Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-19
Kentucky Against lincoln.


We presen: to our readers this morning the admirable
address Of the chivaric John G. Breckenridge late Vice
President Of the United States the freemen Of Ken
lucky, which mentioned yesterday and We rejoice
20 witness the bold aud patriotic position he has assumed
We have not been supporter Of Mr. Breckinri1ge Born
aad educated Whigs, we supported Mr. John Bell, OF
tennessee at the last Presidential election, aud opposed
Mr. Breckenridge And when after the election Of the
Black Republican President It found that all that
had been feared from his election wss to be realized
and portion of the Southern States had reyoted and
established the Southern Confederacy, we were dis
satisfied with the course OF M. Breckenridge.
He still chung to the fragment Of the Union, and
seemed to indulge the hope that the controversy might
be vet amicaby settled aud the Union restored or re-
constructed. 1t seemed to u.s. he ought to have seem
a. Mr. Bell the bearer of the whig banner discovered
that his favorite Union was fatally disrupted, and could
never be reconstructed and that his State Of Kentucky
by all the considerations which ought to influence
free people, bound 10 take her position in the new
Gonfederlcy but he still clung 10 what seemed to us
utterly hopeless. When the usurpation OF power
by the Lincoln administration had progressed until an
unlimited despotsm had been established Mr.. Breckin
ridge did come forward in the Senate OF the United
States with bOldness and ability could but admire
and exposed the deestabe docirites and awess acts
Of the usurp,rs.
But we knew that such opposition In words would have
10 effect against the armed hosts Of the tyraHt. We
however, hoped that the Kentucky statesman would soon
discover the absolute necessity of open resistance by
the body Of the people, and that he would place himself
their head post himself in their ranks and In this
address We find all our expectations fully realized and
we now rank Mr.. Breckuridge with the patriot wSig
John Bell Of Tennessee, Stephens Of Ca Benjamin Of
Louisiana R,ves Of Va, Morebesd Harsou, Ewing and
numerous others OF Kentucky, ard trust that every rat
o,ic whig Of wes.ern Virginia, East Tennessee and
Kentucky will rally under this noble banner.
It would be idle now to talk Of old party distinctions
aud divisions. The issue ia now between liberty and
slavery, but the noble principles of the old whig organ
zAton above all others demand Of to array ourselves
under the banner Of the government. constitu-
ora government with rigid observance in practice OF
AL the provisions Of the fundamental statutory and COM
mon law for the protection of life liberty and property
has always been the cardinal principle in every wing plat
form, and in the Southern Confsderacy only ia found
constitutional government or any respect whatever Tor
the rights of In the Lincoln government, all con.
s.uional statutory and common law are acknowedgedy
set at naug and the rights of men tramped under foot
with savage barbary. We, therefore, cannot see how
any wbig can hesitate in taking his position.
Weean but feel the most intense interest in the fate
Of Kentucky. We Sese once people, one State
We stood shoulder 10 shoulder In the second fer
Independence with Great Britain, while Massachusetts,
now invading our territory with her mercenary troops
was combined with the foreign enemy against u5. We
were both Wing States at the last Presidential election
the people of Virginia and kentucky concurred 10
fisng to declare that the eiaction Of Lincoln
would be a sufficient cause for dissolution of the
Union, and resolved to await the ayowa Of his policy.
When the President issued his declaration Of war
agsnt the Southern States both refrs sd to deach
military force for the execution of this wicked purpose
and thus far the States concurred but here unor
tunAtsly parted Virginia after took her position
With the Southern Confederacy but the people OF Ken
lucky we're deceived by ambitious and selfish politicians
no the hopes Of neutrality and peace whilst the prepare
lions Tor the war were being made which is now carried
on against them.
How all this happened exposed BY Mr.. breckenridge
in his address, in mode that must carry conviction TO
every sensible mar, and the public indignation
against the psrfdoas politicians By shom they have
been deceived.