The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1860-12-13
President Buchanan.


This venerable statesman has delivered his last
annual message to the Congress cf the United
States. 1t has been read with sympathy and great
indignation as the reader was pleased to view the
last document of that kind which is to cmanate
from the President under whose administration
this once powerful and glorious Government is to
be broken up. We have perused its contents,
conned its positions, and studied its anomalous
views, with mingled sympathy and Indignation.
Its great length precludes giving any consider
able portion of the Message in this issue; on our
fourth page, however, will be found an article sue
cinty stating its positions the great question of
the day, and also containing some pithy comments
whicl, will give the reader some idea of what the
President has elaborated into enough space to fill
our entire outside.
No man in the worlds history has been required
to occupy the uncnviablc position of MIR. BucnAS-
AN. At the head of a great nation, whose princ-
plcs of government are based upon republican
ideas. where people are sovereign and control their
rules through the medium of the ballot-bot-he is
compelled to witness the dsmemberment OF that ma
ton, and this too rs he closes his labors In the
chief magistracy. The thought must be humiliat-
ing. and we are moved to sincere pity when we re-
feet that such is his inevitable lot. He Is the last OF
m illustrious line of patriots who have governed
this country; in rising from his official chair, he
surrenders it to man whose election to the ofilce
was base fraud practiced upon two-thlrds OF the
people of these United Siates-who is elected TO
place and power because he is willing to represent
ogrressiye. unconstitutional and sectional views,
which operate against the peace, liberty and pur-
suit of happiness of half the governed. This Mr.
BUCHANAN rightly appreciates, and is only ano'l-
er cause for him to bow his head in shame and
humility.
Further-the aged patriot belongs by birth and
interest to the North. He was elected and has
been adhered to by the Southern States, while his
own section of country has almost entirely deser-
ted him. AT this critical period, he has to meet
the great issue of dslnion and his dilemma is
Observation-Disclosures TO peril all in defending anu
upholding those who have steadily and firmly sus-
taincd his administration, and in defending them,
maintain what he knows to be right; or TO choose
sides with his native section and in behalf OF this
Union, which, he clearly sees, has run It's course
and accomplished all it ever can. The mist and
fog of unending and perplexing difficulties sur
round him-he is enveloped in the darkness of I'M
decision with no beacon light urging him on, but
rather frowning clouds and the mutterlnss OF fast
approaching thunder about him.
Is it strange, then, that the last Message of the
distinguished President, (who is far advanced in
years, and who received his political teachings
from the very founders of this Government,) should
contain so much cause of dissatisfaction to the
whole country We think not, and would have been
much surprised to find him disclosing views at all
satisfactory to either section under existing cir
cumstances.