The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-11-20
''ResignatfOn''Of BrechInridse.

John G Breckinridge has published
manifesto to the people of Kentucky. da-
ted at Bowling Green, the Rebels head
quarters, but we have been unable to get
sight of it. The St. Louis Republican
gives us some insight into its contents.
Mr.. Breckenridge says it is written at the
first moment, since his expulsion from
home, that he could place his feet on the
soil of Kentucky. This is a most impu-
dent perversion of the truth, for he never
was expelled from home; he left Lex
ington impelled by his guilty fears of ar
rest, and his retreat was lighted by the
burning self consciousness of a completely
with treason. When the mock Duke"
of Tobin's Comedy is compelled to lay
aside the borrowed robes of authority, he
does it with constrained grace ''as we'll
bred dog walks down stairs when he sees
preparations making for kicking him
down. and In the same spirit Breckin-
ridge resigned his seat as member of
the Senate Of the United States, saying,
Il exchange with proud satisfaction, a
term of six years in the United States
Senate, for the musket of soldier
This is the bluster of the "Anceut Pts
tol." for we all know that the service of
the ex, Ex-senator, if he serves at all, will be
in some honorary position, with sword
and on a charger. Our St. Louis cotem-
porary says the address would fill two of
its columns, and is made up of misrepre-
Isentatlons.
| Breckenridge says there is no longer a
Senate of the United States, within the
meaning and spirit of the Constitution
"the United States no longer exists-the
Union is dissolved" But Kentucky is
still one Of the United States; his de-
ceived and betrayed constituents are still
loyal they recognize proudly the exist
euce of the government of their fathers,
and they deny that the Union is dissolved.
! By what argument can Mr. breckenridge
assert that the Union is dissolved, now,
more than III August last, or that the ex-
isteDce Of the United States has been i'm
periled since the session of Congress
when he occupied his seat as Senator
OF the United States from the State of
Kentucky, and drew his pay from tie
Federal Treasury for his services If
Mr. Breckinridge believed, when he took
the Governments gold, that the United
States no longer existed, and that the
Union was dissolved, be acted like a petty
larceny thief and swindler. He knows
that his course is indefensible; he is
self convicted Of the viIest treacherv to
the State which has honored him and,
being unwilling to face the indignant
people of Kentucky, he his sneaked away
from their presence, and, surrounded by
cutthroatS and thieves, incendiaries and
felons, as body guard, has issued his i'm
pudent manifesto
We do not care particularly about see
ing the text of this last dying speech and
confession of John c. Breckenridge We
know that he can not justify his conduct,
but that he has the insidious talent to
conceal his real purposes beneath glitter
ing sentences and honeyed words The
Republicans calls them "frivolous and un-
justiGable excuses for a bad act" But
the trial aud condemnation of Mr.. Breck-
inridge were held aud pronounced before
the jury cf popular opinion months aud
months ago. While he was holding the
second Office in the gift of this people, aud
presiding over the Senate of the United
States, while he was afterwards a candi-
date for the Presidency, aud while he was
exercising the duties of United States
Senator, he was plotting to betray his
country, and was in league with the infa-
nous traitors Hho conspired to break up
the Government
Of all the persons engaged in this ne
farious work, he achieved the lowest
depth of degradation, for he allowed him
self to be used as a fourth candidate to
distract and divide the vote of the coun-
try, with the full confidence that it would
lead to the election of Mr.. Lincoln, and
thus present to the Southern malcontents
a pretext for their acts of secession. j
W bile those who were his fellows in this
treachery left their seats in Congress, he
remained there, and gave aid to them in
opposing every appropriation of men and
means to resist the rebellion, although it
was menacing within five or six miles, the
very Federal Capitol where he was sit
ting. No man is more deeply and terri.
bly, responsible for the blood and pillage
and crime and horror of the last six
months He knows it, too; he knows
that he is as guilty as Cain after the first
fratricide, and he flies from the ven
geance that awaits him. He is refugee
from his native State, with the brand
upon his brow and the knawing vulture
OF remorse at his heart. His fate willIbe
that of traitor.