Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-08-04
VOL. "a.

ID. d., educated for the bar, became one of
the lights of the Presbyterian church.
For some years be was a professor at
Princeton, and man Of much learning
and eloquence Rev. Robert Breckenridge,
his brother, a Doctor of Divinity and Doc.
tor of Laws, is known to-day through all
the Protestant Church. He was educated
for the bar and practeed law for some
years, and then entered the ministry,
where by learning and oratory he has
reached the first rank of great men in the
American Pulpit. For nearly forty years
be has been active in the educational, NOR.
al, philanthropic and religious controvers-
les, being pillar of fire in the Presbyte.
rian school, as we're his fathers from the
days of the Reformation. John Cabell
Breckenridge, father of the Vice President,
died at the early age of 35 years, while
holding the Office of Secretary of State.
He was premi nent member of the legal
profession, and an active politician. His
wife wac the daughter of Rev. Stanhold
Smith, President of Princeton College, N.
j., and granddaughter of John Wither.
spoon, smother President of the same col
lego, and one Of the signcrs Of the Declare.
ration of Independence. =,
We say Of John 9. Breckenridge, Vice
President, and candidate for the Presi-
dency, that he is not unworthy of such an
ancestry Like his revolution.
ary and Virginia ancestors, he is full of
chivalry and patriotism. These character.
istics were seen in his readiness to engage
in the Mexican war, where he was major
of regiment that was mustered into the
service too late for strife on the bio ody
field and his notions of homer were exhib-
tied in the alteration with Mr.. Cutting, of
New York, where the preliminaries of
duel were arranged before friends could
stop the proceedings. He has the best
education-scientifc, literary and legal
that the schools of Kentucky can afford,
and though he has devoted much time to
politics, few men have such scholarly at
tainments, while fewer still are his EQUALS
in oratory. In all respects he is fitted for
the forum. He is tall, commanding and
graceful in person, of much physical endu-
rance, and with fund of knowledge, beau
ty of utterance, and brilliancy of thought
and style, that cannot fail to render him
popular with the learned and polished ,and
powerful with the people. Hence it is that
he has walked more rapidly over the po.
litical course than any statesman who has
preceded him in this country, and could
all the people be acquainted with him, as
are the inhabitants of Lexington and the
State of Kentucky, his personal influence
might so far excuse his political heresies
as to give him present success, which we
think the public good does not require.
Mr. Breckinrid ges first appearance in
political life was after his return from
Mexico, in the Legislature of Kentucky,
where he at once took the lead of his party
by his readiness and tact in debate. Twice
he was elected to Congress, in 1851 and
1853, over the strongest competitors, Gen
Leslie Coombs and Gov. Robert Letcher,
which could not have been done by any
ordinary man. President Pierce pressed
him to accept the mission to Spain, but he
declined to 60 abroad. In 1856, without
any solicitation on his part, he was chosen
Vice President, and has presided in the
Senate with much dignity and impartiality.
In the meantime the Kentucky Legislature
has elected him to the vacancy in the Uni.
ted States Senate, TO occur in March, SCI :,
by the retirement of the veteran Critten.
den. This is high compliment, since ex-
Secretary Guthrie, an aspirant for the
same place, was set aside on his account.
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