The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-07-25
Life of John C. Breckenridge.

~''' S"'"eutc " "" HuIy'dnu IHNltWe DeW
ocrdtic Convention for President
Vice. President Breckinndge. having
been nominated at Baltimore for the Pres
idency 10y the delegates WHO seeded from
tie Democratic Nalioua! Convention, We
reproduce the following sketch Of him,
originally published in the Philadelphia
Inquirer on the l7th Of April
To sketch John G. Breckinridge is no
easy task The d.tiiculIy is to keep the
pen IN proper restraint, f r such is tie in,
sp'ralion Uf the theme, that the tompta.
ton 10 run off INTO psu-y.r,c is almost
irresistible. Let us give few dates and
then pas. IN presentation Of the man
himself, for after all ii is view uf the
living man tie people want, and net
lesson in chronology.
John G. Breckinridge is thirty nine
Years Old, aud V,cv lr-siJ-u, "f the Uni.
ted Sts'es. lie is n Kenluckl.n, b,rn
near Lexington, January l6 1921, and
Is \ rch"iar, Lawyer ana Sgl,re,. For
these pur-uria he AS educated .t Central
College, Princeton, Trans, Ivails Institute,
aud Oh ,he field Of MeXico. Alter the
C!u"e - The MrXic,n war. he returned To
h', pracl!se a. the bar. hu, was suuu el
ected to the Legislature oi Kentucky, aud
verS SoOn ni,rf lnaI hEn,U to the Nation
Al ii"Use "t Representatives, where he
served from 1881 To- 1855 Daring the
later period he Mas 'tfcrrd the mission
10 Span Uy President Pierre. lh,s was
gii,t'ripg temptation to 20 young y
man, hut aneI sh,It reflection the prof
TO-: Was mo!ss,Iy hu; firmly declined, he
Cause his business auu pv.".""' nj 'lrs re
lGired hoh:- attention, and leciusc Of his
iesirs TO withdraw for time from pub
llc kie. THIS purpose he oheyed until
the Cincinnati Convention. in 1856. bv
lis spontaneous suffrage, afterwards ron
Nrnied 10y .he people, male him V.ce'
Prrsi .ent Of the United States. By vir
tue OF this office he Is now presiding over
the American Senate. His term does
not expire until the Sd Of March, 1861
but he has already been returned TO tie
Senate To- represent The Stale Il Kentucky,
from that day until March 3D. 1867
This ~ u skeletOu sketch Vi Mr.. Breck
'nridge's career Mach might I've sxih
shout IL, hut its great distinctive features
Is it's pre- eminent success. In college he
was ct.ieI Of his comrades, and the bright
est Intellect in every class st the bar lie
"ss prominent from ;he very start; in
tho army he stepped at once int, conspic.
uous rank and high esteem in the Leg
stature be WAS the acknowledged first
ors,or Of the "aoiorcusly eloquent State
Of Kentucky ~ on The broader theatre
Of Congress lie WAS. by universal consent,
the leader and champion Of his party.
and ahlest exponent of its policy; while
~ b's latest aud highest position, il 10
bis characteristic distinction to have been
elected at the nge at thin, five, when
eight years younger iban the Youngest OF
tls predecessors, and TO have discharged
the duties Of the President Of the Senate
With grace, dignity and Justice uusur
passsd by the eldest aud sblest OF them
all. Such career could not fail, and Of
course has not failed. 20 st,ract the widest
public notice. II must mean something.
Let us nov preseLt the man. Major
BrsckiDridge is, in person. about six feet
high, with, 1.-THE. we'll knit, graceful
form moulded for activity and strength.
Accordingly, he has always been fond Of
manly and athletic sports, SURPRISING his
fellows in these ~ in other contests, for
he never tailed to beat them all. Indeed,
there is a we'll authenticated instance in
one Of his exciting campaigns Of his
'jumping into the affections" Of squad
Of the Kentucky sovereigns, and eel,ing
their votes 10y bea,ing them ali At long
leap, which he did without any trouble
whatever. IA ususI in all cases Of great
force OF character. he hns strong y muk.
ed features--,he broad, high impending
forehead u ths man OF mind, and the
massive jsw and f,m;y se, mouth 6eto
kening TesoInIs will and courage. His
hair nov very little slvsred--is dark
aud thrown back from bis temples, aud
his eye is lika an ssgls's. When absosb
ed ~ thought, bis face ws.rs severe rs
pect but 10 secial life, il 10 . Aue manly