Originally a Whig, Mr.Beck followed John C.
Breckinridge into the Democratic party at a period when the pro-slavery crusaders had gone mad and were commanding, indeed morally coercing, the services of a great majority of the able and ambitious young men of the South.

He became the law partner of Breckinridge, and was zealously and devoted attached to him to the end.

Had Beck been a native of the South he would undoubtedly followed Breckinridge hastily and hot-headedly into the rebellion.

He was saved from that fate by the abundant caution and the sound sense which he inherited with his Scotch blood.
-- But Mr.Beck had all the sympathy with the Rebellion which was necessary to secure popular support in Kentucky--without which, indeed, a Democrat in that State has had no chance for promotion since the war closed.

He has grown steadily in Congress from the day of his entrance.