The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-27
A Portrait Of the President.

n HOrtI01C Oh tne FfcS10cnCs
The New York Leader draws portrait
OF Buchanan which is not aattered by any
means, and, to our mind, does the subject
but simple justice. Weextract some of the
choicer touches:
"James Buchanan, dressed in full evening
costume, and doing the courtesies of
reception, presents very striking and
digni6ed appearance. He is about six feet
one or two inches in height, with abundant
hair of glistening and emi-transparent
silver color; small, blueish gray eyes
irregular features, and a complexion suggest
ing by its unnatural freshness the hectic of
constitutional complaint. The head of this
venerable man is cooked to the left at an
angle of certain degree the left eye is
contracted and drawn downwards; the left
corner of the mouth shares similar fate !;
an immense white neckcloth half conceals
various old cicatrices, or flesh wounds,
under the left ear and the whole body of
the man lurches slightly to the left as he
walks-nature thus seeming to shadow forth
his constitutional hatred of the right. Mr..
B. has shrill, almost female voice, and
wholly beardless cheeks; and he is not by
any means, in any aspect, the sort of man
likely to cut, or attempt to cut his throat for
any Chloe or Phillis in Pennsylvania.
Nevertheless, and in spite of all these
drawbacks, the portly figure and courtier
like address of Mr.. Buchanan form very
striking features at a reception. Like Dean
Swift and Alexander Pope, he rather courts
the reputation of gallantry and his half
fatherly, half lover-like attention to such
ladies as are presented, rarely fail to fatter
the vanity and elicit the gratitude of the
futtering and glittering victims. A courtier
and man of the world, our President must
have been in bis element when representing
the United States in England. He is of the
old Federal School, looking ever toward
Europe as the only fountain of any desirable
applause; and more anxious to be regarded
as conservative, or aristocratic American
by the titled residents of Pccadilly than to
hold in the hearts of the American people
that place of devoted confidence and affection
which Andrew jackson occupied.
At the official dinners in the White House,
and few others are given, Mr.. Buchanan
shines to great advantage. Heis attentive,
courteous, affable-dividing his civilities
equally between all his guests. A large
experieHce of public men and measures in
many hands, supplies him with an inexhaus-
tible repertory of personal anecdote; be
amuses, without ever boring or seeming too
loquacious and there is an odd vein of bit
ter humor running through all bis views,
such as we can imagine latter reading Lord
Orrey's letters to bis son Hamilton Boyle,)
must have pervaded the conversation Of
Dean Swift. So cold by nature, that not
even the warmth of blood can relax bis fros-
ty politeness, the Old Public Functionary
addresses his niece and heiress as Miss Har.
riet,' and insists on being called 'Mr. Bu.
chanan' in return. He toierates no intimate
associate or walking companion and bis
present private secretary, Mn Mcleod, for
merly schoomaster in Washington, stands
in as much awe of the wrathy old man as
though be were one of the fOotmen instead
of confidential clerk. To give J. B. his due
we must acknowledge that he is industri-
GUS and trouble. seeking to miracle. His
suspicious nature will not con6de the OPEN
ing OF his letters to any other hand and at
present, when stacks of anonymous letters
are reaching him from all parts OF the coun-
try, denouncing his Postmasters and Gus.
tom House officials as secretly working for
the National Democratic candidates, while
pretending to support Breckenridge and
Lane, the mere daily duty of opening and
reading the mail becomes in itself heavy
tax. The Cabinet officers are his servants,
j. B. insists, and not bis advisers. Of Gov.
Floyd alone does he seem to stand iu any
dread; Col. Holt has had two or three fights
with him on questions of honesty Cobb
was deluded for the first three years by
hopes of the SUGGESTIONS; but in the natural
mean and servie natures of such men as
TOucey and Black, Mr.. Buchanan finds and
has ever found his readiest Instruments. As
for Thompson, he speculates in Indian lands,
and neither knows enough nor cares enough
to give him much trouble. The President
does not believe him sufficiently smart to be
intrusted with the execution of auy serious
vilainy nor is it likely that Thompson
would obey him, should any such jobs be of.
fered as seem the peculiar perquisite of At
torney General Black. But it is due to the
President to say that be himself has never
been suspected of pocketing any portion of
the vast amounts which be has assisted
Others to obtain 10 payment for their aid to
bis Lecompton and other such schemes. He
graf 6es his malice while their avarice is
grati6ed; the hatreds which be rolls under
bis tongue as SO many sweet morsels supply
to him that reward and pleasure which his
subordlnates receive from heavy percenta.
ges On swindling contrs cts, and heavy fees
for their LOBBY Influence in regard to partic-
ular bills. Bright and early each morning
Mr.. Buchanan is up and at work, retiring
each night to bed by about half after nine
o'clock. Breakfasting at 7P. NJ, our Be-
loved and Illustrious enters his Office by g.
said Office being large second-fioor room