The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-04-25
THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

| The PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDA IE!
From the Richmond whigl
The Pennsylvania has come forth with a
formal announcement that Mr. Buchanan is a
candidate for the Presidency, and that "Penn-
sylvania has no second choice" In this con-
nexion, the world is favored with long bio.
graphical sketch of the distinguished states.
man, in which ali the praiseworthy achieve.
ments of his life are duly chronced. WHAT
these achievements are, we confess, after a
diligent perusal Of the Biography, are totally
unknown to us. Besides his birth-which is
brought down to date TO make him only &C
years old-we had heard he was the rise of
76-besides the invaluable information, that
he was elected TO the Legislature in 1914
to Congress in l820--sent minister to St
Petersburg in lS32-elected to the Senate in
l834-remained there till '45-when he was
made Secretary of State by Mr.. Polk-and
sent to England in '53--besidcs this, we can
collect nothing from the biography. What
the man said and what he did is left to the
Imagination Of the reader We are not told,
that he set out in life flaming FederaIist;
that he continued Frdcrasl until 1924
when he, along with Timothy Pickering and
the rest of the old Federalists, went over to
General Jackson, and thereby became white
washed and thoroughgoing Democrat. We
find no mention Of that famous 4th of July
oration, in which il is said, he declared if he
had drop of Democratic blood in hi' veins
he would open them, and let it out-nor that
other, not less significant passage in letter
TO political friend, that it might be necessa-
ry to mount the Democracy to ride it TO per-
dition. These and similar spicy passages in
the career of the Democratic aspirant are
carefully omitted. But Pierce, Douglas and
the rest of the born Democrats will neither
omit nor forget them.
As TO Mr.. Buchanan's chances for the nom-
nation, we have no better data for an opinion,
than our readers. His friends say he will be
the stronges. in the Convention on the first
ballot. But that circumstance, if the past be
any criterion, is no argument in favor of
happy issue. Others, however, deny that he
will have anything like the strength repre-
sented. A statement, which we copy this |
morning from the Herald, gives him the
delegates from Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Wis
consin and Louisiana. The Douglastes claim
all these as their own peculiar property-and
with good show of reason. As to his being
the second choice in all the Southern States,
that is vehemently denied.
Mr.. Douglas vino gave it outthat he would
not be in the ring, Ips recently entered the
lists, and is struggling with the vigor of Il
young giant for the victory. There are those,
however, who say, this is all sham That the
little giant is too sllrewd man to stake his |
fortunes on the party of the Inns against the |
OMs-that he does not desire the nomina. |
ton in '56-but in go. That he prefers that
some Southern friend should take the chances
of a drubbing this time, while hc will be put.
' 'uh"'h5 t''i W. VIZ hSAt hV"'s
As Gov. Wise is supposed to he opposed to
any Southern candidate, and especially to one
from Virginia; so MIR. Douglas is death against
my Northern candidate, and particularly Mr..
Buchanan. These sagacious spectators are
Of opinion, that Mr.. Douglas is working Sc.
,retly for Mr.. Iluntrr-that their friends are
iumbugging Pierce with the idea that he is
he man, while they are straning every nerve
'or the goal. In the meantime, Boyd, Guthrie,
Davis, Gushing, Wise and all the small fry,
'ciying upon luck and their obscurity, and the
known partiality Of Democratic Conventions
or drag nets, that rake the bottom, are in
'igh hopes, that the clashing of The big bugs
will defeat all Of that set, and enable one of
themselves to be dragged up to the light of
lay.
The signs promise lots of fun.