Editing John C. Breckinridge (section)

===U.S. Representative===
====First term (1851–1853)====
Breckinridge was a delegate to the January 8, 1851, state Democratic convention, which nominated [[Lazarus W. Powell]] for governor.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=33}} A week later, he announced that he would seek election to Congress from Kentucky's Eighth District.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=104}} Nicknamed the "Ashland district" because it contained [[Ashland (Henry Clay estate)|Ashland]], the estate of Whig Party founder Henry Clay, and much of the area Clay once represented, the district was a Whig stronghold.<ref name="Dictionary of America Biography: John Cabell Breckinridge"/> In the previous congressional election, Democrats had not even nominated a candidate.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=33}} Breckinridge's opponent, [[Leslie Combs (soldier and politician)|Leslie Combs]], was a former state legislator whose popularity was bolstered by his association with Clay and his participation in the [[War of 1812]]; he was expected to win the election easily.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=104}} In April, the candidates held a debate in Frankfort, and in May, they jointly canvassed the district, making daily speeches.{{sfn|Heck|1976|pp=33–34}} Breckinridge reiterated his [[strict constructionism|strict constructionist]] view of the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]] and denounced the protective tariffs advocated by the Whigs, stating that "free thought needs free trade".{{sfn|Davis|2010|p=53}} His strong voice and charismatic personality contrasted with the campaign style of the much older Combs.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=105}} On election day, he carried only three of the district's seven counties, but accumulated a two-to-one victory margin in [[Owen County, Kentucky|Owen County]], winning the county by 677 votes and the election by 537.{{sfn|Davis|2010|pp=55–56}} Democrats carried five of Kentucky's 10 congressional districts, and Powell was elected as the first Democratic governor since 1834.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=34}}

Supporters promoted Breckinridge for [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]], but he refused to allow his own nomination and voted with the majority to elect fellow Kentuckian [[Linn Boyd]].{{sfn|Davis|2010|p=58}}{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=107}} Despite this, the two were factional enemies, and Boyd assigned Breckinridge to the lightly regarded [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|Committee on Foreign Affairs]].{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=105}}{{sfn|Davis|2010|p=59}} Breckinridge's first speech, and several subsequent ones, were made to defend William Butler, again a presidential aspirant in [[1852 United States presidential election|1852]], from charges leveled by proponents of the [[Young America movement]] that he was too old and had not made his stance on slavery clear.{{sfn|Davis|2010|pp=65–68}} The attacks came from the pages of [[George Nicholas Sanders]]'s ''Democratic Review'', and on the House floor from several men, nearly all of whom supported Stephen Douglas for the nomination. These men included [[California]]'s [[Edward C. Marshall]], who was Breckinridge's cousin.{{sfn|Davis|2010|pp=65–68}} Their attacks ultimately hurt Douglas's chances for the nomination, and Breckinridge's defense of Butler enhanced his own reputation.{{sfn|Davis|2010|p=68}} After this controversy, he was more active in the chamber's debates, but introduced few significant pieces of legislation. He defended the constitutionality of the [[Fugitive Slave Act of 1850]] against attacks by [[Ohio]] Representative [[Joshua Reed Giddings|Joshua Giddings]], and opposed Andrew Johnson's proposed [[Homestead Acts|Homestead Act]] out of concern that it would create more territories that excluded slavery.{{sfn|Davis|2010|p=68}} Despite his campaign rhetoric that federal funds should only be used for [[internal improvements]] "of a national character", he sought to increase Kentucky's federal allocation for construction and maintenance of rivers and harbors, and supported bills that benefited his district's hemp farmers.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=107}}

Returning home from the legislative session, Breckinridge made daily visits with Henry Clay, who lay dying in Lexington, and was chosen to deliver Clay's eulogy in Congress when the next session commenced.{{sfn|Davis|2010|pp=69–70}} The eulogy enhanced his popularity and solidified his position as Clay's political heir apparent.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=107}} He also campaigned for the election of Democrat [[Franklin Pierce]] as president.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=37}} Although Pierce lost Kentucky by 3,200 votes, Breckinridge wielded more influence with him than he had with outgoing Whig President [[Millard Fillmore]].{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=38}} A week after his inauguration, Pierce offered Breckinridge an appointment as governor of [[Washington Territory]]. He had initially sought the appointment, securing letters of recommendation from Powell and Butler, but by the time it was offered, he had decided to stay in Kentucky and seek re-election to the House.{{sfn|Davis|2010|p=76}}

