Editing John C. Breckinridge (section)

====Retirement from the House====
[[File:1856DemocraticPoster.png|thumb|right|upright|alt=A campaign poster for Buchanan and Breckinridge|A campaign poster for Buchanan and Breckinridge]]
In February 1854, the Whig majority in the Kentucky General Assembly passed – over Powell's veto – a [[United States congressional apportionment|reapportionment]] bill that redrew Breckinridge's district, removing Owen County and replacing it with [[Harrison County, Kentucky|Harrison]] and [[Nicholas County, Kentucky|Nicholas]] Counties.{{sfn|Heck|1976|pp=46–47}} This, combined with the rise of the [[Know Nothing Party]] in Kentucky, left Breckinridge with little hope of re-election, and he decided to retire from the House at the expiration of his term.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=47}} Following the December 1854 resignation of [[Pierre Soulé]], the [[United States Ambassador to Spain|U.S. Minister to Spain]], who failed to negotiate a U.S. annexation of [[Cuba]] following the controversial [[Ostend Manifesto]], Pierce nominated Breckinridge to the position.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=47}} Although the Senate [[Advise and consent|confirmed]] the nomination, Breckinridge declined it on February 8, 1855, telling Pierce only that his decision was "of a private and domestic nature." His term in the house expired on March 4.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=48}}

Desiring to care for his sick wife and rebuild his personal wealth, Breckinridge returned to his law practice in Lexington.<ref name="John Cabell Breckinridge, 14th Vice President (1857-1861)" /> In addition to his legal practice, he engaged in land speculation in [[Minnesota Territory|Minnesota territory]] and [[Wisconsin]].{{sfn|Heck|1976|pp=50–52}} When Governor [[Willis A. Gorman]] of the Minnesota Territory thwarted an attempt by Breckinridge's fellow investors (not including Breckinridge) to secure approval of a railroad connecting [[Dubuque, Iowa]], with their investments near [[Superior, Wisconsin]], they petitioned Pierce to remove Gorman and appoint Breckinridge in his place. In 1855, Pierce authorized two successive investigations of Gorman, but failed to uncover any wrongdoing that would justify his removal.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=51}} During his time away from politics, Breckinridge also promoted the advancement of horse racing in his native state and was chosen president of the Kentucky Association for the Improvement of the Breed of Horses.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=110}}