Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-16
A Politician but not a Statesman.

Politician but not a Statesman.
Buchanan has been in public life for forty
years, and has established no claims tt
the character of a Statesman. No great
measure which has left an influence on The
policy of the government had its origin with
him, nor was he ever regarded as the able
supporter, or formidable opponent of any
His vote was the most potent voice he
could utter, either for or against propo
sition. He has filled many Offices, but
never honored any. High place has shed
lustre upon him, but the feeble rushlght
of his abilities paled amid the splendors
which surrounded him.
As diplomatist he was merely a resi-
dent, capable of respectable dinner ora,
ton, but utterly inefficient to comprehend
a grave question of international law, or
commercial or maritime right, and weak as
a woman when his duty commanded him to
assume responsibility, and represent in
his person, the prowess and the power of
the great people whose deputy he was.
As representative, his forte was man
agement, contrivance and button-holing.
In a private dark-corner interview, he was
apt at suggesting selfish personal rea-
son, as means to influence vote, but not
he, the man to stand forward and grapple
with the giants of debate, with logic and
argument and reason.
AS senator, he was punctual in atten-
dance in the Committee room and in the
Chamber On that magnificent stage
where the highest intellects of the CEN
fury have won their most lasting honors-
one presenting all that greatness asks in
the way of opportunity, he was only great
in the minor duties, and confeSsedly little
in those of higher order He held a
seat there during many of the most event
full sessions which the body ever held, but
history has no mention of any effort from
him that was not commonplace and medi-
OGRE, weakening Of other mems arguments
by the feebleneSS of his repetition. His
most effective elOquence was compressed
into the monosyllables, age or nay
As the first cabinet officer in the govern
ment, he made his country jeer and by
word, as staggering blusterer, asserting a
claim as "clear and unquestionable," and
yielding the point without a contest in d.
plomacy, or show Of fight. No great state
paper, no Hulsemann letter, no production
such as Everett's letter on the tr-partite
treaty honored the State department while
he occupied it. In survey of that four
years, the eye rests on nothing but monot-
onous dullness worthy only of fourth-rate
member Of the lower House.
One may examine his course in all the
stations he has ever held, and never forget
the Office in the man. Daniel Webster was
a character whether uttering great thoughts
in the Senate House, or fishing in brook
uear Marshfeld. Clay and Calhoun, and
jackson and Benton and Hayne, his co,
temporaries, will be known by their works,
not as Senators, or Secretaries or Presi-
dents; but Buchanan will only be remem-
bered as one of Pennsylvania's Senators,
but little above her Camerons and Stur-
geons. or as Mr.. Folks Secretary Of State.
Not one element of greatness has he ever
discovered. Some men as frOggy and
frigid in disposition as he, have by the
power Of intellect alone swayed the public
mind and left an influence; others with but
his share of intellect have had more heart
and spirit, ard by the warmth and ANNA
ton of their natures, have been power
in the State. But be, in forty years pro-
baton, has done nothing TO attract the
gratitude and admiration Of the living, nor
gained leasehold on the regard of pos
terity.
Buchanan is a politicians ''scurvy"
politician-ambitiou Of distinction, he has
sought it unscrupulously. Selecting for
himself popular party he has chung to its
fortunes, at the sacrifice of his own opin-
ions upon the propriety of its measures,
and sometimes We regret TO say Of what
should have been held dearer-his honor. A
high tariff man he has acted with the party
which uniformly opposed one. An advocate
Of internal improvements by the General
Government, he is the candidate Of party
who object to them as unconstitutional.
Opposed to the annexation Of Texas, he
sacrificed his opposition to it, to maintain
bis loyalty as Democrat His course on
the slavery question has been dictated only
by the relations which he held to his party;
at one time advocating congressional SOW
ereignty over the question as "sEclEsirs,"
and again placing all sovereignty with the
first settlers or squatters in the territories,
in advance Of their claim TO any rights,
bnt the protection Of such laws as the Gen
eral Government, might make or sanction
for them; at one time sympaihizing with
aud aiding menstreus abolition attempts,
and again when Anterior and bis party
began 10 use the question as a means Of