Polk told me an affecting story of a poor widow, in humble circumstances, whose three sons had fallen in battle, one after the other, until she had only one left, a boy of sixteen. So distressing was her case that the General went himself to comfort her. She looked steadily at him, and replied to his condolences by saying, 'As soon as I can get a few things together, General, you shall have Harry too.' The tears came into General Polk's eyes as he related this incident, which he concluded by saying, 'How can you subdue such a nation as this?""

Perhaps we may thank God that he did not live to realize the answer to this question.

MAJ.-GEN. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE.

CHAPTER LV.

His life anteriour to the War.-His career in Congress.-Elected Vice-President of the United States.-Democratic candidate for the Presidency, 1860.-The electoral and popular vote of that canvass.-Address to the people of Kentucky.-Last service in the United States Senate.-Bold speech there against the Administration.-Remarks upon Andrew Johnson's resolution.-Excited debate with Senator Baker.-Flight of Mr. Breckinridge from Kentucky.-His farewell counsels to her people.-Appointed Brigadier-General.-Gallantry at Shiloh.-His expedition against Baton Rouge.-Causes of its failure.-At Murfreesboro.-"The Bloody Crossing of Stono River."-At Chickamauga.-Memorial of the Western commanders to the Richmond Congress.-Gen. Breckinridge's command in Southwestern Virginia. He is made Secretary of War.-Accompanies President Davis in his flight from Richmond.-Last Council of the Confederate leaders.-Gen. Breckinridgo escapes from the country.-Reflections upon his services and character.

BEFORE the war of the Confederates the name of John C. Breckinridge was not only one of historical distinction, but he had been immediately conspicuous as Democratic candidate for the Presidency in the great political contest that preceded the appeal to arms. His life was already full of public honours. At the age of thirty-five he had served his country abroad; had been a legislator in his State and in the national legislature; had been tendered the representation of the Republic in Europe; had been elevated to the second office in the gift of the people, and now stood as candidate for the supreme honours of the Presidential Chair.

He was born near Lexington, Kentucky, January 16, 1821. He received his education at Centre College, enjoyed the benefits of some months at Princeton, and after going through the requisite law studies at Transylvania Institute, was admitted to the bar at

Lexington. Hoping to find a fruitful field in which to sow his knowledge, he emigrated to the Northwest; but after something less than two years spent in Burlington, Iowa, he returned to his native State, and took up his abode at Lexington. He entered immediately on the practice of his profession, and met with a well-merited success.

The trump of war, however, excited his military ardour, and the result was creditable service as a major of infantry during the Mexican war. He also distinguished himself as the counsel for Maj.-Gen. Pillow, in the celebrated court-martial of that officer.

On the return of Major Breckinridge from Mexico, he was elected to the Kentucky Legislature, and created so favorable an impression as a legislator that he was elected to Congress from the Ashland District, and being re-elected, held his seat from 1851 to 1855.

Devoted attention to his legislative duties marked his career in Congress, and his manly eloquence impressed all political parties and compelled their admiration. He introduced (on the 30th June, 1852) the resolutions of respect to the memory of Henry Clay, who had died the day previous, and pronounced an eloquent and feeling eulogy, laying the fulness of his young heart on the grave of the great Kentuckian. It was fitting occasion, in view of Clay's great and pure life, to speak of "the mere legerdemain of politics." "If I were to write his epitaph," said Breckinridge, "I would inscribe, as the highest eulogy, on the stone which shall mark his resting-place, 'Here lies a man who was in the public service for fifty years and never attempted to deceive his countrymen.""

In debate, Mr. Breckinridge was sharp and effective. With reference to the Compromise Measures of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law, Mr. Giddings, of Ohio, denied that the Federal Government had power to pass laws by which "to compel our officers and people to seize and carry back fugitive slaves." Mr. Breckinridge briefly pushed him into an enunciation of his most extreme doctrine and then said, "Against the impotent ravings of this baffled fanaticism I place the plain words of the Constitution. To his coarse and offensive language I have no reply."

