The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-11

,si,sr 10 dey. Magofin, OF Ky, in which,
while favorins the compromise propositions OF
Mr. Cgittegden, he expresses himself as utter
!, homeless of their be ing adopted. He con-
cludes as follows
The Immediate question now present ed is.
,ssc. or war. Whether The right OF State
~ States 10 dissolve connection with the fed
s,aI system be a reserved right, or one grow
tnr ont Of the Consultation, or The right o.
evolution the great fact lies before US, that
,hs act hss been done; and we are bot permit
tat 20 doubt that In few weeks seven or e Sh
STATES containing a larger population than
The thirteen Colonies al the epoch OF the Rev
cIatlor. Viii have Withdrawn from the Union
snd declared their Independence. Under
whatever name disguised. collision OF arms
With .hem Will he war.
The dominant party here, rejecting every
thing. proposing nothing, are pursuing poll
cy which under the name of " enforcing the
laws and "punishipg traitors" threatens
IL plunge the country into all the calamities
OF civil war.
arms The attempt would unite the Sou thern
States ia resistance, While in the North great
multitude OF true and loyal men never would
consent 10 shed the blood of our people in the
name and under the authority OF violated
compact A serious collision uron existing
issues would destroy whatever hope may yet
remain of preserving or restoring the Union.
An attempt TO hold II together by the bayonet
would exceed any thing yet recorded In the an
nails Of human madness and folly. 1t would
bring on war o! upexampled feroctty, In
which every vital principle OF the Union
would disappear forever. If the South should
succeed in main tanning her independence, the
feudS and aniInosities engendered 10y he con
test be tween the sections would be transmit l.
ted to succeeding generations, while, II she
should be subJugatPd, the Government would
become In form and III fact consolidated, and
would soon reach the usual hlstorIcai terHil
nation in a military despotism. But her sub
legation Is lmposslblt "IthouL eA LEI ihna
and that is mpossIbie.
Aud vet the danger of civil war is i'm I'M i
ueut unless il shall be arrested by prompt
and energetic action. Ii, before the passions
of men become aroused, and series OF unto-
ward events DRIFT us into strife, kentucky ana
the other border States shall calmly and firmiy
nIeseLt IA united front against IL, believe II
Tnsv ba arrested. Fifteen States are potent 10
prevent war This. too. would strengthen ali
ihe true nan in the Northern States VINO re-
sisr the .rocious policy. Upon this ques tioh
let Us annihilate party. The force party te-
Iieye that Kentucky and other Southern
States are seriously divided on this subject
Unless this can be quickly shown TO be Il de-
lu.ion il may become the parent of brood OF
-
The wisdom of the Legislature will doubt
less proylda whatever is needtul; yet Ut a
time like this, II becomes the duty, as IL Is the
right OF every man to express MS opinions
and rs one citizen OF the Comm monWeaith, l
give nv voice for q STATE Convention. 1t il
only by the direct action OF the several States
in their sovereign capacity, that any ming eI'
sire that Kentucky may have an opportunity
to delermiue In The most solemn manner, her
Judgment OF her rights, aud her attitude In
the present condition OF affairs. She has not
haan an inactive nor inglorious mem Der Of the
Confederacy she is in the presence OF great
and startling events, and II Is not her psture
10 sit in Iistless apathy, borne along by rspld
currents, without the power TO direct her
course. Let her have the opportunity, through
her chosen Representatives, OF deciding upon
the prospect Of reuniting all the States IN a
constitutional Union, or, II that shall be I'M
possible, let her lie III poslllon 10 determine
her own destiny.
This letter has grown longer than l intend
ed although | have adhered pretty closely to
NY original purpose, rather TO present facts,
and my impressions of them, from this stand
point than 10 enter upon elaborate discussion
! need not say to you, my dear sir, that nave
uttered nothing in au obtruslVe spirit, but
rather, reluctantly and sorrowfuliy NY sug-
gestIous in regard 10 the actlon OF henlucky
are offered in a spirit of loyalty 10 the State
love and VIII ever obey. They are clearly
right or very wrong. Ii right, the pleasure
viii be mine TO have said timely word II
wrong, will know how TO bear without a
rnurmur all the consequences OF an honost bu1
terrible mistake.
