active hostility to your Southern brethren, an
to fix your political destiny with the North.
Whatever may be the condition or motives of til
members at Frankfort, they have exceeded their au
thority. No legislative assembly or other body
other than one elected by your Sovereign Voice 70
that purpose, has the right in this great revolution
to determine, finally, your political future. TIL
people, although taken by surprise, and almost ur
arn,ad have risen to indicate their wishes and ey