Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-02-21
AN ENGLISH SKETCH OF Mr.. BUCHANAN.


1t is apparently from the pen Of brother diploma
tist of the late American Ambassador toihe court
of ST. James After resume of the condition Of
the United States, and an analysis of the Pierce
regime, the writer thus portrays Mr.. Buchanan'ss
character, and indicates his policy as President
Mr.. Buchanan has one quality, and perhaps only
one, in common with Louis Napoleon; he keeps his
own counsel In both instances it has been source
of power and means of success. 1t is easier to
offer negative than positive affirmation as to the
policy of the future President. He will certainly not
be King Log. He will be no puppet in the hands
of his supporters; nor will he, Knowingly allow his
friends to sway his better judgment. lie will not
blndly commit himself to one sided policy, nor
rashly throw defiance in the face OF all parties and
governments who declare for the interests of civil
zation and humanity.
1t is only by a knowledge of his personal and po-
litical character that opinion can be formed of
the policy the President elect is likely to pursue.
BY giving our readers description borro .sed from
those who have known him, differences may be
drawn to his probable conduct when the time
comes for him to exercise the high powers with
which he has been invested. Physically, he is
large, powerfully built man; indeed neither physi.
caly, morally, nor politically is there any thing lit
tie about him. lie is above six feet high, large
limbed and of fair com plcxion, and, although past
sixty, still shows that he in earlier days what
the other sex, who must be allowed to decide in
such matters, call a handsome man. He has the
habit of holding his head inclined to side, and
sometimes partially closing one eye, as if to prove,
what was undoubtedly the case during his mission
in this country, that he could vast deal more
with half an eye than all cur Ministers when they
opened both theirs to the fullest extent they had
to do than once, if all tales be true, during the
course of their transaction of business with Mr..
Buchanan.
He is hale and vigorous, of regular and active
habits and unexcept,onaale moral conduct; con-
scentiously religious, a Presbyterian, with more
indulgence for those of other creeds than is some.
times found in persons of that persuasion; kind.
hearted generous, and charitable, many instances
reported by those xho know him will prove; dis
tnguished for great prudence and sagacity in max
ing his decisions, and for rmness in trer execution
when taken. He has forethought and cool self
possession conservative in opinion and policy, and
proves the soundness of his judgment by being ia
vourabe to the Conservative party in England. He
has been heard TO say more than oncc-"It is re
markabe that the Conservative leaders and party in
England have always been more inclined to be
friendly with the United States than the Wings"
In this, by the way, he is not sinsu ar for we have
heard similar opinion expressed by other distin-
gui>hed Americans
lie has been from early life successful lawyer in
extensive practice, and has most ably filled the
highest posts in the Government, next to that of
President, having been Secretary of State Envoy to
ST. Petersburg, &c. lie never was married; an
early and mutual attachment is spoken of by his
friends, whose object was by Of those terrible
u!SpcnSatiOS winch certain natures never
can forget, snatchcd from him. Like another dis
tnguished American Washington Irving, who suf-
fcred similar bereavement. he has remained faith
full to the memory of her whom he has lost AL
though the private lives Of men in high stations
considered as belonging to the public domain, it
would not, think, be delicate to al!ude more par
tcularly to the circumstances attendant this
deep atiliction in the outset of Mr.. Buchanan's
recr. What we have said suffices to show that no
cold insensibility OF character condemned him to
celibacy.
In manner Mr.. Buchanan is courteous, and in
conversation mild and deliberate, with smack of
the old school. His bearing is calm and dignified,
his temper and language under complete control
although on occasions when he has conceived that
personal official slight was intended, he has shown
that, although his parents were Irish, he can vind
cate the claim of his family to Scotch origin, by
acting up the motto, Memo me impune tacessit.-
The new President is designated by some the
Jealous leader of the Saveocracy, and reported to
be the warm advocate of Slavery. That this Is cor
rec: in its full extent, we must be permitted to
doubt. Mr.. Buchanan is not a native OF Slave
State, but Pennsylvania, who never owIed slave
in his life, nor is he likely ever to do so. Nor do
We think that he is approver Of Slavery although,
in dealing with a great evil already existing, he
knows and feels the extreme difficulty that practi-
cally surrounds the question lie may, like other
men in public life, wish to be on good terms with
many whose conduct or principles he cannot Who'll
perceive what language it may have been necessary
for him to hold or withhold in order not to offend
the passionate prcjudices of SO INSCRIPTIONS and
violent party that which has for some time
played the dictator, per Jas ct netos in the councils
of the United States.
The opinion formed of Mr. Buchanan in certain
ministerial circles in this country was not favorable
Some Of those high in office considered him sort
of diplomatic edgehog-prejudiced against England
hostile to her government, and thoroughly phllo-
Il
this opinion, and far from anticipating such vio
lent measures as may be predicated from the tenor
of the Ostend Manifesto But the lattering atten.
tons showered upon him in ST. Petersburg, not only
within the Imperial Palace, but by all the nobility
may have rendered him alive to the GOODNESS he
experienced from certain of aristocracy. He
was on very friendly terms with many persons of
distinction here and it speaks in his favor that those
who know him best liked him most but Others es-
p, ciay some with whom he came in contact in his
official position, regarded him as Washington Irving
describes the old Dutch families of New York to
have looked upon the Yankees, with great respect
and adherence"
Americans have informed us that he left England
with feelings of the deepest respect and esteem for
the highest personages of the realm, but had lost
much of such feelings for those who compose our
Government. Desiring, as man, all prosperity to
our sovereign, he must naturally wish her better
ministry; while as President in the most improba-
BILE contingency of the United States again requiring
England to abandon an island or give up consul,
he would desire the continuance in office of those
now at the head of affairs, who have distinguished
themselves by doing such things with jaunty, un-
blushing grace that is inimtable and have eaten
enormous leeks, not only with gusto, but to the
sound of their own trumpets. Mr.. Buchanan's re-
ply to the Franklin and Marshall address confirmed
our suspicious of his conservative policy and
us that he will use his power and great abilities to
lead back this giant Republic to the paths marked
out so impressively by its founder"