The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-27
OBITUARY.
IONS oApEL RREcKINnIpaE.


occurred on the 18th inst, at Lexington,
KY, died fifteen years years ago the loss
would have been national one, for at
that time he was Vice President of the
United States. To-day, however, his
death merely removes him from the pri-
vacy to which, after his return from Eu-
rope in 1868. he retired, from which he
has not emerged since that period. But
Mr.. Breckinridge's name will live in
history as one of the four principal
figures of the Presidential contest of
1860.
The family to which Mr., Breckenridge
belonged is one of the oldest and most
prominent, Intellectually and otherwise,
in Kentucky, his native State. Several
of his name had distinguished them
selves in various capacities previous to
his advent-an advent which was to add
to the name q reputation at home and
abroad His grandfather was John
Breckenridge, United States Senator from
Kentucky in 1902 land also Attorney-Gen-
eral under Jefferson.
The subject of this notice was born on
January 25th, 1921, near Lexington, Ky.
After completing his education at Centre
College, at Danville in the same State
he pursued legal studies at the Transyl-
vania Institute, and was admitted to the
bar. Later he resided for short time
in Iowa, but returning to Kentucky af-
forwards he settled finally in Lexington,
where he married and began the practice
of his profession, meeting with eminent
success and soon gained leading posi-
ton at the bar The call for volunteers
to proceed to Mexico, when war between
that country and the United States be-
gan, found him engaged in his profession
but in 1917, as Major of the Third Regi-
ment of Kentucky Volunteers, he went
to Mexico. The regiment however, saw
but little service as the victories of the
American arms had decided the war be-
fore il reached the scene of operations.
Buff had no opportunity to take part
in the military events of those brilliant
campaigns which resulted in the plant |
ing Of the United States flag on the ma
tional palace in Mexico, he was at least
enabled to win some lawels as an advO-
cate. In the trial by court martial Of
General Gideon j. Pillow, of Tennessee,
on charges of insubordination and mis-
demeanor, brought forward by General
Scott, that officers superior, Mr.. Breck
inridge acted as Pillows counsel, and he
had the satisfaction of seeing his client |
acquitted.
Resuming his legal duties after the ter
mination Of the war, Mr.. Breckenridge
entered public life for the first time as
member of the Kentucky House of Rep |
resentatives. In this capacity he estab-
lished his reputation as debater and
speaker Two years after he was nOmina- |
ted for Congress by the Democrats of his
district, his competitor being General
Leslie Combs, prominent politician of
the State. After campaign Of more |
than ordinary interest he defeated Combs
and took his seat in Congress. Party
feeling in those days of the ascendancy
of Henry Clay in Kentucky ran high,
and it was not without the development |
of great energies and strong personal in
fuence that Breckenridge was finally
elected. 1t was while serving in Con-
gress on this occasion that Mr.. Breckin-
ridge delivered his eulogy on Mr., Clay,to
whom, Notwithstanding their differences
of political opinion, he awarded the
highest merit that could be attached to
the reputation 0r memory of a public
man. Mr.. Clay died on June 80, 1852,
in Washington, while Congress was in
session. Among the eulOgies which
were spoken in the House that of Mr..
Breckenridge was particularly noticeable
for elOquence and directness. His con-
Guiding words were as follows: "Sir" he
said, standing by the grave of this great
man, how contemplate does appear the
mere legerdeman Of politics! What
repr0ach is his life on that false policy
which would trihe with great and up
right peoplel If l were to write his epi-
taph would nscribe as the highest
eulogy on the stone which shall mark
his resting place: "Here lies man who
was in the public service for fifty years.
and never attempted to deceive his
countrymen.
In 1858 Mr.. Brickinridge was re-elect-
ed to Congress, after a still more stormy
contest. over the Whigcandidate, Cover
nor Robert Letcher. During this session
while the Kansas Nebraska bill was un-
der discussion, Mr.. Breckenridge bacame
involved in quarrel with Mr.. Cutting.
the distinguished New York member.
Preparations for duel between the two
gentlemen were on foot, but the matter
was settled without recourse to the wea-
pons ofthe code. Mr.. Pierce was Presi-
dent at this time, and before the Span
ish mission was rendered to Mr.. Soule,
Mr.. r.BreCkinridge was offered the position.
Having other and higher honors i'll view
however, he declined the mission and
before the country in the
House. As the time for holding the
Democratic Convention which was to
nominate the candidate of that party for
the Presidency approached, Mr.. Breck-
inridge assumed foremost position as
the candidate of the Democracy for the
Vice Presidency. The convention met
in 1855, and the ticket, composed of
Buchanan and Breckenridge, was elected
by large majority at the election in
November. Thus, at the early age of
thirty Mr.. Breckinridge on the
4th of March, 1857, entered upon the
Office of Vice President and assumed the
duties of President of the Senate, over
which he presided with fairness and
dignity which made the oldest Senators
forget that he was the youngest man
who had ever served in that elevated ca
pacity.
From 1857 to 1860 was period of Mr..
Breckinridge's career marked more by
the possession of the dignity of Office
than by any absolute exercise of inau-
ence in the national councils. However,
in his case, possessed as he was of large
popularity, especially in the South, and
of a personal popularity, which was not
less marked, he became at an early day
the choice of thousands of the Democracy
for their candidate at the ensuing Presi-
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