The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-04-16

ty for which he has been we'll prepared in
the debates which had taken place in former
sessions, between Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Calhoun
MIR. Lowndes, Mr.. Randolph, Mr.. Buchanan
himself, and others equally eminent. W hen
the celebrated case of Judge Peck, Of Mis-.
soufi, came up before the House, Mr.. Buch-
anan was the leading spir, in conducting the
impeachment Of that funolionary. The House
OF Representatives, having heard the able ar.
guments on both sides, decided 10 present 10
the Senate articles of impeachment against
Judge Peck, and they elecisd BY ballot, May
80, 1880, five managers 10 conduct the i'm
peachment on the part of the House. They
were James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, H.
r. Storrs, of New York, George McDuffie, of
South Carolina. Ambrose Spencer, Of New
York, and Charles Wickliffe, of Kentucky =
The display before the Senate on that cele.
brated trial, forms most instructive page in
history. Messrs. VIM. Writ and Jonathan
Meredith appeared for Judge Peck, and o.
the part of The managers, Mr.. Buchanan clo-
sed the argument in speech of great length
and profound ability and research. 1t Is still
quoted as one of the most mastery expo
sitons Of constitutional law on the public rec
ords.
After retiring from Congress in 1881, he
received from General Jackson, unsolicited,
the tender of the mission to Russia. He &C.
copied that mission. How he discharged its
grave duties, the archives Of the legation
and of the State Department, will show
Among other acts, he rendered the country
important and valuable service, by negotia-
ting the first commercial treaty between the
United States and Russia, which secured to
our commerce the parts of The Baltic and
Black Sea, and insured TO Us valuable and
continually increasing trade. What rep.
u,aion be left behind him, those who sue
ceeded him are willing TO attest. The chasle
and manly tribute to his splendid abilities, a,
ST. Petersburg, paid during the season Of the
proceedings Of The Convention, which assem-
bled on tue 4h Of March, 1856, by his i'm
mediate successor in the American legation
at that court, the Hon. VIM. Wilkins, shows
something of the habits and capacities Of
MIR. Buchanan.
Shortly after Mr.. Buchanan's return from
the Russian mission, the Democrats in tho
Legislature OF Pennsylvania made HIM their
candidate for the United States Senate, and
elected him. He remained IN the Senate
from the 9Th nf pecamber, 1894. until h,s
resignation, March Sd, ls45, having been
twice reelected during that time. 1t is not
necessary 10 recapitulale the distinguished
services rendered BY our great statesman, in
the highest legislative body on earth, so well
ard so widely are they remembered. 10 the
debate on the admission of Arkansas and
Michigan in his opposition 10 the designs
of The abolitionists in his resistance and ex-
posure of the schemes of the Bank of The
United States, after it had been transferred
10 Pennsylvania. as vast political moneyed
monopoly in his opposition 10 a profuse ex-
pendilure of the public revenue, for the cre-
alton of an unnecessary public debt; gov
eminent bank of discount, circulation and
deposit, under the British name of Excheq-
uer; a substitution of paper money for the
constitutional currency of silver and gold ;
the surrender of M'Leod upon the insulting
demand of England the unjust distribution
OF the public revenue, TO the States Of this
Confederation; ip his courageous hostility to
special legislation, no mailer how concealed;
he co.operated with Wright, Woodbury., Ben.
ton, King, Lynn, and other leading Demo-
Gratis of that day. As Chairman of the, Com
mittee OH Foreign Relations, during series
of years, in the Senate of the United States,
he sustained the honor of the nation, by his
unauswerab BILE demonstration of the right of
each State TO punish a foreign murderer, who,
in time OF peace, kills an American citizen
upon its own soil. His mastery expositions
of our unquestionable title 10 the Northeast
boundary line, were upheld by the decisions
Of Congress, and he won high honor for his
opposition to treaty which gave large Por-
iion Of the American territory to foreign
government. He was the advocate of q lib
eral and enlightened policy in regard to the
public lands. During the memorable extra
session Of one hundred days, when the op.
ponenis of the Democracy, in The Seuaie Of
the United States, had resolved to push through
a series of high federal measures, beginning
with the Bank of the UnIled States, and end.
ing with the bankrupt law, MIR. Buchanan
vas constantly in his seat. and was frequent
" put forward us the leader of his party, in
certain trying emergencies. An early and a
fervent advocate Of the annexation of Texas,
he signalizsd his career in that body by Civ
ing his views on that important question to
his countrymen, in speech Of unsurpassed
ability und power.
tits hardly necessary 10 60 over Mr. Bu-
chanan's record, TO show how true he has
bean on all those great questions involving
the rights of the States and the rights of the
citizens of the States. On those delicate
questions which tried SO many Northern men,
and which los, 10 the Democratic party oi
the country some of it's most prominent lead
ers, who would not follow the doctrine ol
State rights 10 it's just and logical conclusion
Mr.. Buchanan was found unwavsring and
decided. Ia the exciting debate during the
Il Al r