The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-06-13
Intolerance.

A correspondent OF the New York Evan.
gelist, New School Presbyteriun paper
writing from Cincinnati where the Old
School General Assembly was in session at
the time, says: DR.. r. j. Breckenridge is
here with his Roman features his tall form
still erect, and his long hair and beard but
slightly grizzled. He is as fond Of speech.
making as ever, and is heard with respect
on account Of his age. and with interest on
account Of his Kentucky provincialisms, and
his rich vocabulary Of invective; but his
power and prestige have departed. He is
a leader without any followers, and can no
mere arrest the tide Of Reunion than King
Canu'cs sceptre could stop the tide"
We do not pretend to understand the
controversy here referred to, but believe il
relates TO the expulsion last year OF several
Presbyteries in Kentucky and Missouri on
account of" disloyalty;" and, " we are not
mistaken, the breach has been healed,
or ut least been put in fair way OF cure,
by the recent action Of the Assembly at
Cincinnati. DIR. Breckenridge for MANY
years, ipdeed, until the commencement Of
the war, was deemed one of the strongest
men in the Presby terian Church 10 Amer
ica-his and DR. Thornwclls being the
great intellects that moulded much of its pol.
icy. Until thewar, DIR. b. had always been
known as a strong Southern man. But he
and when secession came he could only see
in it a Democratic snare, and, beiag patur-
ally impulsive and violent in his likes and
dislikes, lie at once became most violent
Republican partisan, and has been such
ever since. His career, in many respects,
Is parallel to that of Brownlow. But there
is not the same excuse for Breckenridge as
may be urged for the demagogue of Tennes-
see. BrOwnlow is of obseurest origin,
Breckinridge was born a gsntle man, of an
old, reputable, and talented family. Brown
low worked for humble wages at his trade
| of carpenter, at the house of General Pres
ton, in Abingdon. Va, when Rev. DIR.
Breckinridge married Miss Preston. dnugh-
ter of the General, and sister of the late
| Hon. VIM. @. Preston, OF this State. Nor
| was il in birth, station and wealth only
that DIR. B. ranked v ith the fret in the
land. He enjoyed the best opportunities
for education the country then afforded, and
with his quick perception and powerful in~
tellect, added TO great energy, and constant
and unwearied application to studies of a
1 widely varying character. he soon like
Saul, ranked head and shoulders over the
rest OF the people. He has done much for
Kentucky In the organization and superin-
tepdenee of her common school system, and
has done signal service TO his church in the
establishment and nurture of the Theolog-
icsl Seminary at Danville. What a pity
that so great and in many regards, so good
a man should throw the weight OF his
character and influence into the scale Of in
tolerance aud vindictive persecution We
cannot help thinking what splendid Grand
Inquisitor he would have made. How he
would have glottea over the auto. =
Jant enc animiS eqieSti6nsiT iTei So said the
heather poet A Christian might expires:
still greater surprise.
The late Vice President and Confederate
Secretary Of War Is a nephew Of this cler
gyman; go, alec, is DIR. b.. one Of the sur
geons late on General Lees staff. In fact
nearly every member of the Rev. Doctor
family adhered South In the late struggl,
between the two sections.
(CharIsston Ne,ss