It was by their friendly influence that he was promoted to the Vice-Presidency as soon as he became eligible under the Constitution.

During the four stormy years of Buchanan's administration, when the sectional contest approached its crisis, Mr.Breckinridge became more and more the representative of Southern opinion, and, though unequal to Douglas in the arena of debate, he became the leader of those who opposed the "popular sovereignty" dogma of the Illinois senator.

He was thence drawn by influences which he could not have controlled if he had desired, into the prolonged and exciting controversy which disrupted the Democratic party.

Intellectually Mr.Breckinridge was not the equal of many Southern men who deferred to him as a leader.

His precedence was due to his personal character, to his strong connections, to his well-tempered judgment, and especially to a certain attractiveness of manner which was felt by all who came in contact with him.
The prominence of New England in the Senate was exceptional.