Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-08-09
,,,.----,,o.I sketch Hon. John C. breckenridge,



OfKentucky.
~ Aistorv of John @. Breckenridge the nominee of the
National Tor the hes @os BRILLIANT Sng sno
esafu the annals of the distinguished men of coun
tnal and maternal side wO distinguished in the wars
of the Revolutions in the subsequent political conflicts and
history of the country and especially distinguished for their
great services the advancement of religion learning and
good morals In Kentucky the of cknridge held
ship of the first regular constitution Of Kentucky the
celebrated Staerights resolutions OF 1885, ana also con
pSygaon of the Mississippi to the great West OF his an
cestors on the side Wtherspoon and Smith, the
former signer Declaration of Independence and
both presidents of Princeton College, The connection
extremely large one and has been by patriot
ic useful services through several generations He
born near Lexington Kentucky, the 18th of January
1884, and although not forty years of the second Of
fcer of the Governments position it is universally
ceded he fills with great ability dignity and mpartiaty
and now the unanimous voice Of his party present
ed for the first to bear their standard in the
approaching Presidential contest contend for those great
constitutional principles of justice, right and equality for
which his fathers struggled during the stormy days of the
Revolution and who dedicated the energies of their gifted
minds in establishing and defining the true principles of
glorious Constitution under which we have grown from
federacy of thityhree sovereign States teemDg with
population of more than thirty millions OF Free prosperous
Mr. Brecknrdge lost his father early age and with
his mother and her four other children was lett almost en-
aVes and his constant exerons he was enabled to
pass through the necessary course OF studies TO en-
SELF He graduated at Centre College, Kentucky in 1888,
resident PrlnCeton
sued his law studies under the instruction of Judge CATER
wards Governor Ouwsey and completed them at the Iran
sylvania Law School.
Admitted to the bar l84l he determined to try his for
tune in land. Accordingly with no heritage but his
talents and fair name he set out in the fall OF that year with
country he settled in Burlington Iowa 1t indeed the
then ardsant West for Mr. Breckenridge, during his two
years residence in Iowa. hunted the elk and buffalo ON the
site Of its CAPT Thus the earliest period OF
frontier and he knows from the and heartfelt asso
Citations of those days. the patriotic, noble and sesacrl
married Miss Mary c. Burch of Scott county, his present
wife, lady endeared to all by her domestic virtues and her
accomplished She was largely connected with
the influential families of Kentucky aided by whose nfu
the friends of Mr. Breckenridge induced him to aban
don the idea of returning to Iowa. He settled In George
town. Kentucky and rapidly to distinction in his
eSSon But he early took part in the Po al @ o.
period has borne prominent share IN every political con-
The Mexican war broke out the gallant of Ken
lucky to be found the front rank of the armies OF the
Republic. The glorious yet mornul history of Buena Vista
especially reoiced and saddened the heart OF Kenucky
There many bravest sons her Cays her he1
Hardins slept their last Sleep was resolved That hel3
there consigned the tomb amidst the of the people,
and with all the soemnes which and love could
dictate. Mr.. Breckenridge the orator OF the OCCASION
and pronounced admirable and affecting eulogy
call made upon Kentucky for additional troops
1t deemed critical and turning point of the war Gen
era Scott had advanced upon the city of Mexico His
possession of the enemy His troops had been great
lous movements were in contemplation Under these cir
Mr. Breckenridge volunteered and from
field officer conferred by him upon Democrat VIZ that OF
major On reaching the city of Mexico, in December he
he belonged employed garrison duty hold the city
Of Mexico, and to protect its Inhabitants from page and
General Pillow tried by a court of inquiry. Major
Brecknrdges fine legal talents required on that oc
cessful defence of General Pillow.
At the close of the he ejoned his family and resum
ed his profession Frank manly generous and just win
heart that thobbed with pulsaon for the
honor and welfare of his country he bees great
mandng talents and noble qualities called him retire
men to represent them the legislature of the State AL
Wing by large majority yet such the admiration of
the peoe for the sterling qualities of his heart and the
brilliant character of his mind that he elected in the
year l849, by decisive majority over his Wing competitor
Among the foremostn support of Mr. Brecknr!dge vas
that unrvaled orator Henry Clay who abued his politics
to pay just tribute to the worth and ability OF the gallant
Upon the meeting of the legislature he honored with
the Democratic nomination for Speaker and received the
brief but he left upon the legislature the impress of his
soquence and talents his able advocacy OF the cause oil
education internal improvements every other
which tended to promote the of moral and matera
progress During this session. he introduced series OF re
solutions affirming many of the principles subsequently en-
acted into the compromise legislation of 1850 and they
ceived the support of the entire Democratic party In W
Duty to his young and growing family required that he
should to his profession, when he declined reelec
but the people, quick to discern and prompt to re
ward worth greatness would not permit hin
pursue that which the dictates of his sound udg
ment and afectonate heart had marked out Tor himself
In January 1841 the Hon. L. w. Powell nominated al
the Democratic candidate for Governor Yielding to tn
solicitations of his personal friends and the pressing
demands of of the most enlightened constituencies II
world who assured him that his candidacy would mate
rally aid Mr. POWePs election, he reluctantly consented
become candidate for Congress in the Ashland District
It was serious proposition young man with fami!
depending upon him for support was called on to lead for
orn hope when defeat seemed inevitable The name ant
home Of Clay haowed the ground of contest in the heart
of his devoted followers They loyal III their attach
ents and confident in their strength they had wealth. in
ae Se by he
march of those they deemed ndel to their principles
sescted their most Gen Leslie Coomb
whose fame extended as the Republic He had 6eel
soldier with Harrison and Croghan had shed his boo'
to the women Of Kentucky from the savage ant
brutal foe and to avenge her betrayed and murdered
st tne hper halsin. ne lao gMen gnU oH III nU
identified with the fortunes Of the great chief he had
perenced speaker politician perfectly familiar with the
questions past and pending He able, manly ant
Kentucky constituency. With full foreknowedge of th
inequalities the contest, Mr. Brecknridge obeden hi
has been to the call day at great personal sacrifice
entered the contest and to the CONSERVATION OF his
ponens and to the surprise and delight of the Democracy
more than two thousand votes
When it was subsequently insnuated in Congress that he
owed his election to foreign add No. sr' said Mr.
Breckenridge; not here by the aid of money but
in spite of it. have to say that represent district
which the money power of the Commonwealth is con
Centrated and that money power is IN the hands Of
city where live that should be defeated cost $780,
600 to do it and can tell the member from New ORR
that at least were spent for that purpose and
the result shows, in vain.
The opposition defeated but not conquered they
determined to make another desperate struggle
the district from the grasp of the Democracy They
carefully about Tor the strongest of their champions anc
conflict Of 1858. He strong man he had reached
the highest honors his State could confer him;
his hands the Wing banner had victory OF
suffered defeat and his friends deemed him invincibe
The nomination of this gentleman was announced with
shouts which reached the of his youthful competitor
"a he lay stretched upon bed of sickness his
competitor called to tender him short respite from the
tolls Of the canvass but the shouts of his opponents hat
aroused the indomitable spirit of the gallant invalid when
after returning his thanks to Gov Letcher for his courtesy
he replied MNO sir. do not delay canvass ae