The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-21

People.
JAMES BUCHANAN.

JAMES BUCHANAN
WAsHrscToN, Dec. is, lss6
There are but few who have exerted wider and
Of s kind, purer influence, by q straight, underwriting
course, upon the character Of institutions, at homo
and abroad, than James Buchanan and fewer still have
escaped with less OF the bitterness of rivalrss and the
malignitiss OF political opponents than tho subject Of
this memoir To make tho best Of it, it is very difficult
matter to give tabieaxr rivant Of the living with per-
fsc,ns yet viii try with most honest intentions
After using energies to get information in regard to
his earlier fe from that shadow of biography of him
published last year In the Democratic Revisss we came
OF sadly disappointed. Converting with who know
him. when at the court of St Petsrsburgh he there
universal favorits with the imperial government from
the strict attention with which he regarded the etiquette
Of royalty and the keen eye with which he watched
over relations with that power In the language Of
eur informant he seemedto the manner born - and with
the talent that he has well devoted to the inter
sss four Republic home did he make himself sgrss-
BILE to friends abroad with the European
school ofdipomacy did he early fit himself to oil the post
Of Minister to Russia with honor and advantage to the
welfare Of land of freedom. As senator of the
Of that insinuation could disturb and defeat
could destroy His mind may be cold and calculating yet
it 10 mind that amid storms is clear and amid coriup-
ton remains uncontaminatsd. His speeches evincs
clear and comprehensive view Of the general interests
upon which they tsayst not that ticking to the point
Serene and unaffected far looks concern
cd have him in debate upon subject Of intense
interest, give his and make speech and then
ait down. while canness Of intellect and deep research
the only characteristic traits OF his admirable eli
fsr Yet it left for the Secretary OF stateshp of the
present Administration to bring out all his latent ener-
ges in all their FOL coolnss and brancy. His cor
rsspsndsnce upon the Oregon question has probably
been squaed in the annals Of diplomacy, be-
ing snguary peculiar its author exhibiting his forte
statesman-there net being word out OF place or
meaningless in the whole series Of letters concerning
that intricate negotiation He stands in most envabe
position before our country and the world h care and
GOODNESS did he effect what hot headed ambition might
have destroyed by single stroke Of the PEN The whole
country in degree indebted to him for the mastery
ability and jucious manage with which he terni
mated that most wsrthrsstning and dmcut question,
that have had with q foreign power.
Dino ulss have vanished before the intuitvs talent
with which they have been managed; and last though
not least his famous consular bill will lay the seamen
under obligation not easily to be repaid for protecting
their rights and regarding their interests while in the
land Of srangers Psnnsylvauia may well feel proud OF
ron-moDger whose every act will be blent with her
future commercial prosperity and her future fame His
appearance IL striking his undoubted talents little
above the medium size, with form not particularly
graceful from its corpulsncy yet adorned with whim-
seal scrupulousness in drossa forehead high and nnely
developed OF the same style a. Sir Walter SCOTS, with
eye expressive yet unsteady, Of mild blue, and the
silver hair closely cut completes the portrait OF TINS DIS
not brilliant he rather hears than speaks and
then each word carefully weighedthe Ben sivan and
the gentleman shines out in every phrase Of
and his cool precision consists much of his influence
Yet after considering his character statesman and
dplomstst may we'll feel proud that the leaven Of
sevenysix il yet abroad in our land The wings may
at his democracy and rehesrso his early ndscrs
TONS they those of education and not OF principle
and high be the might of that intellect that brushes
aside old ties for the sake of the best interests OF our
country and her institutions. CERvANTES