Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-03-21
General Giteraturc.
The Inauguration of the New
Government.

! COVGrDulOUD'
JAMES BUCHANAN, of Pennsylvania,
and John G. breckenridge, Of Kentucky,
having been chosen by majority of their
fellow-citizens tu fill the highest offices in
the government of the Uuited States, than
which no high no or could have been be.
slowed in This or any other country, were,
on Wednesday, the 4th inst, inductod into
office with appropriate ceremonies.
BIOGRAPHY OF MIR. BUCHANAN.
Mr. Buchanan is about sixty five years
Of age, and though his head is Of snowy
whiteness he seems t. bear his age re
marGably well, lie has never been mar
ried, tis vital temperament is predom-
nant, and all the olementso Of health aud lon
gevity are very apparent. He is not
man of intensity and enthusiasm like Jack
son and Clay, but is cool, self-posscssed,
careful, non committal, and prudent. like
Van Buren,; more disposed to 20 with cir
cumstances than to step forth and control
and mould them on the basi fhis own will.
Hence he acts in concert with his parti-
sans rather than assumes bold, dictat' rial
position, and is more populor as a friend
and associate than looked up to as lea
der.
lie was born in the county of Franklin
in the State cf Pennsylvania, of compara-
lively humble, but honest and industrious
parents. Though his parents were able to
give him a good classical and academical
education, he may be called the architect
Of his own fortunes. After completing
his school education he studied law in Ian.
caster County, in the same State, which
has ever since been his home In 1914
and 1915 he was elected to the State Leg.
islature, and in succeeding years rose to a
high rank among the eminent lawyers
which Pennsylvania could boast.
He was elected to Congress in 1920, and
was continued a member for ten years sue
cessively, and retired in 1881. General
Jackson soon after rendered him the mis-
sion to Russia, which he accepted and filed
with abb ity. Among other services, he
ne gotiated the first important commercial
treaty between the United States and Rus
sia, which secured to our commerce the
Russian ports in the Baltic and Black Sens.
Shortly after Mr.. Buchanan's return
= from Russia, the Democratsin Pennsylvania
, Legislature made him their candidate for
United States Senator, and elected him
7 He was twice reelected to the Senate, and
l remained in that body until his resignation
r in March, lS45, when he accepted from
President Polk the first seat in his cabinet
as Secretary Of State
, At the close Of the Polk administration
he retired again to his home in Pcnnsyl.
vania, but continued to take an active in
; terest in the political events and questions
of the times
! On the accession of Mr.. Pierce to the
; Presidency, Mr.. Buchanan was selected tc
fill the leading foreign mission-that o.
= minister to England, which he filled will
, credit until $50.
SKETCH OF MIR, BRECKENRIDGE.
JOHN CADELL BaECKENRIDsG, is about
thirty-six years of age. He is doscen
dant Of one of the Oldest families in Ken.
tucky--a family distinguished for its abili.
ty and eloquonco, His father died when
he was not quite three years old, leaving
but little OF any property for the fu urC
support of his family From the death OF
his father, until he graduated at the college
=,
paternal grandmother. That venerable
lady still lives to see the recipient of h.r
bounty the Vice President of the United
States.
After he left the college. he commenced
the study of law, which he practiced until
the breaking out of the Mexican war, wher
+ he accepted majo RS commission in one o
the Kentucky regiments.
His campaigning over, lie returned t,
the practice of the law in Lexington, where
, he soon made name for himself at a bal
renowned for the learning, cloquence, ant
acumen Of its members. In ls4l he was
. elected to the State Legislature. In thi
new sphere he at once established for him
self a distinguished position as an orator
His style is compact, severe, and logical
while his views on public questions ar,
marked by soldity and breadth. Thes,
qualifications induced the party to selec
him as their successful candidate on Con
gressional nomination.
Mr.. Breckenridge's dc5W in the nationa
Legislature was ps brilliant as in the Ken
lucky House. His talents and power wer
Immediately recognized, and he became a
= once u marked man. Courteous and con
= ciliatory i'll lis bearing toward all, he wa
equally layorite with both sides of thu
House. In 1858 he was re- elected to Con
gress,
1t was Mr. Breckenridges intention t.
have remained in retirement after the clost
Of his second Congressional term, and will
this view he declined the Spanish mission
: rendered to him by President Pierce.
His nomination for the Vice Presden
at the Cincinnati Convention was doubtles
as unexpected to himself, as it was to mos
of his friends.
, Mr.. Breckenridge is mar ricd, and has
family five or six young children.
He has a moderate fortune, acquire
principally by his own eXertions,
: 1IH Two hundred persons are said t
have been frozen to death in the Unite
Statcs Iuri No, tba praCont y,;ntor