The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-17

Il necessary qualification for high office. Johr
r daughter Of Joseph H. cafsll, Of Zion Hill in
Buckingham county Va. one OF the-leadng citi
Q Zens OF the State ~
t Gen Breckenridge great grandfather was Col
: Robert Breckenridge. lieutenant OF the County Of
o Botetourt. in the colony of Va. under the King
8 OF Great Britain. He married Letilia Preston,
t daughter Of John Preston. who was the progeni-
e tor Of the Preston family, which includes among
men distinguished in the walks of life, for great
e intellect and high character. qls5
Breckenridee wbich shows gew 81 c oeI
he was identified with the three Virginia families
: OF Breckenridge, Preston and Cabell, which, by
many OF their members, have in times past so no.
bly, illustrated the history OF our State and coun-
try. No wonder. therefore. that virgnians feel a
] peculiar interest in his life and character.
! Gen. Breckenridge, after the usual preparatory
school, and after the still more important train
+ ing received at home from his pions and accom-
8 plished mother, was graduated from Centre Col
I lege, KY, where he was brought under the infu-
ence Of that learned man and distinguished di.
to PRINCETON College Of which his grandfather,
president. There he studied law, and from
, thence whilst still mere youth, he went out to
Iowa, where he remained but short time, and
, soon returning and settling permanently in his
native city OF Lexington. KY. where his great
talents as public speaker soon gave him high
!! position in his profession. In very few years,
however, war being declared with Mexico, his
patriotic desire to serve his country and his nat
duced him to enter the military service as major
tucky sent into the field, ana in that capacity he
served with credit and distinction, under the
command of Gen. Scott. until the close OF the war.
Upon his return TO Kentucky, he first entered
political life in l849, when after an animated con-
test, he was elected representative in the Ken
was the commencement of political life the
most remarkable to be found in the political an
upon the political stage, he became man Of
mark possessing as he did In an eminent degree
those personal traits which attract popular favor
and dg1ed majestic and capt}Vsns orator
commanding the attention and respect OF the
i He was, you know, a Democrat in politics and
most pronounced advocate of the doctrine OF
doctrine Of the supremacy Of the authorityof' l
| centralized general government. He could npt1
sss eo Ssfa s1ncpss s n asa
i guished ancestors who had themselves taken SO
/ prominent part In laying the foundations, upon
| they belonged, were built. Lexington, where he
lived was the centre of the Ashland congression-
leader of the Whig party, and the acknowledged
exponent OF its principles, the statesman who ex-
lowers than any other party leader then living
| The district was considered impregnable to any
ia % assaaits' ana was regarded as espe
| in 1851, Gen. Leslie Coombs. who was a personal |
friend and an ardent admirer OF Mr.. Clay, became
was regarded as certain. In this condition OF |
things, John G. Breckenridge. young, ardent and L
its principles and himself the pride Of the young
men 81 the district, many OF whom had served \
learned to love and admire him. was announced |
as the Democratic candidate. Then commenced I
| the most exciting political canvass ever before
witnessed-even in Kentucky, which has always |
been so prolific OF gifted popular speakers, and |
whose people have ever been ardent and enthusi-
ences. Gen. Coombs effective popular
orator and he besides had all the great influence
score Of other powerful and influential Wing
| leaders OF the district Breckenridge, stirred by
whose principles he felt that he was contending,
| went before his people. bearing aloft the banner
his party asogld which the young men Of the
and by his powerful logic and resistless elo-
quence. overcame. the majority which was con-
suit was his triumphant election, and the display
of power which he made during the canvass at
once PLACED him among the foremost men OF his
State. Two years afterwards, in 1858, the same
scene was re-enacted, when Breckenridge was
wings, chagrined and mortified that the citadel
OF their party in Kentucky had been wtested
from them, and determined to regain it, selected
deservedly great personal popularity, and regard
ed as the most effective popular speaker Of his
excited, and the interest aroused was intense.
