Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-06-25
JAMES BUCHANAN.


fifth year, in the vigor of health both intel
lectually and physically. His parents were
honest and industrious, occupying the middle
walks of life, and the subject Of this notice may
truly be called the architect of his own fortunes
Having received a good education, he stud
led the profession of the law, in the County
of Lancaster, in the same State, which has
ever since been his home. In 1914 and 1915
he was elected to the State Legislature, where
he distinguished himself by those exhibitions
of intellect which gave promiseo of future emf
nence In his profession, during many sue
ceedng years, he rose to the highest class Of
legal minds, and at period when Pennsylvania
could boast of her Baldwins, her Gibsons, her
Rosses, her Duncans, her Breckenridges, her
Tilghmans, her Hopknses, her Jenkinses,
her DaIlases, and her Semples, he was pre-
pared for the struggles of the future.
In 1920. James Buchanan was elected to the
House of Representatives, and retained posi-
tion in that body for ten years, voluntarily
retiring after the first Congress under the ad.
ministration of Andrew Jackson. He was the
warm and ardent defender of the Admins
traton of Mr. Monroe, and active opponent of
the administration of John Quincy Adams,
and the consistent and trusted friend of An
drew Jackson. The proceedings show that
while he retained a seat in the popular branch
of Congress, he took prominent part in all
the debates upon great public questions AS
early as 1915, he entertained opinions hostile
to the Bank of the United States, and in the
fierce struggles which ensued upon the elcc-
tion of the hero of New Orleans, he was a
distinguished champion of the Democratic
party.
Probably the most interesting part of Mr.
Buchanans history, was his early and effec-
tive support of General jackson for the Pres
idency He was one of the first advocates Of
the hero of New Orleans. More than thirty
years ago, as a member of the House of Rep
resentatives of the United States, he was rec
ognized as among the most active and devo
ted friends of jackson. Distinguished for his
eloquence and his judgment, even in that Pc
riod of his life, he contributed greatly to pro-
duce the state of feeling which afterwards put
General Jackson forward as the Democratic
candidate, Pennsylvania taking the lead. Be-
fore the House of Representatives ofthe Uni
ted States proceeded to elect a President
(the people having failed, in 1924, to make
choice) Mr. Buchanan opposed, with indig-
nant eloquence, the motion to sit with closed
doors while that duty was being discharged
by the representatives Of the American peo-
pie.
When the memorable struggle of 1928 came
on, Mr. Buchanan was prominent in the con-
test Indeed, he was SO conspicuous that the
opponents of jackson bestowed full share of
the bitterness reserved for the old hero upon
his efficient and faithful friend. Mr. Buchanan
came into the House of Representatives for
the last time in 1929. 1t was during this
session that he displayed those eminent quail
tiles which proved him to be one of the ablest
constitutional lawyers in the country; and in
a body of which such statesmen as McDuffie,
Wickliffe, and others were members, Mr. Blu.
chanan was selected as Chairman of the Com
mite of the Judiciary, a duty for which he
had been well prepared in the debates which
had taken place in former sessions, between
Mr. Clay, Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Ran
dolph, Mr. Buchanan himself, and Others
equally eminent. When the celebrated case
of Judge Peck of Missouri, came up before
the House, Mr. Buchanan was the leading
spirit in conducting the impeachment Of the
functionary. The House of Representatives,
having heard the able arguments on both
sides, decided TO present to the Senate articles
of impeachment against Judge Peck, aud
they elected by ballot, May 80, 1880, five
managers to conduct the impeachment on the
part of the House, They were, James
Buchanan, Of Pennsy ylvania, Henry r Storrs,
of New York, George McDufie, of South
Carolina, Ambrose Spencer, of New York,
and Charles Wickliffe, of Kentucky. The
display before the Senate on that celebrated
trial, forms most instructive page in history.
Messrs. William Writ and Jonathan Meredith
appeared for Judge Peck, and on the part of
the managers. Mr. Buchanan closed the argu
ment in speech of great length and pro-
found ability and research. 1t is still quoted
as one of the most mastery expositions of
constitutional law on the public records.
After retiring from Congress in 1881, he
received from General Jackson, unsolicited,
the tender of the mission to Russia. Among
other acts, he rendered the country important
and valuable services, by negotiating the first
commercial treaty between the United States
and Russia, which secured to our commerce
the ports of the Baltic and Black Seas, and
insured to us a valuable and continually in