Gazette and sentinel., 1860-07-21
PLAQUEMiNE
Saturday, July I'll, 1850.
From tho Philadelphia EnquirerI
John C. Breckenridge.
A SKETCH.

To sketch John c. Breckenridge is no
easy task. The difficulty is to keep the
pen i'll proper restraint, for such is the
inspiration Of the theme, that the temp
tatiOn to run off mtg panegyric is al
most irresistible. Let us give a few
dates, and then pass to 4 presentation
OF the man himself, for, after all, it is
a view of the living, coming man the
people want, and not a lesson in chro-
nology:
JoHN C. BREcKINRIDGE is thirty-nine
years old, and Vice Presidento of the Uni
ted States. He is a Kentuckian. born
near Lexington, January l6, 1921, and
is a scholar, lawyer aud soldier. For
these pursuits, he vas educated at Cen
tire College, Princeton, Pennsylvania H.
%stitute, and on the field in Mexico. AZ
ter the close of the Mexican war he re-
turned to his practice at the bar, but
was soon elected to the Legislature of
Kentucky, and very soon after that
again to the National House Of Repre-
sentatives, where he served from 1851
to 1855. During the latter period he
was offered the mission to Spainb ~ Pre-
sident Pierce. This was a glittcriug
temptation to SO young aman, but after
a short reflection the proffer was modest
ly but firmly declined, because his bu-
siness and personal affairs required
home attention, and because of his de-
sire to withdraw for a time from public
life. This purpose he obeyed, until the
Cincinnati Convention, in 1856, by its
spontaneous suffrage, afterwards con-
frmed by the people, made him Vice
President of the United States. By
virtue of this Office, he is nowpresiding
over the American Senate. His term
DOES net expire until the Sd of March,
1861; but he has already been returned
to the Senate, to represent the State of
Kentucky from that day until March
3dSla57:
T6is is a skeleton sketch of Mr.. Breck-
ipridge's career Much might be sad
aboutit, but its great distinctive feature
is its pre-eminent success. In college
be "a tho chief of his comrades, and
the brightest intellect in every class,
at the bar he was prominent from the
very start-in the army he stepped at
once into conspicuous rank anu high
esteem-in the legislature he was the
acknowledged first orator of the mo
torious eloquent State of Kentucky
on the broader theatre of Congress, he
was, by universal consent, the leader
and champion of his party, and ablest
exponent Of its policy-while inhis la
test and highest position, it is his char
acteristic distinction TO have been elect
ed at the age Of thirty-ive, when eight
years younger than the youngest of his
predecessors, and to have discharged
the duties of the President Of the Senate
with a grace, dignity, and Justice. un-
surpassed by the eldest and ablest of
them all. Such a career could not fail.
and of course has not failed, to attract
the widest public notice. 1t must mean
something!
Let us now present the man. Major.
Breckenridge is in person about six feet
high, with y 18th, well kit, graceful form
moulded for activity and strength
Accordingly, he has always been fond Of
manly and athletic sports, surprising
his fellows in these as in other contests,
for he never failed to beat them all In
deed, there is a well authenticated in
stance, in one of his exciting campaigns.
of his jumping into the affections OF a
squad of the Kentucky. sovereigns, and
getting their votes by beating them all
at a long leap, which he did without any
trouble whatever. As usual in all ca
ses Of great force Of character, he has
strongly marked features-the broad,
high, impending forehead of the man of
mind, and the massive jaw and firmly
set mouth betokening resolute will and
courage. His hair-now a very little
silvered-is dark, and thrown back
from his temple, and his eye is like an
eagles. When absorbed in thought his
face wears a eve aspect, but in So
DIAL he, it is a fine manly c~ountenance,
overfowing with genial, frank and kind
~ sympathies. But it is only when
aroused in sdebate that you see the full
rSSSof his expressive features. Then
lit up by lightning, but no art