With the debate on the Nebraska bill, in 1854, Thirty-third Congress, Mr. Breckinridge's name is intimately woven. It was

during this discussion that his difficulty with Mr. Cutting, of New York, took place. Mr. Breckinridge had strongly stigmatized the course of the member from New York; "the gentleman," he said, "may be for the bill, but his voice is that of an enemy." Mr. Cutting replied at length to the imputations thrown out by Mr. Breckinridge, when, the latter retorting, a scene of great excitement took place. The difficulty was carried out of the House, and for some days public curiosity was aroused at the prospect of a duel, the preparatory steps for such an affair having been taken. A settlement, however, was effected by friends, "mutually satisfactory and honourable to both parties."

In recognition of Mr. Breckinridge's identification with the views of the Administration, President Pierce tendered to him the mission to Spain; but the honour was respectfully declined, family matters compelling Mr. Breckinridge to this course. He was a delegate to the Cincinnati Convention in June, 1856. After the nomination of Buchanan for the Presidency, several names were offered for the second office-among others, that of John C. Breckinridge, proposed by the Louisiana delegation. Acknowledging the flattering manifestation of good-will, Mr. Breckinridge begged that his name would be withdrawn. On the first ballot, however, the Vermont delegation, through Mr. Smalley, believing that no Democrat had a right to refuse his services when his country called, cast its five votes for Breckinridge. Many other States followed, and of the total he received fifty-one votes, second on the list, and only eight under the first, Gen. Quitman. The names of other candidates were afterwards withdrawn, and the whole poll went for J. C. Breckinridge, at which the Convention rose and, with waving of handkerchiefs, and the loudest vocal demonstrations, directed its attention upon the tall and graceful delegate from Kentucky, who had been so unexpectedly nominated for so exalted a post. It was long before the demonstration subsided so as to allow a word to be heard. last, the commanding figure of Mr. Breckinridge stood fronting the mighty triumph. It certainly was a time to try a young man. He spoke briefly and becomingly. The result just announced was unexpected, and he gave the Convention the sim ple thanks of a true heart.

At

He was elected Vice-President, having received 173 electo

ral votes, being fifty-nine over William L. Dayton, the Republican candidate for the same office.

As presiding officer of the United States Senate, he took the chair of that eminent body early in the first session of the Thirtyfifth Congress, December, 1857, and, with some intermission, caused by the illness of his family, presided during the stormy session which preceded the war.

In the Presidential contest of 1860, there were four tickets in the field, Mr. Breckinridge having received the regular Democratic nomination for President. It was through an unfortunate division in the Democratic ranks, and the split effected by Mr. Douglas, that Abraham Lincoln obtained a majority of votes in the Electoral College. Every Free State but New Jersey had chosen the entire Lincoln ticket, and the triumph of a sectional party was complete. Mr. Breckinridge received but seventy-two votes in the Electoral College, and of the popular vote 850,082. But although defeated in this great field, his native State, Kentucky, continued to do him honour, and he received the unsoughtfor nomination of his party for the United States Senate. He was elected to succeed John J. Crittenden from the 4th March, 1861, by twenty-nine majority on joint ballot. His Senatorial term would have expired in 1867, if war had not intervened, and he had not been disturbed by other calls of duty.

When President Lincoln made his extra-constitutional call for 75,000 troops to subdue the South, Mr. Breckinridge addressed a large audience at Louisville, Kentucky, advising the course which the State should take in the emergency of war. He denounced the President's proclamation as illegal, saying, that he could not make his 75,000 men efficient until after the meeting of Congress. He proposed that Kentucky should present herself to Congress on the 4th of July through her Senators and Representatives, and protest against the settlement of the present difficulties of the country by the sword; meanwhile, that she should call a State Convention to aid her Congressmen in presenting such a protest. Should that fail, however, it was the duty and the interest of Kentucky to unite her fortunes with the South.

Although this address drew upon Mr. Breckinridge much unfriendly and suspicious attention in the North, it did not prevent him from taking his seat in the United States Senate on the 4th