Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-03
JoHN 8. BRECKrNRrDeE,
A GRAPHIC SKETCH.

temptation to run off into panegyric is almost ire
sistible. Letus give few dates, and then pass to
q oreseutaton of the himself for, after all, 1t
Is view Of the living coming man the people want,
and not lesson in chronology:
John G. Breckinridge is tllrty-nine years old, and
Vice President Of the United States. BE is Ken
tuckian born near Lexington. January 10, 1871 and
is a scholar, lawyer, and soldier. For these pur-
suits he was educated at,Centre College, Princeton,
TransyIvania Institute and on the field Of Mexico.
After the close Of the Mexican war, he returned TO
his practice at the bar, but was soon elected 10 the
Legislature of Kentucky, and very soon after tnar
again to the National Honse Of Representatives,
where be served from 1851 to '55, During the latter
period he offered the mission to Spain Dy res
ident Pierce. This was q glitterlng tempesIoh 70
so Young a man, but after short reDectlon tbe /
nrofer was modestly but firmly declined, because !
his business and personal affairs required nome
attention and because of his desire TO wltndra" LOT
a time from public life. This purpose he oDeyed, |
until the Cincinnati Convention, in 1886, Oy us spon
tsneous suffrage afterward confirmed by the peo-
pe. made him Vice President Of the United states
Bv virtue ofthis Office he is now President over the
American Senate His term does not expire until the
Sd of March, 1861 but ne has alrsaag oega
ed to the Senate to represent the state Oh heh1ucK
from that dav until March Sd, 1861
This Is a skeleton sketch of MIR Brecknridges
career Much might be said about it, but It's great
distinctive feature is its, reemlnent success. Ia
college he was the chief of his comrades and the
brgftest intellect in every class-at the bar he was
prominent from the very start-ln the army he
stepped at once into CONSPICUOUS rank aud ngh
esteem-ln the Legislature he was the acknowledged
first orator of the 'notoriously eloquent State of
| Kentnckvi-on the broader theatre Ct Congress,
he was by universal consent the leader and cham-
MON of his party and abest exponent OF Its polcy
while in his latest and highest position 1t Is his
characteristic distinction to have been elected at ts
| age of thirty-fve, when eight years younger than
the Youngest of his predecessors. and 10 nave as
charged the duties of the President OF the oenate
with grace, dignity, and justice, unsurpassed by
| the Oldest and ablest of them ALL Such career
| could not fail and of course has not faleo, 10 aE
trart the widest public notice. must mean some
thing. ,,1.,..;,ro
il in uerson about six feet high, with llthe Wen
| knit graceful form-moulded for ractiVlIy anu
| s,a,o+6 Accordingly he has always been fond
of manly and athletic sports, surprising ms 1eows
in these as in other contests, for he never laeu 70
heat them at all Indeed, there is a well aulhehtc
coted instance in one of his exciting campaigns OF
-? ;,;Do into the affections of squad OF the
| Kentncky soyereigns, and getting their votes Dy
heating them all at long leap, which he dld WIN
ont any trouble whatever. As usual ID an cases VI
great force of character, ne mas srrons!y uI g
features-the broad, high, impending forehead OF
| tbe man of mind and the massive Jaw ana nrnly
set month betokening resolute VIII ana courage;
His bair-uow a very little silVered-ls DARK, ana
thrown black from his temple ana MS eye Is mt al
eagleis. When absorbedin thought his lace wears
Severe asDect but in social life it IS me manly
| countanance overlooking with genial, frank ana
| kindly sympathies. But is only when arOuseu III
debate that YOU see the full play OF his expressive
features. Then they are lit up py Uau
art of words can reproduce that picture on paper
| To convey any clear idea of Mr.. Breckinrldge as
parliamentary speaker it is necessary 70 give speci
ment extracts from his reported speeches, put ~ =
sketch so limited in plan as this tnese
Hned To the briefest space or eXcludeo
11bose who would see how his speeches look IN print
bonid read his vindicaton of General Butler, his
views of the Nebraska BILL his address on leaving
. the old Senate Chamber, and ms eulogiuih uPon
Henry CLAW They are fair samples OF style IN ue
bots and in a get speech But while they illustrate
his nervous and elegant diction, his statesniahllAs
views and his lofty tone OF mlnd, they YET laI
utterly to give a true impression OF MIN as al
orator For the charm OF manner Is not SET uom
+b the words the musical information, the telling
ernhasis the graceful and significant gesture, ul'
high and chiyarous bearing, the deep tervor OF pas
sion and the electric fire OF his eye, are all osE lie
these are the qualities by which he Is sure 70
tie his auditors into sympathy, captNate then
f INDICTMENTS and infame them with his own enthusl
+ ssm, Until some subtitle process IS dlcoyered Dy
which the reporter can catch these quantities an'
chrystalize them into words, all verbal ttempIs
;, describe Brecknridge's oratory must fan. -
4 refarpnce to two occasions will suffice to illus
trate ali that need farther be said of Major Breck
| inriige as a speaker. ,
Dnring the heat of the Presidential canvass o
| IS48 certain Tumors were current about intrigue
| bo+Teen General William o. Butter and Free sol
| Damorrats whereby it was alleged that the forHe
4 had secured the support of the Free soners, o
. pledging himself in advance to give them CERTAIN
patronage and position II elected. tns ~
ridga knew TO be false and indignant that such ca
umnIes should be raised against so good mar
l. who was once his commander, his constituent an
his friend he rose at the first fitting occasion:
Y the House and poured out his heart IN Vhaicatio
that silenced the SANDER forever and carried every
bodv avyav captIve, After reading a letter troI
General Butler fully disproving the charge, ne salO
II dare affirm that is the letter of patriot and
Y honest man perhaps too honorable Tor poluc'
advancement in these times, yet he has not 1rlei
= Tyio yvould not rather see him sink beneath tn
IN manly avOwal of his principles and those OF ms Sea
than TO see him creep into power by betrylng DOH
y What the effect Of this may be, In certain quarter
. I know not but l defy any man whose heal
cherishes tine love of honor, TO read these Letter
s. without admiring the man who wrote them Ah
hereditary instincts Of his race SpaTa coceU"en1 a.
