Washington sentinel., 1856-07-24
From the New York News.
OUR BOOK TABLE.
DERBY 4 JACKSON.

The LIFE AND SERVICES OF JAMES BUCHANAN, late
Minister 10 England, and formerly Minister TO
Russia, Senator aud Representative in Con-
gress, and Secretary of Slate; including the
most important of his Stale papers. BY X. q.
Horton. With an accurate portrait on steel
New YORK: Derby ~ Jackson, No. ll9 Nassau
street Cincinnati ii w. Derby & Co 1856
The grandest monuments of nations's glory
are the patriotic services of her public men.
Tn the records of individual eminence our Re-
public has been peculiarly fortunate. NO State
or people ever in the same brief lapse OF time
has given to history so many ilustrious names
1t is but eighty years since we were declared
free and independent and for every year we can
boast a role of statesmen, diplomatlsts, philos
ophers, and soldiers, unparalleled for number
aud diversity of claim to high distinction, far
exceeding the proudest array OF all the past.
The civilized world still regards with admira-
tion the character and achievements of the
men of the Revolution. The names of some,
indeed, have become the watchwords of pro
gress, and as time rolls on will ascend higher
and higher upon the lists of fame
But, while nations bow in reverence before
the works of our patriot slres, the men who
have noby perpetuated what these achieved,
are almost equally entitled to their veneration.
The hour Of battle is not always the severest
test of human fidelity The confused strug-
establishment of great State, frequently in
volve even more pressing trials than the mo-
ments Of organization, even though it be sur
rounded with the perils of o doubtful war.
Without claiming perhaps, such sweeping
credit as this for the men who have maintained
the Union and the Constitution our fathers
founded, we will, at least, assert for them the
credit that happy people award to the guar
dians who have watched over her new born
liberties, and protected them in their weak
infancy from the Vaccinations of foreign and
domestic foes. In the Pantheon of American
heroes, they merit place "full high advanced"
between the urns and busts of the Fathers of
the Republic. AMONG these. no man deserves
a more conspicuous niche or more lustrous
wreath than James Buchanan, Of Pennsylva-
MIA, the Democratic nominee for the Presidency
of the. United States, and the distinguished
subject of the memoir before US
Without further preface we will open the
history with Mr.. Horizons own words:
"James Buchanan was born at place called
Stony Batter, in Franklin county, Pennsylva-
MIA, at the foot of the Eastern ridge of the
Alleghanes, on the 23d day of April, 1871.
Franklin county borders on the State of Mary
land and the greater part Of it consists of q
broad limestone valley, watered with copious
and unfailing mountain springs, and having a
soil of unsurpassed fertility. The immense
range Of mountains known as the Alleghanies,
which commences in the northern part of Geor
gia and Alabama, and runs generallyn uniform
ridges to the northeastern part of New York,
is in Franklin county, divided into an irregular
series of rocky, broken eminences. The South
Mountain, a continuation of the Blue Ridge OF
Virginia, forms its boundary on the east, and
Tuscarora, or Cove Mountain, on the north
west. The highest points of the Cove Noun
tain are estimated at fifteen hundred feet
above the valley.
"The spot where Mr.. Buchanan first saw the
light of day is situated in wild and romantic
gorge of this mountain. i he towering summits
of the eternal hills surround it, and slope down
like the sides Of an amphitheater. 4 beautiful
stream of water, clear as the crystal fountain
from which it flows, meandeIs through what
was once a cleared field, not far from his hum
BILE birthplace. The remains of the old Buch-
anan cabin are still to be seen, although little
is left but the chimney. They lie to the north
of the Mercersburg and McConnellsburg turn
pike, but within sight and about three miles
drom the village of Mercersburg 1t is lovely
spot, and the scenery has all those elements of
grandeur and sublimity which serve to inspire
in youthful minds noble aspirations and exalted
patriotism. Such places have been those where
majority of our great men have been born
and reared. The early struggles necessary 10
contend with the rugged inequalities of nature
have developed hardy constitution, inspired
them with honest ambition, and taught them
early in life those invaluable lessons of sefdenia
which are the foundation of all true excellence
of character.
"Mr. Buchanan's father was James Buchanan,
a native of the County of Donegal in the north
of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States
in the year 1888. He was poor man when
he came to America but with vigorous arm
an industrious spirit and untiring perseverance,
he acquired before his death handsome com
potency. Five years after his arrival, he married
Elizabeth Speer, the daughter of respectable
farmer Of Adams County, Pennsylvania. At
that time the broad and beautiful valleys Of
Franklin County we're comparatively wilder
ness, but Mr.. Buchanan sought them, and with
his young wife became pioneer in American
civilization.
"Having 'staked his claim and erected a
rude log cabin, bis own right arm felled the trees
that allowed the sunlight Of heaven to fall upon
the little clearing that surrounded his humble
home. In this log cabin was the present James
Buchanan born, and there he continued TO re-
side until he was eight years Of age. No one
would have suspected, had they then seen the
log cabin boy wandering through the primeval
forests, awe struck at the strange, weird scenes
which met his gaze, that he would one day hold
listening Senates in attention, and stand among
the leading statesmen Of America What a
commentarydo such facts present upon our free
and glorious institutionsp
Mr.. Buchanans father was respected and in
fuential throughout the county where he resided
His mother was remarkable for the vigor Of
her intellect and the self taught treasures Of
her mind, and the whole family we're noted
from their earliest years by marked superi.
ority even among the sturdy population Of what
was in those days esteemed the West In 1898
the family removed to Mercersburg, where
James received his first general and classical
education. He there revealed the finest and
most versatile mental capacity, and although
outstripping his companions in the race of
learning, won their warm esteem by the noble
qualities Of bis heart and-the free, manly graces
of happy disposition.
Entering Dickinson College, Carlisle Cumber.