The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-18

Letter from Hon. John G. Breekinridge.
The first copy Of the Louisville Courier, pub
lished at Bowling Green, kentucky, ntains
II lengthy and able letter from the Hon John
q. Brsckinridge. After reviewing the action
of the Kentucky Legislature, and giving a
general glance at the despotic proceedings of
tho Lincoln Government, from it's inception
to the present time, he concludes as follows.
would speak of these things with the SIM
pie solemnity which their magnitude de-
mands yet 1t Is difficult to restrain the
preston Of a just Indignation, while we smart
under such enormities. MIR. Lincoln has
thousands of soldiers on our soil, nearly all
nom the North and most of them Foreigners
whom he employs his instruments to TO
these things. But few kentnckians have en-
listed under his standard, tor we are not yet
accustomed to his peculiar form of liberty
will not pursue the disgraceful subject
Has kentucky passed out of the con troll of
her own people Shall hirelings of the pen,
recently imported from the North, sitting in
grand security at the Capital, force public
opinion 10 approve these usurpations and
point out victimsY Shall MIR. Lincoln, through
his German mercenaries, imprison or exile
the children OF the men who lad the founda-
tons Of the Common wealth, and compel our
noble people TO exhaust themselves in fur
nishing the money. TO destroy their own free
DOM Never while Kentucky remains the
kentucky of oid--neyer, while thousands of
10 make the State sing to the music of thpii
rifles The Constitution of the United
States, which these invaders unconstitution-
ally swear every citizen whom they uneon-
additionally seize, 10 support has been
wholly abolished. 1t is rs much forgotten
;ts If it lay away back in the twilight OF
history. The facts I have enumerated
show that the very rights most carefully
reserved by it to states and to individuals,
have been NEST conspicucusIy violated
And this destruction has been accomplished
not by the President alone, bnt by the Cou
gress also, and with the approval of the
Northern States and people. They have de-
liberately made the con test IL constitutional
struggle between SO many millions on one
side and many or the othrr--one party
fighting for subjugation, the other i'll self
defence and for Independence. Whatever
may be- the future relations OF the two Con
federacies, the idea of a restoration of the
Union under the old Constitution is wholly
visionary and delusiye. Ii the North should
Conquer the South, (Which it will perceive 10
be impossible after Il few hundred millions
more shall be expended and few hundred
thousands lives iUstD the character OF the
Government would be radically changed
II would probably not take the form even OF
Il mixed Government but would soon end il
u nilitary despotIsln. 1t must soon become
apparent 10 ali thoughtful men that the last
hope Of constitutional liberty lies in the ear
ly recognition OF these great truths-in an
honorable peace and friendly intercourse.
You declared your purpose not 10 engage
in the war to subdue the South, and that You
would be neutral and mediate In the IN teresis
OF peace when an opportunity should oGer.-
This is the recorded will OF the state as ex-
pressed by the people. But these who assume
10 represent yuu have Violated that will
They have attempted to burden you with
enormous taxes to prosecute Il war yon abhor,
and to sustain Il Government winch has
trampied under foot every safeguard ola Con
stitutIon which WAC the only bond OF your
pOhucal connection with II, " lille thev nave
allowed that Government to cut you OF from
the only avenues OF trade which would ena-
BILE you to pay these taxes. They have invited
Il military force of that Government to take
possession of the State, and practically super
sede the State Government, and they have
seen, with complacency, these foreign soldiers
seize, imprison, and pursue hundreds of your
fellow -citiZens-tEgitiVes without crime
over the plains and mountains of Ken t,tcky.
In 4 word, they have attempted, without con :
sulting you, and against oar recorded wishes,
to place you i'll active hostility to your South
ern brethren. and TO IL yeur political destlny
with the North.
For those who, denied by the Legisl sture
the protection due TO the hunlblest citizen,
have been delivered over to the tender mer-
cies of foreign mercenaries, and hunted like
par triGges on the mountains, what remains
but Imprisonment, exile, or resistance? AS
one Of them, l intend to resist. l will
avoid conflict with kentuckians, except in
necessary self-detence; but l will unite with
my fellow citizens to resist the invaders who
have driven US from our homes. To this
course we are impelled by the highest sense
of duty and the irresistible instincts of man
hood. To defend your birthright and mine,
which is more precious than domestic ease,
or property. or life, L exchange, with proud
satisfaction, a term of six years in the Senate
Of the United States tor the Iusket OF a SOL
der.
This letter is written at the first moment
since my expulsion from home that l could
place my feet upon the soil Of Ken lucky
have not been able to see communicate
with my friend and colleague, Gov. Powell
nor do l know what course he will think it
proper TO take. But this you andI knew
that his conduct will be controlled by pure
motives. Your fellow citizen,
JOHN e.. BRECKINnIDGB.
B0~lins Green, KY, Oct. s, 1861.
In this address, Mr.. Breckenridge returns
to the people Of Kentucky the commission OF
Senator in the Congress of the United States,
with which they had honored him. He does
not censure the Ken tueky Legislature as the
cause Of any of the evils to the State which
have arisen indirectly through the medium
of til at body. They are not he says, free.