Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-10
FOR PRESID ENT,
j A M Els BUCH A N A N
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Subject to the decision Of the National Con-
Uention.
MIR. BUCHANAN.

man OF no common Iame. Inc name OF JAMES
BUCHANAN is blended with the veal and glory
of his country, and fills no little space in the
public world. There are many in this city
more able than ourselves to pronounce an
opinion of his character and merits. But his
conduct, his services, and qualifications, pre-
pare us to estimate him truly. And although
he will never need the flourish of our humble
praise, it is grateful to bestow the tribute which
merit wins. We can name no living man
who excels him in the qualities which com.
mand general admiration and respect. He
always displays the refnements Of honor and
the graces of gentleman. Born and reared
among manly race, the structure of his body
and mind are happy types Of the power and
resources of his native State. His friendship
is warm, generous, and sincere. His manners
are familiar, without coarseness, and elegant
without pomp His extensive information is
the fair result Of diligence and study; and he
imparts it freely, without pedantry or ostenta-
ton. This gifted character, although compa-
rable to any in the attachments of knowledge,
has made the science Of government his fa-
vorite study. And if politics be q science,
and really deserve so sublime title, Mr.
BucHANAN's success in the pursuit of it merits
a diploma of the rarest sort.
For forty years, this eminent statesman has
trod the stage Of public life; and no matter in
what drama he was called to act, the stage was
clean, the lights were bright, the scenery was
fine, the performance was admirable, and the
spectators cheered till the curtain fell. He
has been tried in every crisis that could
measure the range of wisdom and the versatile
powers of the human mind, and was never
found wanting on any decisive occasion
While in the House of Representatives he
early rose to eminence in debate and was
chosen to conduct the impeachment against
Judge Peck From the House, which was the
marked field of his fame, President jackson
sent him as Minister TO Russia, with which
country he concluded an advantageous treaty
From that weighty mission, he returned to his
native State, which placed him in the Senate,
and kept him there as long as he chose to serve.
The Senate is body where no man can &C
quire fame who does not deserve it. The pre-
else attitude of every member is taken there.
And there he had to oppose the ablest oppo-
nents of Democratic principles and doctrines
whom this country has ever seen. Vario
marie pugnataim est. All the great measures
which divided parties and distracted the coun.
try came in rapid succession before him. In
some of the speakers there were flashes of
genius to dazzle and excite; in others the
measured grandeur of oratorical harangues;
and in some spirit to subdue and to ruin or
TO rule. But in readiness Of resource, or full
ness of information, in powers of argument,
and dignity of debate Mr. BUCHANAN was the
equal in the mighty host.
When, therefore, we talk about Kansas and
Nebraska, and the pregnant question which
they have raised, it is not proper to forget the
past, and the great statesman who went against
the National Bank, who went for a removal of
the deposites from that monsters reach, who
advocated the Independent Treasury, and
divorce Of the Government from the fiscal
agency of all banks, who overthrewethe system
of protective tariffs, and regulated imports to
the proper wants of frugal Government;
and who checked wild and needless expen-
diture Of the public funds upon works Of inter-
nal Improvement by the Federal Government
We never should forget that such things we're,
and we're most vital to the public veal.
But it was during the Administration Of
President Polk That Mr.. BUCHANAN, as prac
teal statesman, ripened to the fullest growth
He headed the Cabinet as Secretary Of State;
and the cares and troubles of our foreign rela-
tons rested principally upon his shoulders
But he showed the world how broad those
shoulders were and what pressure they could
endure. And the success of his diplomatic
labors under Mr. Polk pointed the attention of
the country to him, after the election Of Mr.,
Pierce, as the fttest person for the mission to
England. From that highest mission he has
returned, and brought to his native land as
much credit as wisdom, patriotism, and honor
could confer.
But hatred Of wisdom, services and true
glory, marks the age we live in, and creatures
who adulate honor, who fatten upon it. and
who would starve without it, do not scruple to
revile their betters, and to covet, without the
aid of personal virtue, experience, or abilities,
the highest preferment. 1t sickens the heart,
and il disgusts the mind, to witness the efforts
now daily made to injure the credit and fnHu-
ence of Mr.. BtcHASAN. Base envy withers
at anotber's Joy, and hates the excellence it
cannot reach"
In 1928, Mr.. BUCHANAN took the open field
tor the Democratic Party, and advocated, with
unsurpassed eloquence and effect, the election
Of General Jackson TO the Presidential office.
From those stirring times to the present hour,
we have never laid eyes upon more faithful
md consistent statesman than Mr. BUCHANAN.
Yet some there are who waged war upon Gen
sral Jackson and the Democratic Party and