Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-05-21
Dea tn of John c. Breckenridge.

HbeA IN Oh j OUn u nrccAenElOSQ.
General John G. Breckenridge died in
Lexington, KY, Monday afternoon. Gen
eral Breckenridge was born near Lex
ii,s'on, KY, on the 21st of January;
l 81. and belonged to family distinguish
ell Goth in State and church. His grand
fati,rr, John Breckenridge, was United
States Senator from Kentucky, and was
afterwards United States Attorney-Ge
eral under President Jefferson. The lat
ter's son, John Breckenridge, D D., an
eminent minister Of the Presbyterian
Church, was the father of John c. Brock
enridge, and the late Robert Brecken-
ridge, ID. D. L. L. D., who was pastor of
the Second Presbyterian Church in Balti-
more for thirteen years from 1882, and
rose to eminence, was his uncle.
The late General John G.. Breckenridge
was educated at Centre College, Danville,
KY, and studied law at the Pennsylvania
Institute, in that State. He settled at
Lexington, KY, where he became one of
the leading members of his profession.
When the war with Mexico began he en-
tered the military service, and was elected
major of the third regiment of Kentucky
volunteers. On his return from Mexico
he was elected to the House of Represen-
tatives of Kentucky, where he first had an
opportunity to exhibit his powers as a de-
batter. In 1851 he was elected to the fed
eral House Of Representatives over Gen.
Leslie Combs, and in 1858 reelected over
Gov. Robt. P. Letcher. Upon the acces-
sion Of President Pierce he was offered
the ministry to Spain previously to the
appointment Of Mr.. Soule, but declined it.
Vice-President of the United, States in
conjunction with Buchanan as President,
and entered upon the Office March 4, 1857.
He was the youngest officer who ever held
| that position, and presided with dignity
| and impartiality. The seceders' conven-
tion, which seeded FROM the democratic
| national convention Of 1850, and which
held it's final meeting at the Maryland In
stitute, in Baltimore, On the 18th of June
in that year, unanimously nominated Gen.
Breckenridge for the presidency, and Gen.
Joseph Lane. of Oregon, for the vice-pres-
dency. The candidates Of the regular con-
vention, it will be remembered, were
Stephen A. Douglas, Of Illinois, for presi-
dent, and Herschel V. johnson, of Geor-
gia, for vice-president.
At the session of the Senate after Mr..
Lincoln s election Mr.. Breckenridge was
prominent in pushing the inquiry: care
we to have coercion and civil war, or con-
cession and peace?" and finally offered the
following resolution, action on which was
precluded by the adjournment of the Sen
ate: Resolved, That the Senate recon-
mend and advise the removal of the Unit
Id Sfn%o frrA r,c ha II ~.
Confederate States" After the Federal
arrests Of distinguished citizens in Ken
lucky in September, 1861, Mr.. Brecken-
| ridge entered the Confederate lines and
gave in his adhesion to that government,
| which made him a brigadier general In
| his career as a soldier he exhibited decid-
| ed evidences of military talents and ardor.
| He participated in the battles of Baton
| Rouge, Stone river, Chickamauga, routed
Gillem at Morristown, Ten, and won so
brilliant a victory over Sigel at New
market, in the valley of Virginia that even
Greeley's History of the American Con-
fict'' comedies that "a force that if con-
| centrated could have beaten all the rebels
been SO dispersed and frittered away as to
achieve less than nothing Gen. Brock
enridge also commanded a division in the
second battle Of Cold Harbor, near Rich
mond, Va, where he greatly distinguished
himself by his military skill and personal
powers in ext osing himself on that stab
bornly contested field.
After this he was made Secretary of
War Of the Confederacy, and despite the
crippled condition of the resources of the
country, succeeded in infusing renewed
vigor into the War Department. He re-
manned in Richmond until its evacuation,
and Travelled with President Davis up to
within a few hours of the capture of the
latter, when he made his way to tho Flori-
da coast, from whence he succeeded in
reaching Cuba. He afterwards went to
Canada, where he remained for several
years, in the meantime making visit to
Europe, Upon his return to the United
States he took up his residence ON the old
homestead, near Lexington, KY, where
he has since resided. Being under polit-
ical disabilities he has abstained from an
active participation in political affairs.
but always. when occasion presented, urg
| ing upon his fellow; citizens the discharge
of all the duties of law-abiding people.
He has been in i'll health for several years,
and now a career full of political and pro-
fesSional promise has come permanently
| to All end.