Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-05-18


commanded On field. He was born to be a
leader of men, and left an example for af-
ter ages to reverence and follow AS was
said of one Of his ancestors, his was ''truly
life from beginning to end" He was
born in Lexington, KY, in 1921. His
father, Joseph Cabell Breckenridge. was
a native of Albemarle CO., Va, and his
grandfather, john Breckenridge, was born
In Augusta. and represented Albemarle
county in the convention. He emigrated
to Kentucky, and was the author of the
famous Kentucky resolutions OF 1913, and
was U. S. Attorney General under Thomas
Jefferson. Gen. Breckenridge's great
grandfather was Lieutenant OF the county
of Botetourt in the colony of Virginia.
under the King of Great Britain, and
married a daughter Of John Preston. Gen.
Breckenridge was educated at Princeton
College, of which his grandfather, Samuel
Stanhope Smith, was formerly president.
After studying law he went to Iowa, bat
returned and settled in Lexington, KY,
his native city. He went as major to the
Mexican war, and on his return entered
political life, in 1S49, as a Democrat Of the
strictest States rights conviction. He could
hardly have been otherwise when Welook
at his ancestry and .his training. So popu-
lar was he, SO strong was his influence over
men that he carried the district in which
Henry Clay lived, for the Democracy, beat
ing Leslie Coombs, for Congress, though
CoombS had the support of Clay and Crit
tenden. Again in the same district he beat
Gov. Letcher, who had been put up
against him. 1t was then that ne was re-
cognlzed as the leader of one Of the great
est parties this republic will ever know.
In these conflicts his exalted ability and
chivalric bearing were recognized by friend
and foe. In 1856 he was nominated at
Cincinnati for Vice President. and pre-
sided over the U. S. Senate for four of the
most eventful years Of its history. In 1850
he was nominated at Baltimore, against
his wishes, for President, with what re-
suit is we'll known. He was then elected
to the Senate of the United States at
time When the passions OF men were
thoroughly aroused and sectional anlmos-
ity was fercely excited. AS the Southern
senators one by one withdrew, he was the
last of all to remain. Kentucky had said
she wonld be neutral.-He knew that was
impossible, but he felt it his duty to re-
victionS, and pleading for the constitution
until he saw there was no hope. He knew
that many Of his friends at home differed
with him as to his remaining so long, and
that he was also an object Of suspicion with
the Federals, yet he remained conscious OF
his own rectitude, and under a solemn
sense of duty. He expressed his views with
dignity and power and without fear gave
to unwilling ears solemn warnings OF the
results which were to follow. When he
saw all was in vain he resigned and went
home, and shortly after came South, en-
tering the army as brigadier general
AS A SOLDIER
Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Chickamagua
Missionary Ridge and other memorable
fields speak Of him in the West, and Cold
Harbor, Monocacy, and other famous
fields in the East. He was as eminent as a
military man las he had been as statesman.
Seeing him as q commander you would
have said that the battle field and not the
Senate chamber was his appropriate place.
AS hard and desperate fighter, and sue
cessful manager Of his command when act
ually engaged he had few, if any superiors
in the army. Gen, Lee, the highest au-
thority in such points freely spoke of him
as one of the best officers in our army.
In 1854 when the confederate cause was
desperate he was made Secretary Of War
in which position he did all that was in
Human power to Go.
THE CLOSE.
When the armies Of Lee and johnson |
surrendered he did not hesitate to express
to President Davis the opinion that the |
war should close, and urged him to do all |
in his power to terminate it. He wrote to
him, ''Whatever course you pursue, opinion
will be divided. Permit me to give mine.
Should these or similar views accord with
your own, think the better judgement |
will be that you can have no higher title to
the gratitude Of your countrymen than
will spring from the wisdom, to see the path
of duty and the courage to follow it re-
gardless of praise Or blame"
In the last words of this, was the key to
Breckenridge's whole life.
The speaker then drew an eloquent pic
ture OF. the last days of the dying statesman,
and his illness at his home in Kentucky |
where he died. He did not repine. He |
could not have faced death more calmly. |
His example will not be lost; his influence
shall be felt for ages to come, wherever
genuine courage and fidelity, to pr inciple
shall be honored among mentor
s'Were star quenched on high,
For ages would it's light,
Still travelling downward from he sky,
Shine on our mortal sIghG.