John Breckinridge's Bio:
A Kentucky attorney, John C. Breckinridge (1821-1875) served as Vice President of the United States under James Buchanan (1857-61), and accepted the Southern Democrats' nomination for the presidency when, in 1860, southerners determined that the national party and Stephen Douglas’ doctrine of popular sovereignty" failed to provide enough protection for their right to take slave property into the western territories. Breckinridge began his political career with service in the Kentucky legislature (1849–51) and in the House of Representatives (1851– 55).
Like the southern Democrats he represented in he pivotal election of 1860, Breckinridge argued that the Constitution did not provide the federal government with the power to restrict slavery in the territories. Although he believed in the states' right of secession (to leave the United States), he did not advocate that course of action during the 1860 campaign. In the November election, Breckinridge ran as a Southern Democrat and had huge support among the Deep South – Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina
Serving out his term as Vice President into early 1861, Breckinridge worked to fashion a compromise that would preserve Southern slavery in the Union. As Senator (elected 1859) in the special congressional session that began in July, 1861, he became a consistent opponent of he Lincoln administration's war policies. When Kentucky declared for the Union in September of 1861, Breckinridge accepted an appointment as brigadier general in the Confederacy. However, in 1860, Breckinridge ran for President as a friend of the Southern “way of life” and this is obvious in his attempts to craft U.S. policy to keep the institution legal and thriving.
Like the southern Democrats he represented in he pivotal election of 1860, Breckinridge argued that the Constitution did not provide the federal government with the power to restrict slavery in the territories. Although he believed in the states' right of secession (to leave the United States), he did not advocate that course of action during the 1860 campaign. In the November election, Breckinridge ran as a Southern Democrat and had huge support among the Deep South – Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina
Serving out his term as Vice President into early 1861, Breckinridge worked to fashion a compromise that would preserve Southern slavery in the Union. As Senator (elected 1859) in the special congressional session that began in July, 1861, he became a consistent opponent of he Lincoln administration's war policies. When Kentucky declared for the Union in September of 1861, Breckinridge accepted an appointment as brigadier general in the Confederacy. However, in 1860, Breckinridge ran for President as a friend of the Southern “way of life” and this is obvious in his attempts to craft U.S. policy to keep the institution legal and thriving.
Questions to
- First, introduce yourself, who are you and where do you come from?
- This position of President is a very difficult one. What experience do you have that you believe makes you ready to hold this position?
- Now lets begin the debate. We will start with the issue of slavery. If you were President, how would you handle this issue as we move into the future?
- Think about what has happened recently--the violence in "Bleeding Kansas", John Brown's attempt to arm slaves in order to lead a violent revolt. If you had your way with slavery, how do you think the people would respond? Also, is there a peaceful way out of this?
- There has been a lot of talk lately about letting new territories decide slavery for themselves. What are your thoughts about "popular sovereignty?"
- The North has more fields and a larger agricultural output that the South. Yet, instead of slave labor the North invested in advanced machinery and technology. Why cant the South do the same?