The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1860-09-12
How Breekinridge was Nominated at Cin-
cannaal..
FrOm the New York Leadsr.l

from the New York Leader.
The nomination of Mr.. Breckenridge by the
bolters is reviving the "reminiscences Of the
mode in which be succeeded in propitiaung his
nomination to the Vice Presidency in 1856. II
will be recollected that the Hon. Lynn Boyd, Of
Kentucky. was the candidate Of that State for
The Vice Presidency before the Cincinnati Con-
vention. Mr.. John G. Breckenridge procured
his appointment as delegate from Fayette coun-
ty TO the Kentucky State Convention, which was
held at Frankfort, and which appointed dele
gates to Cincinnati. In the State Cow ention
Mr.. Breckenridge voted for o resolution in-
structing the delegates from Kentucky to vote
for Boyd for the Vice Presidency and wire
worked his own appointment as delegate to
Cincinnati, to carry out the instructions regard
ins Mr.. Boyd.
Meanwhile Mr.. Breckenridge was making pri-
vate arrangements with certain friends at
Washington City and other parts Of the country
to defeat Boyd aud secure the nomination Tor
himself. On the night previous to bis nomina-
tion, arrangements were made In caucus Of
his particular friends aud pipe-layers, that
delegate from louisiana should nominate him
for the Vice Presidency, aud that he, with be-
coming modesty should, manfully aud immedi.
ately throw the Lynn Boyd people OF their
guard, by rising aud making speech declining
the nomination-upon the ground that his own
State OF Kentucky had presented the name OF
Lynn Boyd and that he was bound 10 honor
as well as by his Instructions TO carry out their
wishes. ~
Thereupon delegate from New England was
to rise and re-nominate him, notwithstanding
his manly and sincere declinati0ul All his
friends in the secret were to crowd their infiu-
ence upon SO worthy young gentleman, and
his nomination was TO be thus secured with CO.
thusiasm.
This programme was executed literally. The
Louisiana delegate did nominate him. He
made his dulcet speech Of declination. The
New England delegate re-nominated him and
the Convention affirmed it; and thus was con-
summated one of the most successful political
intrigues, and one of the most dshonorable.
This has largely aided to sustain, II II did not
create that reputation for good luck' which at-
taches to the shrewd Kentuckian.
The success of this intrigue, hattering no
doubt from an aristoeratic view, as well as graf
flying from an inside one, induced Mr.. Breck'
inridge aud his coterie to believe that he could
secure the Presidency by similar means and
manGuvers
No sooner did the breach arise between Sen
ator Douglas aud Mr.. Buchanan upon the Lee
compton treachery than the watchful Breckin-
ridge started the scheme of securing the Presi-
dency for himself by fomentng aud aggrava-
ting disunion in the party by encouraging both
sides to believe that he opposed the other. Con-
cealing his real position aud opinions behind
the Vice Presidents chair until the English bill
had passed, when tbe Administration policy
had triumphed by the passage of this measure,
Mr.. Breckenridge returned to Kentucky and
made series of violent Lecompton speeches,
after the battle was over in Congress. The
speeches were cop ed against Judge Douglas 10
the State of Illinois, during his great struggle
against the AbolitionIsts, with the view Of
weakening him and securing the election Of
Abe Lincoln to the United States Senate. Dur
ing the whole of that memorable r;vuggle. Mr.
Breckinridge's name was posted a. one OF the
Administration speakers against Judge Douglas
who was the regular nominee Of the Democratic
party. Although he did not attend the meet
ings in person, 10 is we'll known that he was In
actual correspondence with the anti-Douglas
men and, just before the election, he wrote an
offensive letter protesting to be 10 favor Of
Douglas, but giving such reasons as would In.
duce bis friends TO vote against him. This was
a strange way of giving aid and comfort TO the
party which elected him but not strange when
taken In connection with Mr.. Breckinridge's
position now. as candidate Of the Boilers from
the regular National Democratic Convention.
During the last year. when O Senator was 10
have been elected 10 Kentucky 10 place Of the
illustrious Crttenden, II Is understood that
Breckinrdges friends made an arrangement
with the friends of Mr.. Guthrie, that II the lat
ter would support the former for the Senate,
Breckinridge's friends would support Guthrie
for the Presidency. This arrangement was OBJ
served in good faith, until Breckenridge was
elected to tho Senate. Then he returned to
Kentucky, and made bis famous slave code
speech at Frankfort, ia which he disayowed his
arrangements with Mr.. Guthrie's friends. and
announced bis programme for the Presidential
canvass.
The result has been seen at Charleston aud
Baltimore. Jefferson Davis could not get a
foot on the platform be so laboriously helped
to make. Yancey had TO come down to be
mere tool to Brecknridge's friends, and all the
lesser lamps of Dlsunion had to 90 on bended
knees, like japanese henchmen, and light the
Kentucky youth TO the top Of the Bolters bar
rel. There will he remain.