====Second term (1853–1855)====
[[File:RPLetcher.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=A short, balding man in a black suit|Former Governor Robert P. Letcher was unable to unseat Breckinridge in 1853.]]
The Whigs, seeking to recapture Breckinridge's seat, nominated Kentucky [[Attorney General of Kentucky]] [[James Harlan (congressman)|James Harlan]], but some Whig factions opposed him, and he withdrew in March.{{sfn|Davis|2010|pp=76–77}} [[Robert P. Letcher]], a former congressman and governor who had won 14 elections in Kentucky without a loss, was the party's second choice.{{sfn|Davis|2010|p=77}} Both candidates campaigned vigorously throughout the Eighth District, making multiple speeches a day between May and August.{{sfn|Harrison|1973|p=126}} Letcher was an experienced campaigner, but his popular, anecdote-filled oratory was unpolished, and he was prone to outbursts of anger when frustrated.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|pp=105–106}} By contrast, Breckinridge delivered calm, well-reasoned speeches.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=106}} Cassius Clay, a political enemy of Letcher's for years, endorsed Breckinridge, despite their differences on slavery.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=34}} Citing this endorsement and the abolitionism of Breckinridge's uncles, Letcher tried to paint Breckinridge as an enemy of slavery. Breckinridge pointed to his consistent support for slavery and claimed Letcher was actually hostile to the interests of slaveholders.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=106}} Although the district had gone for Whig candidate Winfield Scott by over 600 votes in the [[1852 United States presidential election|previous year's presidential election]], Breckinridge defeated Letcher by 526 votes.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=106}}{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=35}} Once again, he received a large margin in Owen County, which reported 123 more votes than eligible voters living in the county.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=35}} Grateful for the support of the reliably Democratic county, he gave his son John Witherspoon Breckinridge the nickname "Owen".{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=106}}

Of the 234 members of the House, Breckinridge was among the 80 who were returned to their seats for the [[33rd United States Congress|Thirty-third Congress]].{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=37}} Due to his increased seniority, he was assigned to the more prestigious [[United States House Committee on Ways and Means|Ways and Means Committee]], but he was not given a committee chairmanship as many had expected.{{sfn|Klotter|1986|p=107}} Although he supported Pierce's proslavery agenda on the principle of states' rights and believed that [[secession]] was legal, he opposed secession as a remedy to the country's immediate problems.<ref name="Dictionary of America Biography: John Cabell Breckinridge"/> This, coupled with his earlier support of manumission and African colonization, balanced his support for slavery; most still considered him a moderate legislator.<ref name="John Cabell Breckinridge, 14th Vice President (1857-1861)" />

An ally of Illinois' Stephen A. Douglas, Breckinridge supported the doctrine of [[Popular sovereignty in the United States|popular sovereignty]] as expressed in Douglas's Kansas–Nebraska Act. He believed passage of the act would remove the issue of slavery from national politics – although it ultimately had the opposite effect – and acted as a liaison between Douglas and Pierce to secure its passage.<ref name="John Cabell Breckinridge, 14th Vice President (1857-1861)" /> During the debate on the House floor, [[New York (state)|New York]]'s [[Francis B. Cutting]], incensed by a statement that Breckinridge had made, demanded that he explain or retract it. Breckinridge interpreted Cutting's demand as a challenge to [[duel]]. Under ''[[code duello]]'', the individual being challenged retained the right to name the weapons used and the distance between the combatants; Breckinridge chose rifles at 60 paces.{{sfn|Harrison|1973|p=126}} He also specified that the duel should be held at [[Silver Spring, Maryland]], the home of his friend [[Francis Preston Blair]].<ref name="John Cabell Breckinridge, 14th Vice President (1857-1861)" /> Cutting, who had not intended his initial remark as a challenge, believed that Breckinridge's naming of terms constituted a challenge; he chose to use pistols at a distance of 10 paces. While the two men attempted to clarify who had issued the challenge and who reserved the right to choose the terms, mutual friends resolved the issue, preventing the duel.{{sfn|Harrison|1973|p=126}} The recently adopted Kentucky Constitution prevented anyone who participated in a duel from holding elected office, and the peaceful resolution of the issue may have saved Breckinridge's political career.{{sfn|Heck|1976|p=45}}

====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}}