Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-12-06
THE PIOUs PRESIDENT.

Buchanan as it appears from the following letter
and its endorsement in the New York Observer
is a saint, ms well as President elect. The pious
knave who writes this letter, doubtless hopes to
be qu~artered for life on the American Navy as
Chaplain, as was his brother who certified to the
holy ,prayerful Sabbath keeping, grace saying char
acier of Franklin Pierce.
The following letter will be read with equal
interest by the friends and opponents OF Mr.. Bu-
chanan. 1t was written by n well-known clergy
man in Philadelphia, in reply to II note of inquiry
from this CITY,. l. Observer.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 8, 1856.
REV. AND DEAR SR.-Your note of inquiry was
duly received, and | take pleasure in saying that
YOU were correctly informed as to my acquain-
lance with Mr.. Buchanan, the President elect, and
of my favorable opinion Of his moral and religious
character.
became personally acquainted with him in
the spring Of 1912, in the city Of Washington, at
which time he was, | think, a member Of the Uni
ted States Senate; and when introduced to him, ]
found him with a Bible in his hand, and our first
conversation was with reference to the divine au.
thcnticity of that book; in which he most uneouiv-
ocnlly expressed his firm belief-he not knowing
.4ne to be a clergyman at the time.
|" My much-loved father, now deceased, who knew
Mr.. buchanan most intimately for many years,
and who was associated with him in the 9th Con-
gress, always spoke OF HIM as a man of the strict
est Christian morality, and cherished for him an
undying affection.
Mr.. Buchanan is Of Presbyterian ancestry, and
| am informed that he has a pew in each of The
Presby terrain churches in Lancaster, though | be-
lieve that he generally attends the second church,
Of which the Rev. Alfred Nevin. d. d. is the pas
tor, and is said to be very regular and devout in
public worship, and being very catholic in spirit,
he is accustomed to worship with christians OF
other denominations, when opportunity offers.
| have been informed by one Of the settled min
listers of Lancaster, that Mr.. Buchanan is believed.
by those who know him best, to he a Christian
study Of the Scriptures and devotion-that he
makes Jays Morning and Evening Exercises his
daily companion, and that it is a matter Of wonder
and regret with many of its intimate friends that
he, like too many of our public men, has so long
neglected to unite with the church by a public pro-
iessiun of his faith in Christ. In conversations
which | have had with him, he more than once ex-
pressed, with great ter derness and feeling, h's de-
sire for retirement from the duties and cares Of
public lile-the Importance of II due preparation
for his last and final account, and his unwaverirg
confidence in the gracious and overruling Provi
dencc of Almighty Ged. That he may have dn
interest in the prayers Of the pious, and that hi,
administration may be Just what might be expcc
ted from his unstained moral character, his greal
e experience and universally acknowledged states
manship, should be the carncst desire Of every tru
ly patriotic heart.
i have thus promptly answered your inquiries
and frankly communicated what | know aud be
Ilieve concerning our chief magistrate elect, GnC
feel entirely justified in so doing, because Of thu
! very natural aud reasonable anxiety so general
felt concerning the moral and religious principle
of one called to fll u station Of such promipenc,
and influence.