Everywhere throughout the district Brecken-
party friends to the rescue. No knighto the an
Gent days OF chivalry ever bore himself more
SdllduGly Cnau QlQ LQe young UcmOCraLlc leader ,
in this contest The eyes Of the whole country
were turned to the struggle, and when. on the ,
evening OF the election, it was known that he was
again victorious all men recognized him as q
leader OF one OF the greatest parties which this
Republic will ever know. In these fierce politi-
cal antagonisms, whilst the passions of men were
often deeply stirred. yet was there never the !
slightest suspicion of unworthness OF character
or conduct on the part OF the successful candi-
date. All men honored him, and not one failed to
recognize and acknowledge the exalted ability ,
and chivalYic bearing which he displayed. From ,
his place in the House OF Representatives he pro-
claimed the fundamental cardinal principles of !
casions discussed, with such clearness and eio-
quence the important questions of the day, that !
he took rank among the first statesmen OF the i
country. All rejecting men knew that one who Z
had thus early achieved such magnificent tri- | t
umphs. must be destined for still higher honors
splendid IN National aIf d soa
vention, which assembled in the city of Cincin-
ted for the Vice Presidency of the United States
Remember! he was then but thirty five years '
exhibited. as he stood before that great assem- I
blage, and accepted in fitting and thrilling words
enthusiasm in his behalf which it is hard now to
realize. AS Vice President OF the United States t
he presided over the DELIBERATIONS Of the Senate
of the government. and the ability and impartial
ity with which he discharged the delicate and "
difficult duties of his position extorted the admit
ration Of all men. In 1850, when the country was
distracted by the angry discussions OF those por
tentous questions which were soon to be deter "
mined by the dread arOitrament of the sword | u
when men were with anxious thoughts turning il
to the wisest statesmen to rescue them from the Il
evils which threatened, Breckenridge was, with p
out his consent and contrary to his wishes, nomi II
semblea at Baltimore as the Democrstic eandi-
date for the Presidency. You know the result. q
The time had come, so much dreaded by the Il
founders OF the Republic, when the people OF the a
country were divided into sectional parties and
the stronger section prevailed. Breckenridge was
OF the United States All men saw the peril in =.
which the country was placed and the wise and 9.
services of Breckenridge in the emergency and e.
he was elected to the Senate OF the United States
with the South, yet it was equally well known :,
that he was anxious to avert war, the fearful | -
consequences Of which he too well foresaw, and
could be done consistently with honor and the o.
great principles which had governed his political w
brought out the most remarkable traits and ele- u
ments of his character than did this short term OF
service in the United States Senate The passions =
luminosity and hatred were fercely excited, prep e.
other the Southern States withdrew from the n
Union, and their Representatives in Congress re- y
ali the Southern men. remained. His State had a,
declared her position to be that of neutrality He y
knew how impossible it was to maintain such u u
tive to do all in his power to the last to prevent
actual appeal to arms and shedding OF blood IL
Firm, composed and selfreli3nt conscious of his "
integrity. with the dignity and high resolve ~
Of an ancient Roman Senator he remained at his t.
/
the Constitution: with all the solemniy BETTING y
the occasion, and with all the earnestness OF his
great nature, until he that there was no long e
or hope, when in one Of the most solemnly elo- II
queAt and impressive addresses ever delivered IL
in deliberative body, he announced his deter
mination to resign the trust confded to him, and
to return to his people. having despaired of be-
ing able to do anything towards avertng the ruin
impending over the government Those only st
who knew the man, can understand the struggle =,
which it cost him thus to go through this trying
ordeal. His friends from the South had gone
from the Senate, and although Kentucky, by her n
State authorities had declared her neutrality yet
her people were overwhelmingly for the cause OF :
the South in the impending contest. Brecken- h.
ridge knew that many, very many OF those whose Il
good opinion he valued most highly, were COM h
menting unfayoFably upon his course in remain h
ing In the Senate he knew, too, that he was an W
object OF suspicion with the Federal authorities Al
and Northern representatives, yet he was tran il
quill and composed conscious Of the rectitude of if
his course, and impressed with solemn sense of h
his duty in this dread hour of his country's peril
AS questions OF moment were coming up in rapid
succession for discussion and decision, unaWed ir
by the uzfriendly and hostile presence in which fl
he stood, he expressed his views with dignity and
power, and without fear gave to unwilling ears
the solemn warnings of the results which were to
follow the course pursued 1t was only when he h
saw that all was in vain, that the mighty rush OF q
passion could not be stayed, that blood was al
ready shed, that he quietly and with dignity re- al
tired to his native State. Thus ended forever his
political life, and he is to be known thereafter 81
not Tor his trlumphS in debate or for his intellec