Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-10-03
FOR THE ENQUIRER.


To me Hon. James Buchanan:
Dear Sri am deeply concerned TO learn that have
unwittingly been the Of infcing severe, and
perhaps, lncurabe wound on your feelings by quail
fed adoption of sandsrous port, that came TO
through some newspaper that cannot now refer TO;
and, indeed, if could refer to the paper which first
announced this cruel defamntion am advised by my
counsel that | could only offer il in mitigation Of da.
images, to show the "quo animo,' the slander was
circulated.
To cut man off from the enjoyment Of nine long
years in This happy world is offence of the hghe ST
magnitude but TO heap upon man OF sensioIIity nine
long years of woelul cebacy, is an offence for
which nothing make amends. Let me then un.
dersand of which of these offences have been guilty.
have in one of my numbers used this remark: "t is
curious fact If indeed il be- that Messrs Van Buren,,
Cass, Buchanan, and Calhoun were all born in the
same year, l7S2" This is the head and front Of ny
offending, as now understand you were born in 1871.
When you placed in this chronolog ica category,
confess surprised me; for though you may have for
gotten that you have been at Mr. Parkers tavern
IN Lancaster, with the writer OF this letter. have q
vivid recollection of your poiteness To me- and very
distinct impression still remains of the surprise with
which there learned, that while you enjoyed the full
and entire confidence Of every who knew you,
you had never appropriated the confidence OF single
lady, though, from your appearance, | supposed you
forty | led, however, to adapt the stateme Mt
lha you were born IN 50 by the consideration, that like
cases produce like effects; and the American war
cloed about that time and our fathers, then flushed
with ardent patriotism, returned from the tented fields
to their domestic eDjnyments, it is most reasonable to
suppose that each desired to renr up Democratic son
worthy Of his sire, and your greater appearance OF
ycuthu illness and your superior puchritnde, ascribed
lhe absence olhe joys of The nursery Of which speak
eIperimenta'ly
have been accessory then, Sir, in representing you
10 the world nine years older than you really are
What is the of damages for snch an injury
With the politicians it certniny do you no harm
have it understood, that you have and heard "a
much, and thought as long, your competitors; and
.ather think for this you me one. There 49, how
syer one view Of this subject, that | approach with
more nf apprehe il is the effect that this calnmny
may have had on the ladies'. With them, You know,
Sir there is something frigorc in three score and two
md doubt not, that many of the ladies' looking 10 the
large space that you have long filled in the public
Eve, had regarded you beyond the reach of their
lines; but now that my blunder has given you fair
opportunity to show that you are only 81 doubt not,
hundreds Of the fair ones, viii be ready TO say with
Lappei, "Why, Sir, you are in the very prime OF life
[ know fifty young fellows of five and twenty that are
older than you IRE" And thus, SIR, many fair one
may be induced to turn her eye 10 the House If Lnn
caster, who had never before thought oft
then bring ysef 10 the conclusion, MIR. Buchanan,
that you have really Of complaint against me-
and certainly should be the last irflcl wound
upon one Of such eminent distinction and of such ami
able character, as you Justly possess ut all events
hope you will excuse the garruty Of your most oee
dent servant, SENEA.
Richmond, September 90, l543