New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-19
John T.. Breckinrtdge.

| ing of the seventeenth instant, was born il
Lexington, in 1921. He embraced the pro
fession of the law and was in practice at The
bar when the war with Mexico commenced
| General Breckenridge then volunteered hit
| services as a soldier, ard was made ma jol
! of a Kentucky regiment. Upon his return
to his State he entered political life, and
was elected member of the Legislature
In 1851 he was elected to Congress. Ii
1856 he was nominated Vice President by
The Democratic convention which met a,
Cincinnati, on the ticket which named
James Buchanan tor President. Ia
that campaign the Democrats were
successful. The Wings had divided
forces. a portion joining the Demo
cratic party Oh the compromise OF
! 1850 platform, the great let alone policy
which grew out Of Mr.. Clay, and finally le
| him down from public life. and a portion
| forming the American party which also
adopted the compromise plan regarding
slavery, and nominated presidential ticket
Donelson. There was also another portion
| of the Whig party which united with the
AniiSlavery party, and formed what is now
known as the Republican party. This
latter party chose for standard bearers
John c. Fremont and William l.. Dayton
The campaign of 1856 was a lively one.
Songs of the Pathfinder OF the Rocky
Mountains were sung from east to west,
while the virtues Of Buck and Bteck
were proclaimed from every Democratic
stump. The Know Nothings carried
only one State, and the Republicans gained
eleven. The stupidity Of Mr. Ruchanan's
administration is matter of history. There
was war in the air. and the sage of Wheat
field sat with the dignity of an owl and the
ability Of an average bank president, and
allowed the future secessionists to strength
en- themselves at all points. During his
administration came the Mormon war, the
Kansas troubles, the John Brown raid, and
the rupture of the Democratic party, which
has never yet been healed. The presiden-
tial campaign of 1869 saw the Republican
party strengthened by the addition of the
conservative elements OF all parties, and
tuO ClcCtlUu VI LiuCOlu auu 11dulIlu was du
easy victory. The American party nom,-
mated Bell and Everett The Democratic
party generally followed the fortunes of
Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V.
johnson, while a portion of it mar
shaled under the ambitious leadership
Of John G. Breckenridge, just now dead,
and Joseph Lane. With this defeat General
Breckinridge disappeared as Union
statesman. He was elected to the United
States Senate, but Immediately resigned
his position. the Douglas Democrats
prevented the secession of Keatucky, snd
General Breckinridge left his home to Join
the fortunes Of a confederacy formed by
the Democrats Of Virginia, North and
South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Ala
bama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. We
are told that General Breckinridge joined
the Confederacy reluctantly. He may have
so expressed himself, but he had not the
excuse of other leaders who followed the
fortunes of their States for good or evil. He
had been honored among men; he had stood
in the halls of Congress; he had occupied
the second highest office in the land,
he had run for the first office within the
gift of the people, and had the
wound of defeat soothed at home by
senateship which he discarded against his
better judgement and against the example
and wishes of his constituents and his
State, and became a volunteer in rebel
cause. He joined Buckner's forces at Bowl
ing Green, and was appointed Brigadier
General, and afterward commanded
division of the Confederate army under
johnson. He was dashing and impulsive
soldier, but did not greatly distinguish
himself on the field. During the last few
months. Of the war he acted as Secretary of
War for the confederacy. Since the war
General Breckinridge has abstained en-
tirely from politics, and devoted himself to
the practice of law at his old home. He
was a man of fine presence, an eloquent
speaker, and a man of excellent attainments
and many good qualities. He was man
Of cbivalrous and noble nature, one whom
love as being of the best of
them. and a gentleman. statesman, friend, |
whose memory they delight to honor, for
getting his errors and cherishing in their |
hearts his virtues.