Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-29
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

| Mn. BREcKrNRlDGE.-John C. Breckinridp ps il
thirty nine years old, and Vice President of the
United States. He is u Kentuckian, born near
Lexington, January 10, 1921, and is scholar,
lawyer and soldier. For these pursuits he was
educated at Centre College, Princeton, Transyl.
vania Institute, and on the field in Mexico, where
he served as maj of infantry. After the Close of
the Mexican war, he returned to his practice At
the bar, but elected to the Legislature Of
Kentucky, and very soon after that again TO the
National House Of Representatives, where he
| served from 1851 to 1885, During the latter De-
rod be was offered the mission to Spain by Presi.
dent Pierce. This was glttering temptation to
so young man, but after short reflection the
proiler was modestly but firmly declined, because
MS business and personal affairs required boIae
attention, and because of his desire to withdraw
for time from public life. This purpose he obey
ed until the Cincinnati convention in 1856, by its
spontaneous suffrage, afterwards confirmed by
the people, made him Vieo-Presdent Of the Uni
ted States. BY virtue Of this office he is now pre-.
siding over the American Senate. His term does
not expire until the Sd of March, 1861 but he has
already been returned to the Senate to represen.
the State Of Kentucky from that day until March
Sd, 1867.
Major Breckenridge is in person about six feet
high, with 1.-THE, well-knt, graceful form, moul-
ded for activity and strength. His first election
to Congress was wonderful achievement The
district for which he was returned was the district
aud home of Henry Clay, man for whom Major
b. always entertained an exalted opinion The
district was whig by majority of sixteen hun
dred His competitor General Leslie Coombs,
was one of the shrewdest tacticans and ablest de-
baters in Kentucky. Yet, Mr Breckenridge, beat
ing down this heavy majority and this strong an
tagoniSt, was elected by majority of more than
five hundred. The result was subject of remark
i'll all political circles. In his second canvass the
wings evinced rcsolute purpose to recover the
district, and brought into theeld Governor Letch-
er-an experienced campaigner-of great ability
and established reputation, and altogether the
strongest whig in the State. The canvass was Of
the hottest kind, and as many will remember, the
interest and excitement spread over the whole
country. But the second victory of the rising
young democrat was even more signal than the first
Following this came the proffered mission to
Spain and its modest declinature. Thon the spon.
aneous call to the Vice Presidency, then his elec-
ton to the Senate, and now his nomination for
the Presidency.
GENERAL LASE.-Gen. Joseph Lane, the can
didate for Vice. President on the ticket with Mr..
Breckenridge, is u native of North Carolina, and
is in the 5sth year of his age. At IN early age
his father settled in Kentucky, but shortly after
wards the subject of this sketch settled in Indiana
where he became mercantile clerk until 1922,
when barely Of age, he was elected to the Legsla-
ture, and was re- elected for period of twenty
four years. In 1916, on the breaking out of tho
Mexican war, he RI signed his seat in the Indiana
Senate, and entered Capt. Walkers company Of
volunteers as u private. lie was. however, be-
fore leaving for the seat of war, unanimously
elected Colonel Of the Indiana Regiment, and
few days after vas appointed by President Polk
as Brigadier General. lie Immediately joined
Gen. Taylor on the BraZos.
The heroic conduct of Gen. Lane throughout
the whole war, both under Gen. Taylor and Gen.
Scott, gained for him the proud title Of "Marion
of the army" AT the close of the Mexican war
he returned to Indiana and followed the pursuit
Of farmer, but was soon appointed Governor Of
Oregon, whittier he proceeded overland in advance
of the expedition of Col. Fremont, many Of
whose men periShed on the route. Gen. Lane
performed the trip in six months although sever
nj of his men, fearful of starvation, deserted.
Gen. l.. served rs Governor of Oregon until the
election Of Gen. Taylor, when he was superseded,
but soon after he was elected delegate to Con-
grcss, and in 1859, when the territory was admit
ted as q State, he was elected United Stutes
Senator, seat he still holds.
Mr.. DoUGLAs.-Mr. Douglas is native Of
Brandon, Vermont, ani is in the 4Sth year of hia
age. After serving at the cabinet making buSi-
ness for eighteen months, he removed to Canaan
daigua New York, where he studied law, and in
1893 started for the West and settled in Illinois.
Here he became clerk, kept school, and prac-
ticed law. Before he was % years of age he was
elected Attorney General Of the State by the
Legislature which he subsequently resigned on
being elected to the Legislature Subsequently he
was appointed register of the land Office then Sc
cretary of state, and finally n Judge of the su
preme court of the State. In lS43 he was elected
to the United States House of Representatives.
where he served until 1916, when he chosen
United States Senator where he has remained
ever since.
Mr.. FITzpATRicK.-lion Ben amin Fitzpatrick.
the nominee for lice President on the ticket with
Mr.. Douglas, has for several years occupied seat
III the L. S. Senate trom Alabama, and has fro
quently beeM chosen President pro tenn. of that
body in the absence ofthe Vice President. PreY.-
ouS to his entrance into the Senate, he was the
Governor of Alabama for two terms. Born in the
State of Georgia in 1902, he emigrated in 1915 to
Alabama, where he has since resided. he enter
cd the United States Senate i'll 1882, and his pre-
sent term in that body expires in 1861.
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