John Bell Breckinridge

“ His personal appearance is unusually prepossessing, and his social bearing is such as to win him scores of friends.
Mr. Breckinridge was born near Lexington, Kentucky, January 21, 1821, and is the grandson of John Breckinridge, who was United States Senator and Attorney General. He was educated at Central College, Danville, and studied law at Transylvania Institute. After his professional education was complete, he emigrated to Iowa, but the frontier life did not suit him, and he returned to Kentucky, where there was a better field for the display of his talents. ”

“ In July, 1862, he entered the Confederate Army as a captain in John Hunt Morgan's command; and during the last two years of the war was colonel of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry. The war over, Colonel Breckinridge returned to Lexington and became editor of The Observer and Reporter, which he relinquished a few years later in order to devote his entire [Pg 320] attention to the law. In 1884 Colonel Breckinridge was elected to the lower House of Congress from the Ashland district, and he took his seat in December, 1885, which was the first session of the Forty-ninth Congress. ”

“ Dr. Breckinridge's writings include Travels in France, Germany, etc. (Philadelphia, 1839) ; Popery in the XIX. Century in the United States (1841) ; Memoranda of Foreign Travel (Baltimore, 1845) ; The Internal Evidence of Christianity (1852) ; The Knowledge of God Objectively Considered (New York, 1858) ; and The Knowledge of God Subjectively Considered (New York, 1859) . These two last named works, of enormous proportions, are [Pg 113] Dr. Breckinridge's greatest theological and literary productions. He also published Kentucky School Reports (1848-1853) . ”

“ Breckinridge was elected president of Jefferson College (now Washington and Jefferson College) , at Washington, Pennsylvania, but two years later he resigned the presidency of the college in order to accept the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church of Lexington, Kentucky. In 1848 Dr. Breckinridge was elected superintendent of public instruction of Kentucky; and in 1853 he became professor of theology in the Danville Theological Seminary, which position he held until his death. He was chairman of the Baltimore national convention of 1864 which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. ”

“ In 1894, after the most bitter congressional campaign of recent Kentucky history, he was defeated for re-election; and two years later as the "sound money" candidate he again met defeat, Evan E. Settle, who was also known in Congress as a very eloquent orator, and who hailed from the Kentucky county of "Sweet Owen," triumphing over him. Colonel Breckinridge was never again a candidate for public office. In 1897 he resumed his newspaper work, becoming chief editorial writer on The Lexington Herald, which paper was under the management of his son, Mr. Desha Breckinridge, the present editor. ”

“ He says he "can hardly estimate the relative strength of the influences that surrounded him in youth; but every successful life is indebted, more than to anything else, to the influence of home and school, which helps to form habits of study; and also to the companionships formed at that early time."
General Breckinridge married, July 21, 1868, Louise Ludlow Dudley, of Lexington, Kentucky. They have had thirteen children, eight of whom are living in 1905. ”

“ J. Breckinridge, John C. Breckinridge, and W. C. P. Breckinridge were descended on the maternal side from the Cabells—a famous Norman family. Vide Cabell. The Breckinridge family is directly of Scottish origin. [Pg 161] The foregoing derivation rests upon the authority of the English genealogist, Doctor Henry Barber. But no American family has ever given more varied and striking illustrations of the power of inherited Norman blood. Scarcely a characteristic trait is lacking. ”

“ It will be remembered that there had been for quite a long time considerable doubt or uncertainty as to which side of the fence Mr. Breckinridge would eventually jump. He had remained in Washington City up to a very short time previous to his arrival in Rich [217] mond. One of the facts brought out during his speech that night, in answer to the serenade, was, that he was still a member of the United States Senate, he having so arranged it that his resignation would not take effect until he was safe inside of the Confederacy. ”

