The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-04-03
Frora F1rney's TT-ss, M.Jch
FORNES'> FAREWELL TO OLD BUCK
In Open Letter TO ,Jdmes Buchanca.

In ODTn Letter 10 James DachdnGR
Four years ago this day you entered the Pres
idential chair, the Chief Magistrate of the hap
piest and ireest people on earth. The conquest
from which YOU emerged conqueTer, although
distinguished BIZ unexampled animation and acri-
mony, VAS followed by expressions, on the part
of friend and foe, of complete confidence liz your
personal integrity. Those who had opposed
YOUR election were profuse in announcing their
disposition to give your administration the iairest
trial. The principles which prevailed in your
triumph had been anticipated IN your speeches
before your nomination, indorsed IN your letter
accepting II, alii med in your inaugural address,
aud IT affirmed in YOUR letter TO Governor alker,
under the date OF July l2ih, 1851, and were SO
plain, so self evident, and cOnVincing y right,
that the American people were ready to hail i'll
YOU an august successor and representative OF
those great men who laid the foundation OF the
government. In the choice Of your cabinet YOU
were supposed to be singularly successful
From the aged statesman at the head OF your
constitutional advisers, down to your Attorney
General there was no name that had not at on,
or another time been associated with high aud
honorable position. These gentlemen, selected
from both sections of the cont.deracy, each a
type of his own people, were known cordially
to sanction aud cordially to cooperate with you
in the policy 10 which YOU had been committed
in the previous campaign. Every department OF
the federal government was in your hands
Both branches of Congress were controlled By a
majority of your supporters. The Supreme Court
of the United states was known TO sympathIze
with YOU. Our commerce with all the world wa-
in the most tlouTishiug condition internal trade
in its manifold ramiiications was prosperous be
vond all example sectional strife had terminal
ed in national victory, thus giving new guaran-
tees for the preservation OF a Union which at
that time seemed held together by bonds alike
sacred and indisSOlUb.e.
This inspiring prospect must have elevated
you above all unworthy passions and unhOly am-
bition. When YOU mounted the Presidential
chair, you were not, according TO your own ac-
count, quite sixty fixe years of age. Too old 10
undertake the destruction of your country, you
were young enough TO make it more potent at
home and more hOnored abroad. Your enemies
for more than forty years have imputed to you
many questionable qualities of head and heart,
but your friends relied upon your administration
TO repel this imputation. The first accused you
of selfiShness, ingraiitude, and aristocracy; the
second claimed for you the highest attributes Oi
| private character. The first had frequently pre-
dicted that, if ever clothed with the almost i'm
| perial power of the Presidency, YOU would de
vote yourself to the overthrow OF the party 10
| which near your iortlsth year YOU attached your
/ political fortunes; the second conteGded that by
| your moderation and consistency YOU would noI
| only immcrtaliZe yourself, but SO consolidate the
Democracy as as the close of your Adninistra
ton to leave it without respectable adversary
How you fulfilled the prophecies of the one, and
how you disappointed the hopes of the Others
| the imparta, historian will record on his imper.
/ ishable tablet.
1t would be superluous to recapituate the
thrice told tale of the downfall OF yourself, your
party, and your country. Even those who en-
We'd your friends, while those friends were rejoic
ing over your election, were shocked at the man
ner in which YOU prosecuted and bounded the
men Who, during any years OF minority, hac
carried your cause upon their shoulders, unit
finally they placed you in the Presidential chair
No such spectacle has ever been presented in any
country. You struck the most fatal blpws a
those who had rendered YOU the most devote,
service. There was a rancor and cruelty il
your treatment of these men that no imagination
could have anticipated, and no logician defend
Even those who attempted TO maintain their US
ual kind relations to your person were repele'
with naughty and freezing indifference, or subjec
ted 10 your will by being made the slaves OF yoG
| capTiceS, and the echoes OF your treacheries. -
In proportion as YOU conducted this gnprOyoke'
warfare upon these citizens, you took into you
confidence iaen who had never treated you saw
as an object OF hatred and Of scorn.
Postcrity takes little note of the treatment eX
tended by public man to life ,ong supporters
II is not SO tolerant, hOSever, when such turpi
tude is accompanied and succeeded by perSisten
attempts to distract and denora'ize happy an
uI.ited people. Had you bu, served the Repub
lie; had You maintained YOUR plighted faith t
yoar principles: had you displayed Il wise, CON
preEeusive and practical craftsmanship; had yo
insisted upon economy and integrity in yoar ad
ministration - the Judgment OF the America
people would have rewarded YOU and your REQ
reancy TO your friends would have been forgo
ten in the stern impartiality ard justice of YOU
policy. The ruler OF a civilized and christia
people may in monient o. rash impulse, iuhil
incalculabe injury upon his country. But yo
have no impulses. That which at first SCENE
To be the maens IS of the ri0ment soon assume
the shape OF settled malignity. When you col
sented TO trample upon holy and uudyin
truth, It Is now evident that you had made u
yOur mind to preserve to the end. No ehtreatit
could move Won 10 change your course. Eve
, those whom you had wounded Without provocs
tion, repeatedly and hnmbly exhorted you
: pause in your career. In vain. You seemed