The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-08-15

competitor. Among the iormost in support &
Mr.. Breckenridge was that unrivalled orator
Henry Clay who abjured his politics to pay
just tribute to the worth and ability of the gal
liant young Kentuckian.
Upon the meeting Of the legislature, he was
honored with the Democratic nomination 70
Speaker, and received the unanimous vote Q
his party. His term Of service was brief bu
he left upon the legislature the impress Of hi
eloquence and talents, by his able advocacy o
the cause of education, internal improvements
and every other measure which tended to p:o
mote the cause of moral and material progress
During this session he introduced a series o
resolutions affirming many of the principles sub
sequently enacted into the compromise legisla
ton of 1850, and theJ received the support o
the entire Democratic party in the legislature
Duty to hisy young and growing family re.
quired that he should return to his profession
when he declined reelection; but the people
quick to discern and prompt to reward true
worth and true greatness, would not permit hiu
to pursue that course which the dictates of his
sound judgment and affsctionate heart had
marked out for himself In January 1851, the
Hon L. w. Powell was nominated as the Dem
ocratic candidate for Governor. Yielding to the
urgent solicitations Of his personal friends, and
the pressing demands Of one of the most en-
sured him that his candidacy would materially
aid Mr. Powels election, he reluctantly con.
sented to become candidate for Congress in
the Ashland District. 1t was a serious propo-
stion. young man with family depending
upon him for support, was called on to lead a
forlorn hope, when defeat seemed inevitable
The name and home of Clay, hallowed the
ground Of contest in the hearts of his devoted
followers. They were loyal in their attach.
ments and confident in their strength; they
had wealth, influence, numbers, and they wo'd
sacrifice all before the spot of their idolatry
should be proianed by the triumphant march Of
those they deemed infdel to their principles
To defend their citadel, to represent their sem
timents, ths Wings selected their most gallant
is as extended as the Republic. He had been a
soldier with Harrison and Crogap; had shed
his blood to rescue the women of Kentucky
from the savage and brutal foe, and to avenge
her men betrayed and murdered at the River
Raisin. He had given gallant son and for
tune to the cause ofstruggling Texas. He was
identified with the fortunes of the great chief
he had served so faithfully and loved so WE'LL
He was an eloquent and experienced speaker, a
politician perfectly familiar with the questions
past and pending. He was an able, manly land
generous foe, and therefore the more formidable
before Kentucky constituency With the full
ioreknowledge of the inequalities of the contest
Mr.. Breckenridge, obedient as he ever has been
to the call Of duty, at great personal sacrifice,
entered the contest, and to the CONSERVATION of
his opponents, and to the surprise and delight
ofthe Democracy throughout the Uunion, after
most protracted struggle Of seven months was
elected by $50 majority, change of more than
two thousand votes.
When it was subsequently insinuated in Con.
gress that he owed his election to foreign aid,
'No Sir" said Mr.. Breckinrdge; II came not
here by the aid Of money, but in spite of it. l
have to say that represent district in which
the money power ofthe Commonwealth is con
centrated, and that money power is in the hands
OF my opponents. 1t was loudly proclaimed in
the streets of the city where live that sho'd
be defeated lift cost $4,000 to do it;and can
tell the member from New York that at least
5000 were spent for that purpose, and as the
result shows, in vain.'
The opposition were defeated, but not con
quered; they determined to make another des
perate struggle to rescue the district from the
grasp of the Democracy. They cast carefully
about for the strongest of tn cir champions and
decided in convention to call Governor Letcher
to the conflict Of 1853. He was ss,ouq man;
he had reached the highest honors the State
could confer him; in his hands the Wing ban
ner had never lost victory or suffered defeat
and his friends deemed him invincible. The
nomination of this gentleman was announced
with shouts which reached the ears of his youth
full competitor, as he lay stretched upon bed
Of sickness; his courteous competitor, called
to tender him short respite firm the tolls Of
Of the canvass, but the shouts ofhs opponents
had aroused the indomitable spirit Of the gal
lant invalid, when, after returning his thanks
to Gov. Letcher for his courtesy, he replied:--
"No, sir, do not delay your canvass on my ac-
count; take the stump, and will meet you as
soon as my strength will permit" lie did so
tho contest was long, fierce, and bitter; again
was the invincible Breckinridge trumphantly
re. elected by majority as decisive as that over
his first competitor--his invincibility proved
the priestage Of success stamped upon his brow.
md his district, which for the first time was
rescued by him from the Wings, now lost to
the opposition, in all probability, for ever.
His brilliant career in Congress for four years
is fresh in the recollection of all While he was
the faithful and efficient representative of all the
interests of his immediate constituents he was
the bold, manly, and fearless advocate of Dem
ocratic principles and measures, and was uni
versally acknowledged as the leader of his par
ty by his friends and foes. -
Indeed, his power to combine proper atten-
ton to the minutest wants ofhis constituents
and to the details Of the public business, with
steady and powerful grasp of the great political
and public questions of the day evince breadth
Of capacity and systematic habits OF business
h:nhG fo H. Qn,k