The Placer herald., 1861-02-16

have not referred to the Personal Liberty Bills
of the Northern States, because they are the sub
jects of State action, nor to various propositions
concerning the Fugitive Slave Law, because they
relate only to legislative action; nor to the ques
| tion concerning the right OF sojourn and transit
with slave property; nor to several schemes OF
Constitutional amendment when demand more
| for the South than the plan of Mr.. Crittenden.
l have said that, in my opinion, no thorough and
satisfactory amendments will be proposed to the
States by Congress, and | have taken the plan
which comedies the most to the Northern States,
and which presents the least that suppose any
portion of the South would accept.
And now, sir, tell you that the Republicans
in Congress, and fear in the country, never will
adopt it. They will not recognize in any form,
directly or indirectly, property in slaves They
will outlaw from the protection of the common
Government property to the value of four thous-
and millions of dollars, and which is interviewer
| with the very structure OF society in nearly half
| the States of the Union. They intend that the
South shall never have any portion in the terri
tory OF the Union. Their fixed policy is TO WELD
| the Federal Government for anti-savcry pTrpos
es, and to crush all opposition by arms | am
not mistaken us to the purpose of the rcsolutc
and controlling spirits Of that organization at
! this capital.
| Al an early day N the session. number of
gentlemen fearing that no suitable guarantees
could be proposed by Congress, began to look to
the States aud the people. The Republicans
have control Of the Northcrn States our friends
| there were, of course. unable TO movc. An cav
nest clio.t was made here 10 secure Conv cntion
of the Southern States. The plan could not
command the requisite support. and was lost in
| The rapid progress of events. NcXta more hope
full movement was SET on foot, looking to an i'm
me liatc conference of the border slavchodng
States embracing Tennessee and North Carolina
with view to unite theiy counsels and avert
| the danger of civil war But here, also, the OBJ
slaclcs proved insurmountblc, aud the time for
such 'on has passed. Each Of these States,
therefore, must decide for itself the attitude it
will occupy in this emergency
The Immediate question now presented is peace
or war. Whether ,ue right OF State States
to dissolve connection with the Federal system be
u rcsc. we'd right or growing out of the Con
stitution, or the right Of revolution, the great
fact lies before us that the act has been done;
and we are not permitted to DOUBT That in Il few
weeks seven or eight States. containing a larger
population than The Thirtccu Cocnics at the
epoch of the Revolution, will have withdrawn
from the Union and declared their Independence.
| Under whatever name disguised, collision of
arms with them will be war.
| The dominant party mere, rejecting everything,
proposing nothing, arc pursunga policy which.
under the name of enforcing the laws" and
''punishng traitors" threatens TO plunge the
country into all The caamllss of civil war.
The Federal Union cannot ne preserved by
arms. The attempt would unitc The Southern
| States in resistance, while in The Norm great
multitude of true and loyal men never would
consent TO shed the blood OF our people in the
| nIme and under the authority o, IA violated com
pact "A serious collision upon existing issues
would destroy whatever hope may vel remain OF
preserving The Union. An attempt to hold il to-
gethcr by the bayonct wonld exceed anything yet
recorded in the annals OF human madness and
folly. 1t would bring on n war Of unexamplcd
fcrocity. in which every vital principle OF the
Union would disappear Forever II tie South
should succeed in maintaining bcr independence.
the icuds and animoslies cngcndcrcd by the con
| test between the sections would be transmitted to
succeeding generations while, if she should be
subjugatcd, the Government would become in
TO m and in iact consolidated aud would soon
reach the usual is,Orical .crm nation in mill
tary despotism. Dut her suDjugllon is impossi-
ble without .tcrmnation-and that is mpossi-
bic
And yet The danger OF civil war is imminent,
unless it shall be arrested by prompt and euclget-
ic action. Ii, before the passions Of men become
~ ouscd aud a series of unoward events drifts
us into strife, Kentucky and the other border
States snail calmly and firmly present Il united
front against it. l believe il may he arrested.
Fifteen States are potent to prevent war; This
TOO, would strengthen all the true men in the
Northern States who resist The airocious policy
Upon this question: let us annihae party. The
force party believe that Kentucky and other
Southern States are seriously divided on this sub
ject. Unless this can he quickly shown TO be IL
delusion, it may become the parent Of Il brood of
woes.
The wisdom Of the Legislature will doubtless
provide whatever is necdIul; yet al time like
this it becomes the duty as it is the right of cv-
cry man to express his opinions: and as one cit
| zen OF the Commonwealth give nv voice for u
State Convention. 1t is on'y by the direct ac-
ton OF the several States. in their sovereign ca
pacity that any thing ercctua can now be done;
and, FOR one, desire thai Kentucky may have an
| opportunity to determine, in the most solemn
manner, her Judgment of her rights and hcr at
| titudc in the present condition OF affairs. She
| has not been an inactive or inglorUus member of
| the COncdctacy; she is in the presence of great
and startling events, and il is not her nature to
sii in listlcss apathy, borne along by rapid cur
rents, without the power to direct her course.
Let her have the opportunity. through her chosen
representatives, OF deciding upon the prospect OF
rcunting all the The States in Constitutional
| Union, or, If lat shall be impossible let her be
in a position to determine her own destiny.
| This letter has grown longer than | intended,
| although have adhered pretty closely to my
| iginal purpose, rather TO present facts, aud my
| impressions of them from this standpoint. than
| to enter upon elaborate discussion. need not
say TO you, dear sir, that have uttered nothng
in an obstrusivc spirit hut rather reluctantly and
sorrow ulv. My suggestions ia regard to the ac
ton of Kentucky are offered in spirit Of loyal
ty to the State ! love and will ever obey. They
arc clearly right or very wrong. If right the
pleasure will be mine 10 have said timely word;
If wrong | will know how to bear without Il
murmnr AL the consequences of an honest but
terrible mistake.
Very sincerely your friend,
JOHN G. BRECKINRIDGE
Hon. B. MAGo 'FlN, Governor of Kentucky.
*NorE.-Thc language OF Mr.. Crittcndcn's res
olution on this point may be liable to miscon-
struc:ion, but know that it was intended to en-
brace after acquired territory south of 80 deg. 80
min.
| IMMIGRATION FOR lSG0.-From the report
of th, Nnu V,rl- of Eni