Very sincerely, your friend,
JOHN q. BRECklhRlDGE.
Hon e. hneofin, Governor of kentucky.
THE LETTER FROM PRESIDENT LoNGsTREkT
The followinsi is the letter written by ] udge
Longstreet President Of the College of Sou th
Carolina, and published in the Charleston pa
pers The "calamity" of which he speaks
nriug the first gun--has already occurred:
/ pray the author tiles and people Of South
Carolina to cut aside passion, and hear pa
uently and thoughtfully what have TO say
upon the present critical position OF our be
loved State. The chances are that am wrong
In my views for, so far as have been ena-
bled TO collect the popular sentiment In this
quarter, at least eight out OF ten or the Wisest
k.a1a ~ thA tat ~ - "a va
reached that period of life when the wisdom
OF Age begin. 10 give place TO is weaknesses.
But the correctness OF opinions is not to be
estimated by number, or by age, but by the
standard of reason and 10 this standird
would respectfully invite all who differ with
me This much is certain, that almost every
man with whom l have conversed upon the
points OF difference between US, SHOWS mani
fest exctement--the poores, accompaniment
OF reason and argument that could De selected
from The armory OF mind.
1t seems to be generally understood (and ap-
proved of,) that II the Harriet Lane attempts
10 enter thi. port she will be fired in to and,
II rnmor is 10 bs credited, this is TO be done
without parisy or explanations Ii L have
not lost my senses, this is the mostdangerous,
useless, ill advised measure which could pos
sibly be adopted just at this time. Thus far
the war between South Carolina and the
Federal Government has been constructiyei !
The frst gun nfed makes it actual Thus far
South Carolina has maintained purely de-
Iensive positions this measure is openly ag-
gressiye, and is to draw the first blood from a
eitzsn OF the United States; and, for anght
that we know, from some champion OF the
cause of South Carolina. The character in
which the Harriet Lane approaches us, we do
not know, and cannot know, il she comes with
sealed instructions
This thing 10 to be done Just as four States
are hasteuing to our embrace fast as they
can come, and when IL is almost certain that
all the slave States Will be Gnised with us IN
one grand Confederacy in less than three
months; and after our warmest supporters
amoug them have implored us to wait for
cert OF action with them, when the Northern
States are stIll obedient 10 The Federal Gov
ernmeut, AID likely TO be while Buchanan re-
mains In ONCE; when that Government 10
reeling, and in two mon this time may De- ONE
lmpoLsut for good or evil when South Carolina
Is the peculiar object OF Black Repu biican
vengeance, and when they want only tolera-
BILE prete1t TO visit her with war OF ex-
termination before the other States can in
due form come to her help; when all the help
she can hope for Is impotent It sea-
Her aggressive step will alarm the States
which are at the point of secession, and per-
ehaLce hndle dissension in their bosoms GER
mlniy enkindie their ire against her. II viii
unite the North aud the world against her. II
Will verify the dismal predi ctioHs OF the sub
missioniste, and blast the reput utation of the
seeessions's. II will preeipitate South Caro-
lima from the highest pinnacle of fame to the
lowest depth OF humiliation. When / thiuk
OF the probability OF IT, 10y soul is so heavily
bordened with The awful res possibility OF the
act. that can hardly bring my thoughts to
decent order, or my pen TO decent style. IL
nothing else would stay the act, / would
cheerfuily surrender the power Of speech and
OF hearing for the balance OF my life TO avert
It. What do the advocates Of this desperate
measure promise themselves from ita 1T
will unite the Southern States" Are they
not united already Do not the rankest cow
ards SAY there must be resistancsl Does one
or them disapproye OF the step which South
Carolina has taken, save ~ TO timsl And has
she not up TO this time, repelied the obiec ctious
10 her hastef Her people forced her 70 quick
secession and here they were satisfied with
dispatch. aud perfectly willing TO await the