Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-06-04
HON. JoHN G. BRECKINRIDaE.


We find the following in relation to the dis
tinguished and popular Vice President of the
United States in the Kentucky Statesman;
"THR CHARLESTON CONVENTION BRRcK-
IsRIDeK.-The discussion of the respective
merits and availability of the several Demo
cratic statesmen likely to come before the
Charleston Convention, in connection with
the Presidential nomination, we notice has
given very prominent mention to the name Of
our distinguished fellow citizen, the Hon.
John G. Breckenridge. His many friends in
this State have begun to respond with great
q enthusiasm to the voice of the country, and Q
number of our contemporaries of the press,
placing his name at the head OF their columns,
have expressed decided preference in his
behalf We have been no Indifferent nor In
attentive observer of these indications of pop
ular feeling and known to be, as we are, q
warm personal and political friend OF Mr..
Breckenridge, 1t may have been remarked in
some quarters that we have not before allud-
ed to this subject, nor expressed our symps'
thy with these manifestations Of public senti-
ment in his favor. Our silence in this regard
arises from the fact that we have the very
highest authority to know that II is not Mr..
Breckinridge's desire to become the subject oil
such notice, nor to enter into any struggle
for the favorable presentation OF his name to
the Charleston Convention by the State Of
Kentucky. We have the best reason to know
that neither he nor any friend by his author
ity has instigated any expressions of the press
or encouraged any popular movement in his
behalf, and that it is not his desire that such
should be DONE"
The course Mr. Breckenridge appears by
this article to have marked out for himself,
will increase popular admiration for him.
His rapid rise, and the elevated station he
has reached at so early period of life, in
stead of stimulating his ambition to an inor-
dinate degree, seem only to have strengthened
the natural modesty that forms SO charming q
trait in the character Of this remarkable young
statesman. Many public man, with not a
title of John G. Breckenridge popularity, nor
half his qualifications, has started in full cry
after the Presidency, and been greatly dis
pleased with his countrymen for not endors-
ing his own estimate of his claims and fitness.
The Difference Mr.. Breckenridge has always
shown for those members of his party who
have seen more political service than himself.
has won for him the sincere admiration Of the
veterans in our ranks. Prior to the assem-
| bling of the Democratic National Convention
| in 1852 an attempt was made by certain not
over wise members of our party to cast odium
was supposed might come before the Conven-
ton, and to give prominence to the "Yonng
American element of our organization. Mr..
Breckenridge, then serving his first term in
| Congress- we believe, and one of the youngest
members of the House, delivered a speech in
defence of the assailed veterans, that attracted
the attention of the whole country and secur-
ed its author place in the front rank of con-
sentative young statesmen. We remember
with what delight that speech was read by
the friends of Mr.. Buchanan in Pennsylvania,
and how the hearts of our oldest Democrats
warmed to the generous young Kentuckian
who so CALAMITY stepped forward in defence
of those who had been for many years the
staunchest pillars of Democracy.
AT the later period Mr.. Breckenridge gave
another striking proof of his disposition to
yield to the claims of older men than himself.
He was member Of the Cincinnati tonven-
vention in 1885, and when his name was
brought forward for the Vice Presidency, he
arose and asked permission to decline, re-
marking that he thought promotion ought
to follow seniority But such was his hold
upon popular affection, and such the admira-
ton excited by his manly bearing in the Con-
vention that in spite of his declination one
State after another cast its vote for him, till
he was proclaimed unanimously the nominee,
amid the enthusiastic plaudits OF the assem-
bled multitude.
The same modest abnegation that distn-
guished his conduct in 1856, characterizes it
at the present time. With troops of ardent
friends ready at the first word from him to
make an earnest and powerful effort to secure
] his nomination for the Presidency by the
Charleston, Convention, lie modestly stands
| back and withholds his sanction from any
movement in his own behalf, even in his own
State. His countrymen will esteem him the
more highly for it, though they may not agree
to dispense with his services to the nation.
In Pennsylvania the question of the Presi-
dency has been very little discussed, and no
one can undertake to declare what may be
the preference of the great body of the Demo-
cracy But this we think it would be safe to
say-that, leaving out one or two eminent
Pennsylvanians, there is no man in the Union
whose nomination by the Charleston Conven-
ton would be more warmly responded TO by
the Democracy of the old Keystone, than that
of John G.. Breckenridge of Kentucky.