Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-03-18
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
THE EXILE'S RETURN

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From the Cincinnati Gazette.
THE EXILE'S RETURN.
General John G. Breckinridge
at Home = Reception by His
Friends and Neighbors. 's'
In September, 1861, j. c.. Breck-
inridge, the favorite son of Ken
lucky, who had already reached al
most the topmost round Of political
preferences in this country, left his
native State to join the ranks of the
Southern Confederacy, embarking
with all the zeal and ardor of youth
full Kentuckian in the cause of the
rebellion. When that cause fell he
was too proud to accept the gener-.
Gus terms upon which the comman-
ders of the national armies offered
to accept the submission of the re-
bel hosts, preferring exile rather
than surrender. So, for four long
years he has been wanderer from
his native land. But the Amnesty
Proclamation with which the late
President celebrated his last Christ
mas in the White House reached
him in his retreat, and he availed
himself of the opportunity to seek
his home again. For several days
he tarried in Cincinnati. AS tim
i'd maiden, about to enter the pres
ence of her adored, fingers on the
threshold, indulging in the sweet
fancies of the good time coming,
so j. G. B. fingered upon the Dor.
ders of his native State, eager, yet
10th, to be clasped in her warm en-
brace. But to-day his heart would
brook no longer delay. Driven in
the carriage of Mr.. Wash. Mclean,
whose guest he had been, to the de-
pot in Covington, he embarked for
Lexington.
Rumors of his coming had pre-
ceded him, and at Covington, as
elsewhere along the line, crowds had
gathered to do him homage, eompo-
sed partly of those who had known
him before the war, and partly of
those who saw in him a sturdy and
unfiinching representative of the
cause which, though lost, is still
dear to their hearts. p
The train reached Lexington in
| the midst of cold drizzling rain,
but crowd, respectable in point of
numbers, met it at the depot. As
soon as Breckenridge appeared, he
was greeted with hearty applause;
the throng surged about him so that
he could, with difficulty, reach the
carriage waiting to convey him to
the residence of his cousin, Col. W.
O. P. Breckinridge. Pouring rain,
and the sloppiness of the streets,
prevented the Lexingtonians from
rendering him a public reception at
the hour for which arrangements
had been made, but the residence of
Col. Breekinridge was crowded until
a late hour with guests eager to tes-
tify their respect and affection for
Kentucky's favorite son.
]. Gen. B. expressed his anxiety to
avoid any public demonstrations, say
ing that he would much prefer to
take his friends singly by the hand
than to meet them in public recep-
ton. He says that he has returned
| with the view of confining himself
to the practice of his profession the
law) and that he designs to take no
; part in politics. He does not re-
gard himself as qualified at this
time to form an opinion respecting
the politics of the country. either
State or Federal, his long absence
having rendered him somewhat un-
familiar with the movements of par
ties here.
Despite the rain serenade took
place at half past ten, preceded by
bonfires and rockets. A very large
crowd, preceded by band, assem-
bled in front of the house, the band
playing. and the people cheering for
Gen. Breckenridge When the band
had ceased playing ''Home, Sweet
Home,' somebody called for 'sHail
to the Chief,' and the crowd de-
manded =" Dixie" The rain was
falling in torrents then, but loud
calls s'down umbrellas were made,
and down went umbrellas and up
went cheers into the rain.
At this point Gen. B. appeared,
and amid deafening cheers commen-
F ced speaking. His remarks attract
ed close attention, and were greeted
at the close with rounds of cheers.
! Fellow CITIZENS - In returning
home after so long an absence, I
would be very strange being if I
were insensible to this very cordial
reception from my friends and neigh
bors feel it deeply, and thank
lyou sincerely. Recently I have OBJ
served that it is very difficult for
persons in my situation to pursue
that line Of conduct that they might
wish to pursue. Nevertheless, it
may be proper to say that I accept
this formal but most cordial welcome
as purely personal, and containing
no particle of political significance.
| IA voice, ''That's right" Indeed,
l can and will say that the tremen-
dous events of the last eight years
have had great tendency to dead
en-. if not destroy, old party feelings
-and for myself can truly declare
that no more feel the political ex-
citements that mark the scenes of
my former years, than if I were an
extinct volcano. I will not now say
more. except to express the pleasure
that 1 feel in coming back to the
people whom I so dearly loved.
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