The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-11-06
Letter from Hon. John 9. BrecklnrIdge.

L6tt6f from nOh, junh " DIeChiAtiu66'
The frst copy Of the Louisville Courier.
published at Bowling Green. Kentucky.
contains lengthy and able letter from the
Hon. John G. Breckinridge. After review
ing the action Of the Kentucky Legislature,
aud giving general glance at the despotic
proceedings Of the Lincoln Government,
from its inception to the present time. he
concludes as follows,
l would speak Of these things with the
simple solemnity which their magnitude
demands, yet tits difficult to restrain the
expression Of just indignation. while We
smart under such enormities. Mr.. Lincoln
has thousands Of soldiers on our soil, nearly
all from the North, and most Of them for.
eigners, whom he employs - his instruments
Ito do these things. Bat few Kentuckians
have enlisted under his standard, tor We are
not yet accustomed to his peculiar form Of
liberty.
Twill not pursue the disgraceful subject.
Has Kentucky passed out Of the control Of
her own peoplsf Shall hirelings OF the pen.
recently imported from the North. sitting In
grand security at the Capitol. farce public
opinion to approve these usurpat,ons. aud
point out victimsi Shall Mr.. Lincoln.
through his German mercenariss, imprison
or exile the children of the men who laid
the foundations Of the Commonwealth, and
compel our noble people to exhaust them
selves in furnishing the money to destroy
their own freedom Never. while Kentucky
remains the Kentucky Of old--never, while
thousands Of her gallant sons have the will
and the nerve 10 make the State sing to the
music Of their rifles! The Constitution Of
the United States. which these invaders I'M
constitutionally swear every citizen whom
they unconstitutionally seize. TO support,
has been wholly abolished. 1t is as much
forgotten as il il lay away back in the twi-
light OF history. The facts have enumer-
ated show that the very rights most CAREFUL
~ reserved by it TO States and 10 indisidu-
ais. have been most conspicuously violated.
And this destruction has been accomplished
not BY the President alone. but by the Con-
gress also. and with the approval Of the
Northern States and people. They have
deliberately made the contest constitution
al struggle between so many millions on
one side and so many on the other--one par
" lighting fur subiugation. the other IN self
defence and for independence.
Whatever may be the future relations Of
the tive Confederacies, the idea Of restora-
tim Of the Union under the old Constitu-
ton is wholly visionary and delusiye. IL
The North should conquer the South. (Which
il will perceive to be impossible after few
hundred millions more shall be expended
aud few hundred thousand live lust,) the
character Of the Government would be rad
ically changed. Ii would probably not take
the form even Of mixed Government, but
would soon end in military despotism. Il
must soon become apparent TO all thoughtful
men that the last hope Of constitutional lib
erty lies in the early recognition Of these
great trulhs--in an honorable pease and
/ friendly intercourse.
I You declared your purpose not to engage
in the war TO subdue the South. and that
yoa would be neutral and mediate in the in
terests OF peace when aa opportunity should
offer. This i the recorded will 1T the State
as expressed BY the people. But those wha
assume TO represent you have violated that
will. They have attempted to burden you
with enormous taxes 10 prosecute war you
abhor, and to sustain Government which
has trsmpled under foot every safeguard Of
q Constitution which was the snly bond VI
your political connection with il. while they
have allowed that Government 10 cut you oh
i fr.m the only avenues Of trade which would
enable you 10 pay these taxes. They have
invited military fnrce Of that Government
to take possession al the State. and practical
" supercede the State Government. and they
have seen. with complaceney. these foreign
soldiers seize, imprls0n. and pursue hun
i dFg1s al your fellow citizens -fagitises,
withnu, crimr--over the plains and noun.
tains of Kentucky. Ia sord. they have
attempted. without consulting you, aud ..
gainst YOUR recorded wishes, 10 place you 10
active hostility to your Southern breihfen,
and 70 fx y0or political destiny with the
North.
For those Who. denied BIZ the Legislature
] the protection due 70 the humblest cliizen
have been delivered over 10 the tender mer.
eies of foreign mereensrIes, and hunted
like partridges on the morntains, what re.
mains bot imprisonment, exile. Or resIs
tances As one nf them. intend TO resist
will avoid conflict sith Keniuckians. ex
cspt in necessary self-defence; bat vii
! unite with nv fellos.citizens TO resist ths
, invaders who have driven Us from oai
/, homes. To this course We are impelled b,
!. the highest sense of duty and the irresisti
bic instincts Of manhood. To defend youl
birihright and mine. which Is more precioui
than domestic ease. 90 property, or life.
exchange. siih satisfaction, q term u 81,
years in the Senate Of the United States fel
The musket u soldier.
! This letter is srittsn al the first momen
since my expulsion from home that eouls
place my feel upon the soil Of Kentucky.
: have NOT bren able to see o. communicat
with my friend and colleague, Gov. Powell
. nor do know what course he will think
proper 10 take. Bot this you and know
thar his conduct will be controlled By pur
! motives. Your fellow-citizen,
!. JOHN G. BRECKENRIDGE.
!. Bowling Green, Ky, Oct 9. 1881.