The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-08-27
The Grave of Breckenridge.

The remains of Gen. Breckinridge, as
we learn from the Lexington Press,
were on Wednesday last removed from
| pOrarily placed at the time of his fu-
neral, and inferred in a family lot re-
Gently purchased in the Lexington
cemetery. It is matter of regret with
us, and with the citizens of Frankfort
| generally, that they could not have
found their final resting place in our
beautiful cemetery. The name and fame
| of Gen. Brecsinridge are so identified
with the state, and are so nearly the
property of the commonwealth, that it
seemed fitting that his dust should mingle
with that of his comrades in the Mexi-
can war, and OF the other honOred dead
whose graves a grateful people have
fondly consecrated with their love. In
deed, whatever may have been Gen.
Breckinridge's later expressions, we
have reason to believe that it was his
long cherished wish to be inferred here.
10 the writer, when on q visit here
nearly a year before his death, while in
the cemetery admiring the beauty of
tie scenery, he said, "Do you know I
have always wished to be buried here ?"
When we replied we did not know 1t,
but, on the contrary, had supposed he
would prefer Lexington, he said, "No,
l have always wished to be buried here,
and / want you to bear it in mind" To
General Preston, of Lexington, and
others, it is known that he had ex-
pressed the same wish. To General
Preston he gave, with characteristic
touch of humOr, one reason for prefer
ring the Frankfort cemetery, that cities
were so apt to spread over cemeteries
located near them, but that he did not
believe there was any danger of that
here. The fact, however, that he had
not for nearly a year said anything
on the subject, or to any one SO imme.
diately connected with him as to give
that he had in his will said he wished
plain burial, added to the natural
preference of his family to have his re-
mains rest in the place of his birth,
residence, and death, have led to the
decision we have announced. It has
been made and sanctioned by those |
nearest him, and who have consulted |
rather the impulses of love to keep him |
who were ever affectionate and true to |
AALAs GAdu Cu0 ouSBSntlOLS VI pO11Cy |
touching the honor of a state burial |
and a public monument. There is no |
appeal from the decision, and we ac-
quiesce thoroughly in it ; though, as
having been intrusted with what we
have felt to be in some measure a COM
mission, we have felt it our duty to
make known the facts here given, es-
pecially as we have seen a statement to
the effect that Gen. Breckinridge had
never expressed a wish to be buried
here, and our silence would do injustice
to some who have made the statement
on our authority.
As an evidence of the commendable
desire on the part of our citizens to
show honor to the illustrious dead,
when it was reported that he had ex-
pressed wish to be inferred here, our
cemetery board unanimously adopted
resolution rendering to his family any
lot, without regard to size or shape, in
any part of the cemetery not appropri-
ated which they might select. We have
not heretofore referred to this matter,
although the board communicated the
resolution te the family a fortnight or
more since, because we did not wish to
make the decision, which was properly
one for private affection only to deter
mine, the subject of newspaper discus
YeOmGn.