Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-01-23
rg Hon. John C. Breckenridge, has writ


ten an able aud patriotic letter, 70 Hon Il.
MagofiD, Governor of Kentucky, on the cris-
Is. We are sorry We have not room to lag II
before our readers The following Is the con- +
cluding portion of it,
The immediate question now presented IL,
peace or war. Whether the right Of 3 State
or States 10 dissolve connection with the Fed
eral system be reserved right, or one grow
ing on. of the Constitution, or the right IT
revolution the great fact hes before us, that 4
the act has been done, sni we are not permit +
ted to doubt that in few weeks seven or /
eight States. containing larger population
than the thirteen Colonies at the epoch OF the 4
revolution, will have withdFawen from me .
Union and declared their Independence -
Under whatever name disguised, a collision
of arms with them will be war.
The dominant party here, rejecting, pro
posing nothirg. are pursuing policy wbich,
uude- the name Of enforcing tue laws and
Furnishing traitors" threatens to plunge the
country into all the calsnsi'iss Q! civil
war.
The Federal Union cannot be preserved by
arms The attempt would uGiie the South
ern States in resistance while ia the North
area, multitude of true and loyal men never
would consent to shed the blood Of our pee
ME in the name and under the authority Of a
violated compact 4 serious Collision upon
existing issues would destroy whatever nope
may yet remain of preserving or reS'orelug
the Union An attempt to hold 1t together
! by the bayonet would exceed anything ; 50 re
| corded IN the annals OF human madness aud
/ folly It would briuE on q war unezanp's1
| fer0city. IN which every vital princilis q tie
UnioD would disappear forever.
/ II tue South should succeed = = maintaining
/ her Independence, the tends Il sII;nusi-'ss
! onceo5ersd by the contest between the Sec
tions would be transmitted - succeeding gen
eratlans. while. ifshe should be su1j0ga;s3,
/ the Government would become IN fuT1 All
| 10 fact consolidated, and would soon reach the
usual historical termination 10 4 military ceS-
potism. But her suLjugat'on IS lDpossIDie'
! without extermination-2uG tpat Il Is inPo5-
sible.
Aud yet the danger &C civil war Is imni-
nent, unless it shall be arrested ey prompt
and energetic action If before the passions
of men become aroused. series Of unioward
ev.uts drift us into strife. Kentucky and tie
other border States shall calmnly and firmly
present = united front against 1t, believe It
be arrested. Fifteen States arc potent to pre-
vent war. This. too. would strengthen All
the true men in the Northern States who re-
sist the atrocious policy. Upon this question
let us anuihila:e party The force party be
lieve that Kentucky and other Southern 0tat"s
/ are seriously divided on this subject Unless
this can be quickly shown 10 De de!esion, II
may become the parent of = brood OF wees
The wisdom of the I.ezi-ifsure 7ilt DOUBT
less provi .e whatever i neediui. get a. a
time Ike this. l. becom,s the Hcty' a. .. :
! the right. Of every mao 70 express Ii oGiAso4:
- and as one citizen Of the Common Se@i'l'
give voice for State Convention Is Is "uiy
- bv the direct action of the several Sta'es ID
e their sovereign capacity that ans thing eHsei'
4 mai can now be done: and. for one, desire ths'
, Kentucky may have 80 opportunity II deter
!, mine. IN the most solemn mEaOeT- ine l12@e
+ ment of her rights, and her si'i'Gae IL Il
r. present condition Of affairs
!. She has not been an inactive nor -n;5leEiou
: member OF the Coufederacy; ste : u -
:: presence OF great and startling events an
Il i not her nature to sit IN iis;less 2P2tny
). borne along Sy rapid currents. without Il
, pnyer to direct her course. Let her nav
n. the opportunity. through bar chosen IeFi5
Is scntafives. of deciding upaa the prospect
y reuniting all the States N = constitution
y Union or If thas shalt be impossible let hi
y be In a position - determine her owa desiin.
n This letter has grown longer than InIei
~ ocd, although I have adhered pretty S','>'
ii. to my original purpose. rather - present ia-i
OF aud nv impressions Of them. from this stan.
roint. than n euter upon elaborate d'sc0ss'
need not say to you, ny dear sir, tnst
= have uttered nothing Ia an obtrusjve spin
but rather reluctantly aud sorrowfully- n
y suggests0us 10 Tegaad u the action Of he
tucky are offered in the spirit Of loyalty TO q
State love aud viii ever obey They a
oi- clearly rigbt or very wrong II ri-ht :
u, pleasure win be mine to have said time
ch word If wrong. ! vii know how 20 be.
=, without q murmur. al the consequences
: an honest but terrible mistake.
iSe Very sincerely your friend.
as - r, T,----,