“ It's so full of Breckinridges, you can't throw a stone without hitting one of 'em!' 'Really?' she says, just like that. 'Really?' She thought I was in earnest!"
"Every Breckinridge you hit would have a gun in one hip-pocket and a flask in the other," said J. B., turning the talk from Muriel as best he could. "Bad men to throw stones at, on the whole——"
"Champagne, sir?"
"No! Good Heavens, do you suppose the doctor expects us to eat all that pudding and jelly stuff, and fruit and nuts and cheese into the bargain? It's—what d'ye call it?—Homeric, that's what it is—a Homeric feast!" ”

“ He was truly "a man of God," and the effects of his wise and holy instruction and discipline, we have no doubt are felt in the bosom of many families, and in the hearts of many individuals in Philadelphia, to this day, who will, we trust, be prepared to meet him, where, having turned many to righteousness, "he shall shine as a star for ever and ever." ”

“ Whose, then?"
"Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden."
"Indeed! I know some of them. Which was it?"
"Breckinridge is his name."
"Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health, landlord, and prosperity to your house. Good-night!"
"Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson, that though we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal servitude, unless we can establish his innocence. ”

“ If there was any one thing which, more than another, was calculated to demonstrate the true character and tendency of the Society, it was the opinions everywhere entertained respecting it by the colored population. It was a fact that they loathed and abhorred the Society. No man advocating it could be popular amongst them. Even Mr. Breckinridge, with all his virtues and benevolence, was considered by the colored people as practically their enemy, by helping to sustain a Society which they regarded as the most effective engine of oppression ever invented. ”

“ Breckinridge has a weighty duty to fulfil to-night, for he is bound to sustain them. They have been brought by himself, a Christian minister, the professed friend of the slave; and he must, therefore, abundantly support them by incontrovertible evidence, or stand branded before the world as the worst foe of human freedom—the foul calumniator of the friends and advocates of the oppressed, the suffering, and the dumb. ”

“ Jack sat in front with Remedios and one of the bags. Mr. Temple and Bob, both big individuals, filled the rear with the balance of the bags. Frank, who had gone to the front of the car to crank it, found no room within for him when he returned. He leaped to the running board.
"I'm light," he said. "I'll sit on the door. Let's go."
Remedios opened the throttle and with a rattle and roar, the ramshackle old car darted ahead on the road taken by Gabby Pete, and soon had left the town behind and was out on the desert. ”

“ Hampton laughed. Rafaela was a continual delight to him.
“It means,” said Jack, solemnly, “that if you don’t clear up this mystery, I’ll appeal to Donna Ana.”
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Rafaela made a grimace. “Oh, that duenna. She sleeps. Not even your airplane wakes her. But when I hear it, I run. ‘Senor Jack will go search for my father who is missing four days,’ I say to myself. As I run, up comes that Pedro with a note. He would stop me. But I am so anxious to ask you to, please, go at once and search for my father, that I take his note and run. He looked after me and scratch his head. I see him, yes sir.” ”

“ Suppose Bob and I tackle ‘Black George’ and you and Frank go after Matt Murphy.”
“Right,” said Jack, his hand on the door.
“One thing more, boys,” cautioned Mr. Temple. “Go in quickly and quietly, and get your man before he has a chance to fire. We shall do likewise.”
The boys nodded. Then Jack opened the door and, with beating hearts, the four filed out. Jack tiptoed across the salon to prevent his shoes making any sound. The others were in their stockinged feet. Two and two they ranged outside the doors of the two cabins. Mr. Temple nodded that he and Bob were ready. Jack did the same. ”

“ But at that moment Rafaela, who stood closer to it, halted him with upraised hand.
"Listen," she whispered.
Cautious footsteps could be heard ascending the stairs.
"Quick, Jack," whispered Mr. Hampton, "you mustn't be seen. Nor you, Miss Calomares. Here, hide behind this bed. And he pushed the two behind the hangings of a great four-poster. Then removing the key from the outside of the door, he hurriedly but noiselessly swung the ponderous frame shut, and locked it on the inside.
"Calomares won't recall losing the key," he said grimly to himself. "There may be a chance yet." ”