-, ! eTosioD| Abiding to the rumors again, Mr. !
said. .sIf they were true, General Butter would |
n otarnaIIy dishonCred because the public man b
is travs his Marty who under obligation 10 le
h than the whole and he who makes agreements WI
factions sections, fortets the confidence OF al u
res+ But they are not true. In the name OF u
tie Kentucky Democracy deny them. rneei them reco
he Ina from the Sp5qeSs character Of their object AND
in TRAWPLE THEM BENEATH MY FEET.
. AS he spoke this last sentence, his voice mac
the hall ring again. and grasping at the recolilng
by sIan5ars he dashed them to his feet, and ramplt
le on them as though he was crushing out their vel
It, life The whole House was electrlhed ana there WI
40 a svmpathetc and spontaneous movement among
the snectators as if to aid the chvalrc young ola
I'd in his noble purpose Upon this occasion he inc
dentaIly touched upon the subjects OF "Ihe ca
N about Progress" and Seeking the Presidency IN
III manner not to be forgotten, and in the latter ca
especially well to be remembered at the prese
nd time Upon the former he said: Let me say
lr- word upon this question of progress profess
lid be a friend of rational progress but want
-, wild visionary progress that would sweep away
III the immortal principles of our forefathers. wa
Al H., &c TIa TrInp
nd fathers. want a steady and rational Rdvance-n
To- beyond the limits of the Federal Consutuon-Out
am afraidthat such progress as Is no talked OF "ou
carry us clear away from that sacred lnstrumer
ug want to progress by ameliOratlng the condition
nd the peope by Just fair equal laws and by simp
FIJI ity frugality and justice marking the operations
! the Federal Government Above all. nope 10 8
ee' the Democratic party adherng TO the ancient al
lty distinguishing landmarks OF It's pohcy. lheSe
rm nv opinions on progress
ITnon the charge that General Butler was mu
candidate, and referring to the disgracetul spect
no cles latterly SEEM of candidates struggling 1or
re- Presidency, he said: What would gentlemen nav
,ed | Would they have him Gen. Butler) to roam ov
= the country clamoring for support, and spreadlI
'U his sails to every popular excitement! Gener
Butler has renamed with quiet dignity, at /
ed house in Kentucky he has not mingled IN TINS IRE
ND dental strife To my mind, sir, 1t Is noble spe
tacle It is the homage he pays to the good sen
and capacity of his countrymen This course CARR
ed the mind back to the earlier and purer days OF
NE. Republic and recalls the memory OF those reai
great men who never sought nor declined the Pre-
-, 9encv. The avidity with which high offices a
me sought, nowadays, regard as the worst the We
of worst sign of the times. From it, as from copio
ar fountain flow corruption, extravaganza, profgac
national disgrace. l hope that the Chief Magistra
of this Union will ever be designated by the spont
neous voice of the people, and that the citizen w
1t is honored by the public choice may deserve t
err Mace for his ervices, his vlrtues-dd ms m0deSg
ion While Major Breckenridge was ever party OPP
nent of Henry Clay he always entertained the me
at ardent admiration for the man and improved eve
do occasion to express it. In the speech from win
IN the foregoing extracts quoted, he referred to
Mt name of Clay as 'that name more potent to raj
&c, his clansmen then any in American history, sa
that of Jackson" 1t was the knowledge OF TINS 1e
m inc together with the fact that he represented
in .AsbI md District" that caused him to be select
tut bv the House as its principal speaker at the tuner
lite solemnites held IN honor of that statesma
ch Those who were present Will never I0rget Ine !
les preston made by Breckenridge on that occasi6
vii tAs leader in deliberate body" said he, IN