Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1875-05-19
AGENTS.
DEATH OF Ex.vICE PRESIDENT
RRECKINRIDGE.


The telegraph brings the news of thu
death of Ex-Vice President John c
Breckenridge. He expired at his resi-
dence in Lexington, Kentucky, at IA
p. NJ. on the 18th inst. His last hours
the telegraph informs us, were passed
Quietly and he died without apparen
pain. Consumption is said to have
been the immediate canse of his death
though it is probable that the excessive
use of alcoholic stimulants during the
last few years had much to do Will
shortening his days.
Mr.. Breckinri dge was born neal
Lexington, Kentucky, January 2ls
1921, and was consequently in the fifty
fifth year of his age at the time of hi'
death. He was educated at Center
College and subsequently studied law
at the Pennsylvania institute. After
short residence in Iowa. he returned tC
Kentucky, married Miss Birch of
Georgetown and settled at Lexington
where he was for a number of years
brilliant member of the legal profes.
sion. At the breaking out of the wal
with Mexico he entered the military
service, and was elected Major of the
third regiment of Kentucky volun-
teers. The regiment was mustered
late, SO he had little opportunity for ac.
tive service. On b!s return he was
elected to the House of Representatises
of Kentucky where he first had an OPP
portunity to exhibit his rare powers az
adebater. In 1851 he was elected to the
Federal House of Representatives after
an animated contest, over General Les
lie Combs. In 1858 he carried the cleo
ton to the same Office, after a still
more violent and protracted contest,
during which he exhibited remarkable
vigor and perseverance, over Governor
Robert Letcher. One of his first pub
lie performances was the delivery Of
a glowing eulogy on Henry Clay, soon
after his decease, although he was of a
different party from hat distinguished
statesman. Daring the first session o.
the 33d Congress, in the course OF the
discussion of the Kansas-Nebraska
bill, he was involved in q persona.
alteration with Mr.. Cutting, s
member from New York, which
led to the preliminaries of &
duel. The hostile meeting was
however, avoided without any i'm.
putation upon the character or con
duct of Mr.. Breckinridge. Upon the
accession of President Pierce, he was
offered the Ministry 70 Spain, previ
ously to the appointment of Mr.. Soule
but declined it. In 1856 he was nomi
mated by the Democratic party ant
elected Vice President, in conjunction
with James Buchanan as President
and entered upon the office March 4th
1857. Although the youngest Officer
who had even held that position, ht
presided over the Senate of the United
States with dignity and impartiality
In 1860 he and Joe Lane, of Oregon
became the nominees of the Nationa
Democratic Convention at Charleston
for President and Vice President. 4
split in the Democratic party was thu
occasioned, which resulted in the cleo
ton of Lincoln and Hamlin in the ell
suing campaign. If II memory
serves us, Mr.. Breckenridge was, tn,
following Winter, again returned t
the Senate of the United States from
Kentucky, which position he resigned
in the Spring Of 1862 to participate il
the war of the Rebellion as a Brigade
General in the Confederate army. HI
remained in the service of the Confed
eracy until the close of the war, bn
never, we believe, achieved any espe
cial renown as a military hero. Sine
the war he has quietly followed hi
chosen profession in his native State
never taking any prominent part il
the political issues of the day. Al
though a polished gentleman and i'm
passioned orator, Breckenridge wa
not a great man in the general accepta
ton of that term, and, like StepheI
A. Douglas, but little he die
or said will longer survive him
He was nevertheless a mar
of kind and ennobling impulses
and his death will cause more pro
found sorrow in the hearts of Kentuck
ians, than that of any man since tn
decease of Henry Clay.