“ Temple and Doctor Marley to continue with the naval officer.
“Haven’t we, though,” agreed Frank. “Why, when we get back to Harrington Hall in the fall, and tell the fellows about this——”
“And about our Mexican border adventures, too,” supplemented Jack.
“Huh. They’ll think we’re awful liars,” said Bob.
All three laughed.
Mr. Temple turned and beckoned to them to approach.
“We are going to turn about and make a run for the Bear,” he said. “Ensign Warwick believes this fog will not lift for some time, and that the trawler has pretty well given us the slip.” ”

“ On this occasion young Billy Breckenbridge was the only man who brought the facts back to Tombstone; and he arrived there long after Buckskin Frank.
For the two-gun man had seen his opportunity to make men forget that incident wherein he had figured so poorly against Nigger Jim, and had spurred his pony all the way to the county seat, where he told his story—how he had seen the desperado sitting under the dwarf live-oaks, had stalked him as a man stalks big game, and shot him through the head. ”

“ It came, he believed, from a point not far to the right, on the other side of the wooden bulwark of the companionway.
He held his breath, straining painfully. Whoever they were, they were speaking in English. Yet neither voice was that of Matt Murphy. Who could they be? He had to see.
Slowly, slowly, scarcely moving, yet edging forward all the time, Jack peered around the bulwark. Presently he saw them. They were two in number, and one was the little fat doctor who looked after “Black George.” ”

“ It can safely be asserted that we were not worsted in this fight, although for lack of ammunition we quitted the field. Every attack made by the enemy upon our position was repulsed, notwithstanding our [Pg 564] greatly inferior numbers. Our loss was slight; his was heavy. General Breckinridge declared that no troops could have fought better or more successfully than those which held the right.
From Rye Valley we moved to the main road again, striking it at Mount Airy, thirteen miles from Marion. Here General Breckinridge learned that the enemy had marched directly by to Saltville. ”

“ He must not be allowed to win. Frank swung aloft another lacquered stool, remembering the execution wrought previously on Wong Ho by the same method, and brought it down on “Black George’s” head.
The stool splintered in his grasp. “Black George” relaxed, went limp, then collapsed.
“Whew,” said Bob, panting. “I guess I’d have gotten him, Frank, but I don’t know. He’s a tough fighter.”
Jack’s voice behind them rose in a scream.
“Look out. Here they come.”
They whirled to face the new danger. And in through the doorway behind the hangings poured a dozen ruffians. ”

“ He was an able man and a lovable man. The missing ingredient was serious belief. Just after the nomination of the Breckinridge and Lane Presidential ticket in 1860, I heard him make an ultra-Southern speech from Mr. Breckinridge's doorway. "What do you think of that?" I asked Andrew Johnson, who stood by me, and Johnson answered sharply, with an oath: "I never like a man to be for me more than I am for myself." I have been told that even at home General Butler could never acquire the public confidence. ”

“ Temple, when he and the three chums were all gathered in their staterooms with the door locked behind them. “What’s all this mystery?”
“Yes, what is it you overheard out there on the observation platform?” demanded Jack. “You certainly seem excited enough. What’s it all about?”
“Spoiled my nap,” grumbled big Bob. “It better be good or they won’t be able to find you.”
And picking up a pillow he started to belabor his chum with it. Frank laughed and warded him off.
“Take him away,” he said. “He’s a wild man. How can I talk if he smothers me?”
“Sit down, Bob,” Mr. Temple commanded his son. ”

“ Temple, for the express purpose of trying to locate the owner of the flivver which Bob and Captain Cornell had made off with outside of the Nueva Laredo bull ring that afternoon, in their pursuit of Ramirez, and of reimbursing him.
The other aviators were listening to Captain Murray’s attempt to obtain information from Ramon. Presently the latter turned away impatiently, and, his eyes lighting on Jack, he beckoned him forward.
“Hampton, I can’t get anything out of your old cook. You try your hand.”
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“Look here, Ramon,” said Jack, eyeing the old fellow keenly. “You’re afraid of something. ”