Gazette and sentinel., 1860-07-21


oring for support, and spreading has
sails to every breeze of popular excite
ment2 Gen. Butler has remained, with
quiet dignity, at his house in Kentucky;
he has not mingled in this Presidential
strife. To my mind, sir, tits a noble
spectacle. 1t is the homage he pays to
the good sense and capacity of his coun-
trvmen. This course carries the mind
back to the earlier and purer days OF
the Republic, and recalls the memory OF
those really great men who neither
sought nor declined the Presidency
The avidity with which high Offices are
sought nowadays, l regard as the
worst, the very worst sign OF the times.
From it. as from a copious fountain, How
corruption. extravaganza, protlgacy,
national disgrace. | hope that the
Chief Magistrate of this Union will ev-
err be designated by the spontaneous
voice of the people, and that the citizen
who is honored by the public choice may
deserve the place For his services, his
virtues-aad his modeSty.'
While Major Breckenridge was ever a
party opponent Of Henry Clay, he al
ways entertained the most ardent admi-
ration for the man, and improved every
occasion To express it. In the speech
from which the foregoing extracts are
quoted, he referred to the name.of Clay
as that name more potent 10 rally ms
clansmen than anyin American history,
save that Of Jackson" 1t vas the
knowledge Of this feeling, together with
the fact that he represented the Ash
land District that caused him 10 be
selected by the House as its principal
speaker at the funeral so,emnities held
in honor of that statesman. Those who
were present Will never forget the I'M
preston made by Breckenridge on that
occasion. As a leader in a deliberate
body" said he, "Nr. Clay had no equal
in America. In him, intellect. person,
eIoquence and courage united to form a
character fit to cuBmaud. lie fired
with his own enthusiasm, and controlled
by his amazing will individuals and
masses. No reverse could crush his
spirit. nor defeat reduce him to despair.
Equally erect and dauntless in prosper
ity aud adversely; when successful, he
moved to tie accomplishment of his
purposes with severe resolution; when
defeated. he rallied his broken bands
around hih. and from his eagle eye shot
a.long the ranks tue ~coutagi,n of his
own courage. Destined for a leader, he
everywhere asserted his destiny. In
his long and cventful life he c.une in
contact with men of all ranks aud pro-
tesSionS, but he nevcr felt that he was
in the presence Of a man superior TO
himself. In the assemblies of the pru-
pie, at the lar, in the SCnatc-evcrv-
where within the circle Of his personal
presence he assumed and maintained a
position of pre-eminence. The entire
absence of equivocation or disguise in
all his acts was his master-key to the
public heart. lie neeer Pahered in a dcu-
Die sense. The country vas never in
doubt as to his opinions or purposes
In all the contests of his time, his posi-
ton on great public questions was as
clear as the noon day sun in a cloudless
sky Sir, standing by the grave of this
great man, and considering these things,
how contemplate does appear all the
llegerdemain of politics 7 What a re-
broach on his life is that false policy
Mhich would triiie with a great and up
people. If l were to write his
epitaph, | would inscribe as the highest
eulogy on the stone which shall mark
his resting place, Here lies a man who
was in the public service for fifty years
and never attempted to deceive his
countryinen."
Thus Breckenridge went on, and as
he paid the rich tribnte of his chivalric
nature to his deceased friend, he seemed
to have tranfused the very soul Of the
departed statesman into his own, The
truth is, the natures snd qualities of the
two men were much alike, and it was,
therefore, a natural and easy thing for
Breckenridge to appreciate Clay and
describe him as %eloquentfy and truly as
he did. He had but to speak from his
ewn heart. The same remark may be
made of his noble description of Gene
raj Butler-"All the hereditary instincts
of his race spurn concealment or eva
sion" He is q man pure and incorrup-
tible, a Democrat of the Jackson ters-
per, a statesman without guile, sir, and
as a soldier, why, the very Bayard of
his country, the Knight without fear
and without %reproach." Those who
know breckenridge, will scarcely need
to be told that these grand descriptions
of noble qualities are but the reflex of
his own sterling character.
The al succeSs of Mr. Rrccly