Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-04-26
The Busy President.

vestgation will serve Mr.. BUCHANAN rather
than iriure him. 1t will give the pnblic far
higher idea of his industry and versatility than
anything previously known Of his career would
have led them to entertain. When one reads
the list of enterprises, as revealed by the wit
nesses, which he personally dlrected-the num-
Der of arrangements" now as the Executive,
now as "J. B. ;" and now as JAMES BUCHANAN
one is astonished at the confidence express
ed in the close of his letter to Governor WALK.
Err, that Providence would bring him through
them ALL lie must be either very sanguine
man, or o very audacious one to expect any
such interpositiou on his behalf He not only
looked after BRIGHAM YOUNG and Kansas in
the first year of his Administration, but he
took special charge of almost all the Democra-
tic newspapers in the country. He fixed the
amounts which were to be paid to these strug-
Cling organs out of the proceeds of the public
printing, and at what times they were to be
paid and more than all, he selected the par
ticular newspapers that were TO receive the
largest contributions.
He acted, moreover as edtor-in-chief of
the Constitution-had all the principal leading
articles read to him, and as these generally
consist Of foulmouthed abuse, We may fairly
conclude that he arranged the epthatS, names,
and now and then suggested one of additional
! force. He looked after the disposition of the
various Government contracts saw that they
were not awarded to the lowest bidder, but to
! the bidder he most loved, and who could COM
mapd most votes. He wrote private notes to
the Attorney General to prevent the render
| ing of inconvenient opinions and more Won
derful STILL he looked after TIE bribery at the
various State elections, Indicated the general
| policy of the expenditure, and when necessary
| got up sham parties with the public money, in
order to confound the enemy. In snort no one
can rise from the perusaI of the revelation
about his pursuits, contained in the evidence
before the Investigating Committee, without
4 being 0stonished at the mans activity and en-
ergy. If he had only served the United States
with half the zeal which he seems to have dis
played in the service Of the Democratic Party
be would certainly have been at least an eff
cient President, and would have left the Chair
with credit, if not with honor But through
out the whole of his laborS he seems never to
| have spent thought upon the country at
large and never to have recoiled from anything
! that seemed likely to advance the interests Of
| his own faction In the service of the latter,
he appears to have spared neither labor nor
conscience, nor honor. We hope it has some
reward in store for him, commensurate with
the sacrifices he has male for it.
! We think we may add, in conclusion that
| tragic as is the aspect which the greater por
ton of this shameful record wears, there are
| touches of the ludicrous in it, over which the
most sorrowful of patriots may lie permitted to
chuckle The last, and best by far, is Mr..
BUCHANANs indignation against Attorney Gen,
eral BLACK, which seems likely, it is said, to
lead to be learned gentlcmans retirement from
the Cabinet. BLACKS offence is, that so con-
| fident was he of the Presidents honesty, con
siStency and veracty, that he refused to believe
! that he ever wrote snch letter as that to r
j. WALKER while supporting, or preparing to
support, the Lecompton bill, and denied its
existence with faithful fury. If there is any
thing in this world which ordinary human ma
ture is apt to feel grateful for, it is a friends
! faith in ones goodness and truthfuinesS for it
IS the highest compliment that friendship can
pay. Buchananite human nature, however. is
an entirely new article, aud has got rid of all
the amiable weaknesses so BLACK, instead of
being thanked in an agony of repentapt humil-
iation for his frank devotion to an unworthy
object, is about to be kicked out tor his "i i'm
prudence !" BUCHANAN embracing Bennett
for denouncing him, has its counterpart in
BUCHANAN abusing BLACK for not knowing him
to be humbug.