Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-05

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TaE UCG rkESlDESr ELECT.
4 letter from Kentucky, published il tbs No"
York Journal Of Commerce, gives an interesting
sketch of John C. Breckenridge, from which we MAKE
the following extract
Major Brcckinr;dge's fnther, the late Joseph Ca6t'
breckenridge, a most eminent citizen of Kentucky
died at HI early nge, i'll 1923, leaving his only sun
John, an infant not quite three years old: and leaving
several daughters aud n Young widow, who "es II
daughter of DR.. Samuel S'nnbope Smith of New Jer,
sev, Il grand daughter of DR.. John Withertpoon Of
Revolutionary memory, and a lineal descendant OIL
| the great john Knox, the Scotch Reformer. From
the death OF his father, till he graduated ST the Coi
lege Of Danville, n.y., under the care OF his brother
in law, DR.. John G. Young. then and now President
Of that Coilege-which he did when abou; seventeen
years old-he WAS supported by his fathers mother
That venerable lady, now nearly eighty years OF age,
was left Il widow III early life by the death Of mar
John Breckinridge who WAS so distinguished a leader
Of the old Democratic party, in the DAYS Of Adams
and Jefferson, and has devoted all her subsequent
life and all her ample fortune, to acts of generosity,
ard to her children and their posterify-having lived
10 bless four generations OF them. As soon a. Mayor
Breckiuridgeq quit college, he commenced the study
ui law, with Judge VIM. Ousl-y, and il was this gen
tleman, who afterwards, as Governor Of KrDfnrky
gave him the commission Of iur in one uf The KEN
lucky regiments which Went to Mexico, an %cIiraorGi
nary mark of personal confidence, "a was thought, at
The time, fully justified by the young mans conduct
IN the army. Before he was Of full age, or about
that time, he and Thomas w. Bullock, E-n , a native
Of Kentucky and now Il lawyer OF Lexington. in That
STATE, commenced the practice of law at Burlington,
Iowa; whence after a year or two, both If them RI
turned TO Kentucky, and M'jor Breckenridge mar
riei u Miss l3urch, of Scott County, Ia lady of mode
rate fortune and great eXcellence,l and settled in
the county town nf that county (G-urg-town) in the
practice Of tho law. Not long afterwards he reInnv.
ed Ia Lexington, where, believe, he was born, and
where he has retided frr ten or twelve years past
lie was elected twice to the legislature Of Kentucky,
twice 10 Congress, aud now Vice President-tie Re.
markable fact being, that his elections have d'nays
been carried against heavy and decided party mrirri-
lies, 50 far HI Kentucky was cuncerned-a disrin
suished testimony TO the personal character Of the
man, five times repeated, aud never refused.
He is II lawyer in full practice; about thirtyEsix
years old possessed OF moderate, pernups hardly
competent, fortune, considering h,s public POSITION
aud IL the father of five or six young children. This
is just the unvarnished truth of the career of Major
Is from his birth till this day.
Tho writer OF these lines personally knows all the
facts and all the people material in This statement
As for Mnjor Breckenridge. 1 have known him since
his birth, and am old enough ~ be hs father. Every
time he was ever tried, no matter at what, he did
better than WIS expected, and keeps on doing 3d.
Every time he ever appealed 10 mankind, he was
found TO possess the most absolute spirit Of popu
iarity, as Lord Clarendon said Of John Hampden, Of
any man of his day. AS to his party politics, !
nave not n word TO say. AS 10 his being Vice Presi.
dent at %thirty.siI, | consider that his greatest mi..nr-
tune, and nearly u misuse of four of the best years
uf early manhood of one like him. lie is probably
the only man who ever held that otire VIII" did not
desire it, and tried 10 avoid it. But |, who differ
from him in many things, and who have no earthly
innfives IN magnify him, hesitats not to say, md say
il with profound conviction, that | should consider
my country sale, no matter what part: rules, if al!
party leaders were as able, IA upright, and as patri.
otto rs this young man. There 10 no need nf fahu.
lnus statements 10 give character 10 men like this
The story Of his life. truly told. il good enough. Aud
il ought 10 be truly told - for the sake not only Of
the past, but of that future. which, unless | greatly
err, God has in st0re for him.. Seven Years agu Was
listening to him at Il great meeting. the night before
one OF his elections, as he repeated in outline the
terrible canvass lie had passed through, and was
summing up, with great ardor, tbs probable result
They say they will beat me-. They will not, it nv
friends are true 10 me." True TO you.-Brat you"
exclaimed a man, perhaps the humblest IN the audi
rnce: I'VE will make you President before we ARE
done with you Aud the whole audience respond.
ed, with bursts of enthusiasm, TO m utterance appA-
ren:!y so ex;ruvagBut, but which, in reality. only
made audible a profound popular instinct! Tn"
Greeks would have called it Ill omen; but il wa
more. 1t WAS a proof that there are public men-not
Inany--but there are such-whom parties do not use,
INT lore! All is said in that one word. This is nInau
mhom has party lorcs. And who will rise up and say
thiS man does mol dcserrc that l0rr2