New-York tribune., 1869-03-15
THE OPPORTUNITY OF 4 ST1TESuAN


The graceful and wise little speech made the
other day by Mr.. John c. BrecSnndgc, on the
occasion of his return after four years exile,
to his old home, suggests the work for which
the Country looks TO this gentleman, and which,
rs we hopefully trust, it may yet receive at his
hands.
Here is a man whose career in the service OF
the Government was exceptionally successful
and brilliant, whose career IN warfare upon 1t
was scarcely less conspicuous, and who returns
to resume the duties of loyal and faithful citi-
zenship at an age when most men are only
reaching the full maturity of their powers.
The grandson of Thomas Jeiferson's Attorney
General. and of one OF the earliest United
States Senators from Kentucky, he in
herited devotion TO the public service
with his name and learned the love
of the Union with the lessons of his childhood.
At twenty-five he was Major of a Kentucky
regiment in the war with Mexico; at twenty
six, he was counsel for Cen Pillow in the re-
markabe difficulties in which that officer was
involved at twenty-eight, he was a member
of the lower House in the Kentucky Legsla-
tre; at thirty, lie was a representative in
Congress, having defeated in the canvass so
popular a KentuCkian rs Leslie Combs at
thirty-twO, he was again returned 20 Congress
after an exciting contest in which he defeated
Gov. Robert Letchcr; at thirty-four he was
Vice-Prcsident of the United States, and at
thirty-seven he was the nominee Of one wing
of the dominant party for the Presidency. The
youngest and most favored man in the country
who had ever run such a round Of official hon
To lao nf ln iVl rra
ment. he chose, in 1861, to link his
fortunes with the section that had so
earnestly supported him for the Presi-
dency. and entered the Confederate service.
At thirty eight, the man who thirteen years be-
fore had served the Government as a soldier on
a foreign soil, was a Major General in tue armies
that strove to break up the Government and at
forty 1.-TWO he was the Secretary of War Of the
insurgent Confederacy. Then followed dreary
four years of exile and now, in his forty ninth
year-just at the age when such men are enter
ing upon the full and ripe maturity of their
powers-yigorous, and yet capable Of a life
times work-this soldier Of the Mexican war;
Congressman, Vce-Presdeut goes back to his
native State.
What shall lie do to make return for past
HOnOIS-NIdL I'd MAKE dlleHuS IOI past errors
He goes to a State that idolizes him. and
finds her, badly prominent among all the
sisterhoOd, brOoding over the ashes Of the Re-
bellion, and seeking to nurse their smOlderng
heat into another fame. She still cherishes
hopes of payment for property in human beings,
if not of an actual reconversi0n of them
into property. She still denies equality before
the law to a large class of her citizens
She still licenses any white rufiian to outrage
or murder negrOs wife before his eyes, and
refuses to take the negro's testimony against
the criminal. To every step in the Nations
progress toward freedom, harmony, and peace,
she opposes her utmost resistance. In every
possible way, and with an amazing pertinacity,
she chershes, in the midst of the new life
of the Republic, the spirit Of the slave
hunts, the civilization of the dark
ages. Throughout the whole limits of the late
Rebellion there is not to-day State so rebellious
in spirit or act, as Kentucky Neutral, so far as
she could during the war, she is now hostile as
far as she can be, when the whole nation is
crying for Peace. Yet her favored son is the re-
turned Vice-P President of the Union and Secre-
farv of War Of the Rebellion ponular alWaVa