New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-07


voted and spoken, we should have been inclined
TO dismiss tho testimony, strong as it is, of his
political friend, the editor Of Tie PadHc0h Herald.
But every word he has uttered, and eyory vote
he Las given, show that bis friend is perfectly
right when he says "Breckinrdge means Sc
" cession," and urges him to be honest, and
avow bis meaning. His whole course during the
four weeks Congress has been in sessIon shows
that he is with Mason and Hunter, Cllngman
and Chestnut, Slidell and Benjamin, ToombS ana
jeff Davis, and that be has been trying to place
Kentucky where South Carolina aud Georgia and
Louisiana aud Virginia are. lie may protest bis
allegiance, but the whole country, North and
South, knows that in all but the overt act be is
az much traitor as the other Senators wo have
named. Why does he not follow them out of
the Senate Why does he not 60 home, and
instead of making a futile opposition to the
passage Of bills for the unfolding of the
Government, lead Kentucky out if he can,
a. Mason and Hunter led Virginia out They
did Mt wait for the action of their State. They
did MT say 60 shall share the destiny" of Viz
einia. They made her destiny. Their courage IS
tested for if they had failed to carry Virginia
out of the Union, they would have been outlaws
in their own State, as well as traitors to the
General Government. If Mr.. Breckenridge Is not
an agent of the Confederate States stationed in
Washington to spy out the condition OF affairs
aud give information TO his friends in Richmond
an hypothesis which is not in the highest
degree creditable to his courage-he would bel
ter show his pluck, as well as his honesty, by
following the advice of The PddUcah Heratd-
res gniDg his seat, relinquishing his salary, and
openly joining the SecessiOnists OF his own State
The bold bad men who left the Senate, and are
now in arms against the Government, may well
SOW 10 this prater about other mems courage:
Art thou a,eard
To be the same In thine own act and yslof 81,
A. thou art Ia drsirel Woudit thou have that
Which thou esteem's, tho ornament Of hie'
And I've a coward ia thine own ests,ui-
lie Ing dare not wsit upon you'd
Like the poor es the adsge"
We hope we have all due respect for cOnstiiu-
tional scruples on the part Of Senator's aud Rep
resentatiyes. And if Mr.. Breckenridge had, in a
majority of cases, or in any respectable number
of cases, seen his way clear to vote with the
supporters Of the Government, and sustain the
measures they have brought forward 10 prevent the
destruction of the Union, we should not feel jus
tided in pronOuncing him 80 deliberately dis
loyal Se0a.or. But when man who has had 40
small share in the political movements which have
resulted in rebellion, man who gave the Pfesl-
dential election 10 ihe Republicans by consen'lng
TO act as the instrument for breaking up the
Democratic party, man under whose admins
trl,ion, in part the treason progressed until II
became 20 formidable and dangerous as to de-
mand. possibly extra constitutional measures to
suppress it,--when such a man. notorious lai'-
trdinarian. like all other shareholders, wherever
Slavery is concerned, comes into the senate, and
ia a time of public disaster and peril occupies
our time and outragol our patience BY qubbIlug
aud word.cntching, and vague clustering denun-
citation Of the friends of the Government and of
their measures We have no scruPie in styling
him a concealed traitor, and in recommending
him 30 show his courage if ne possesses any, by
dining tbe men who supported him for the Pres'
dcncy Ter the purpose OF making an excuse ior
rebellion. aud ahu must By this time be pretty
thoroughly disgusted with the conduct Of their
Standard bearer.