Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-12-31
JAMES BUCHANAN In YOUTH.

JAMES BUCHANAN In YOUTH.
+ The effort to impress the public with; the
belief thatthe Hon jas BUCHANAN the
President elect possesses cold and selfish
Temperament, from the fact That he is a
bachelor, is defeated by the general knowl-
edge of the high social qualities and genial
disposition of that accomplished and dlstin;
guished statesman, and by the sadly roman
tic. and touching circumstances which closed
to him the joys Of conhubial life. These
are related in late number Of Harper's
Magazine, and from which we copy the fol.
lowing:
+. Some years ago member,of the United
States Senate, distinguished not only for his
talents but for his fine personal appearance,
was; seated in richly. furnished ,parlor in
the city5of Washington, engaged in lively.
conversation with one of the most amiable
and accomplished married ladies that ever
.honored our national capital with their pres
epce. The subject was the common and
most, agreeable one; Of marriage; and the
lady, with beautiful enthusiasm natural TO
her character, was pressing upon the notice
sef }her5 distinguished bachelor frieadssthe
claims &c q young female friend whose po.,
7sifi5ii III society, aniiabfe dsposflions and
liberal education, eminently rendered her fit
to be the wife Of distinguished statesman,
who had seemingly already spent too many
years without proper companion to divide
his honors and bear with him the ills of life
The gentleman, who had for long time
entered with hearty goodwill into the half
serious and half playful conversation, sud-
denly became excited, and remarked, that
he could on such subject bear all that WAS
said in jest. but when serious arguments
were brought to urge him to change his con.
dilion, then his reply must be that SUCH
thing could never be-hat to love he could
not, for his affections were in the grave.
The lady was struck with the Senator's
manner, and surprised that throughout her
long acquaintance with him she had never
suspected that he had found time, amidst
the struggles of laborious profession and
a high political position, to fall in love-"
With the Establishments only known to the
sex, and with curiosity prompted by the
kindest Of hearts, she asked for an explana.
ton of this seeming mystery, and the gen.
tleman, for the moment overcome BY the
eloquence of his interlocutor, explained as
follows:
"It was my good fortune, soon after l
entered upon the active duties Of my pro-
fession, to engage the affections of lovely
girl, alike graced with beauty Of person and
high social position. Her mother, her only
living parent, was ambitious; and, in the
though,less desire 10 make an alliance Of
fashion, opposed the union Of her child with
one who had only bis talents and the future
to give in return for so much beauty and
wealth The young lady however was
more disinterested; mutual VOWS of attach
ment were exchanged, a correspondence and
frequent personal interviews succeeded, and
the future seemed to promise most happy
consummalion of all our wishes. AT that
time had just commenced, under favorable
circumstances, my profession in my native
town; and, making scme character, was
finally engaged as counsel in suit of i'm.
portance before one oil the courts holden in
the city of Philadelphia. The opportunity
was favorable to make an impression if |
possessed the ability to do so; and | gladly
accepted the position, and bent my whole
energies to accomplish my ambition. Ar
ranging to write frequently to one who di.
vided my heart with my business duties, and
to receive frequent epistles in return, set
out for Philadelphia, ex2ecting to be absent
at most not more than two weeks. The
laws delays, however, detained me a month
beyond the anticipated time; and, although
succeeded beyond my most sangune ex.
pectations, and established myself in po.
silion before the highest court Of my native
Stale my triumphs were dashed that in all
the time thus engaged had not received a
line from Lancaster, instead Of which, the
atmosphere was filled with rumors that the
perso., upon whom had set my affections
h. d been seduced into the ambitions of her
thoughtless parent. and that | had been dis.
carded--a thing coulti not believe, and yet
which The dreadful silence seemed to in.
dorse.
At last, released from my engagement,
| took the usual, and, in those days, the
oily conveyance to Lancaster--the stage.
The idleness consequent upon travelling gave
time for consuming thoughts, and my sus.
pense became painful to the last degree ;
and, unable to bear the slow pace Of my
conveyance, determined to anticipate the
usual time of my journey, by making the
last miles OH horseback. In carrying out
this determination, mounted fleet steed (;
but Just as reached the suburbs of my ma
i've place, the animal, from some unaccounta-