Washington sentinel., 1856-07-24

4
sequently attained, and so firmly kept.
perhaps we do not go too far in saying
| that there never has been in our country an in
stance OF so rapid rise in the legal profession
as that afforded in his case From the day he
was admitted until he finally retired from the
legal profession, his was a series OF successive
triumphs. He was poor, and necessity de-
manded that exertion which soon made him
| the rival aud equal Of the best lawyers in the
| State. He was engaged in all important causes
tried in Dauphin, York, and other neighhoring
counties, and his name appears in the Penn
sylvania Reports more frequently than ot any
other lawyer of his day.
In the famous session Of 1867, Buchanan,
| then member at the early age of 26, added
fresh laurels to his brilliant store. At the age of
80, he ranked with the brightest legal minds
Of his State. He was elected, about this time,
to Congress- and after ably serving for ten
years, declined a reelection. In 1884, he re-
tired altogether from his profession having al
ready accumulated a respectable competence
"When he retired says his biographer
he left more business than any one man could
attend to. Thus had the log cabin boy, born
in wild and rocky gorge of the Allegheny
Mountains, at the early age of forty years, been
the architect of his own fortune, and become
the admiration and pride of his native State
Once only after he left his profession could he
be prevailed upon to again appear at the bar.
This was the cause of an aged widow, where
he was appealed to by the most earnest solici
tations. 1t was an action Of ejectment which
involved all her little property. The case was
difficult one, and technically decided against
the unfortunate woman. To the surprise and
astonishment of every one, he succeeded in es-
tablishing her title TO the property in question
The poor woman was intoxicated with oy and
overwhelmed her benefactor with expressions
Of gratefuness, and offers of remuneration.
Mr.. Buchanan, however, would accept nothing
for his services"
1t was during the war of 1872, when the
atrocities of the British troops had alarmed
and aroused the whole Union, that Mr. Bu
chanan signalized himself by volunteering as
private in the ranks against his country's
foes. In regard to this whole matter, and the
calumnies circulated to deface it, the following
letter written in l847, after Mr.. Buchanan had
| taken his seat in Mr.. Folks Cabinet, speaks
for ITSELF
WASHINGTON, April %, lS47.
TO the Hon. George ~. Jones:
"Dear Sir: have this moment received your
letter of the - instant, and hasten to return
an answer.
"In one respect have been fortunate as
public man. My old enemies are obliged to go
back for more than thirty years to find plausi-
BILE charges against me.
I'm 1914, when very young man, (beiHg
this day 56 years of age,) made my first pub
lie speech before meeting of my fellow-citi-
zens of Lancaster. The object of this speech
was to urge upon them the duty of volunteering
their services in defense Of their invaded coun-
try. volunteer company was raised upon
the spot, in which | was the first, believe. to
enter my name as a private. We forthwith
proceeded to Baltimore, and served until we
were honorably discharged.
In October, 1914, ! was elected a member
of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and in that
body gave my support to every measure calcu-
lated in my opinion to aid the country against
the common enemy.
In 1915, after peace had bees concluded,
did express opinions in relation to the causes
and conduct Of the war, which / very soon
after regretted aud recalled. Since that period
/ have been ten years a member of the House
of Representatives, and an equal time of the
Senate, acting part on every great question.
my political enemies finding nothing as
sailable throughout this long public service,
now resort back to my youthful years, for ex.
pressions to injure my political character.
The brave and generous citizens Of Tennessee,
to whatever political party they may belong,
will agree that this is hard measure Of JUS
tce and it is still harder that, for this reason,
they should condemn the President for having
voluntarily offeyd me a seat in his Cabinet
81 never deemed it proper, at any period Of
my life, while the country was actually engaged
in a war with foreign enemy, to utter SEN
timent which could interfere with It's success
ful prosecution While the war with Great
Britain was raging, should have deemed it
little better than moral treason to paralyze the
arm of the Government while dealing blows
against the enemy. After peace had been con-
cluded, the case was different. Ny enemies
cannot point TO an expression uttered by me,
during the continuance of the war, which was
not favorable to its vigorous prosecution.
"From your friend, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN
In testimony Of this, witness the noble stand
taken by that patriot, while member of the
Legislature in 1915, when the State OF Penn.
| sylvania, receiving no assistance from the ex-
hausted General Government, was proposing
to defend herself AT her own expense, from the
threatened attack Of the foe upon Philadelphia
In the course of the debate, he said
"Since, then, Congress has deserted us in
our time of need, there is no alternative but
either to protect ourselves by some efficient
measures, or surrender up that independence
which has been purchased by the blood Of our
forefathers. No American can hesitate which
of these alternatives ought to be adopted The
invading enemy must be expelled from our
shores; he must be taught TO respect the rights
of freemen."
But it is unnecessary to dwell longer upon
facts too widely and honorably known through
out the country to require comment.
Let us consider another act of his career,
equally meritorious, as an evidence of the
greatness of the mans true Democracy.
| While thus conspicuous as lover Of his
own land, Mr.. Buchanan assumed a position at
this time upon the question Of the prescription
Of naturalized citizens, position he has,
through all the fuctuating changes of politics
for forty years since, consistently adhered TO.
The Governors Of Massachusetts and Conneeti-
cut transmitted to tho Governor of Pennsyva-
MIA, and by him sent to the Legislature Of bis
own State, resolutions recommending certain
\ he oC, al ...I