The New York herald., 1862-11-03

Mr.. BUcHANAN's DnrHNoE defence Of
sx-President Buchanan, which we published
yesterday, against the charges Of weakness and
imbecility involved h the late singing letter Of
General Scott, will attract large degree of
public attention. We suspect. however, that
this defence will only operate to confirm the
universal public opinion of both hemispheres
10 the prejudice Of our unfortunate ex-Presi-
dent For example, a. reason why, from Oc- I
tober, 1850, to January, 1861, he did not
strengthen the garrisons of certain Southern
forts, as earnestly and repeatedly urged by
General Scott, MIR. Buchanan has no better ex-
cuse to give than this: that he had only four or
five companies of regular troops within any
convenient distance, all the rest being employ
ed in protecting our Western plains and deserts
against the Indians.
" But even upon this plea Mr.. Buchanan begs
the question AT any time from October, 1860,
to january, 1861, there were three or four thou
sand first rate regular troops under General
Twiggs in Texas, doing nothing. Why were not
they brought off to garrison those Southern
fortificationss Why were they permitted to re-
main in Texas until they were surrendered by
the traitor Twiggs, with all their materials Of
war, to rebel force which they could have
easily defeated under a loyal leaders Or, in
default Of troops could not Mr. Buchanan have
brought in to the defence Of ourforts at Charles
ton, Savannah Pensacola, Mobile and New
Orleans vessel-of-war or two? There were
dozen of them lying idle at Norfolk, all Of
which were subsequently destroyed there or
sunk, including the Merrimac, to prevent their
falling into the hands of mob Of rebel con-
spirators
And SO, from point to point, we might de-
molsh the specifications and shallow reasons
and arguments Of Mr.. Buchanan for his deplora-
bic course in permitting contemplate South
ern conspiracy in the outset to ripen into an
organized, systematic, extensive and formidable
rebellion. But the evidence is so broad, strong
and clear against him that argument is un-
necessary. The simple truth is, that from
the personal notifications and prejudcss of
Mr.. Buchanan, resulting from the election of
1850, and from bis pitiable imbecility, crcdulity
and trembling obedience to the leading South
ern traitors in Congress and in his Cabinet, he
was bound hand and foot and was thus, poor
old unfortunate man, rendered utterly help
less to save the country or himself. An ounce
OF moral courage on his part at the right time
would have placed him high aloft alongside of
Andrew Jackson in the estimation Of grateful
people. But no paltry excuses can save him
now from the condemnation Of bis co-tempora-
ries and of posterity. With q selfish degrade
ton of weakness, unparalleled in the history
Of modern nations, he temporized, equivocated,
shut his eyes, and blinked the question of his
duty, in order to throw all the burdens of this
war upon the administration elected to succeed
him. We presume that General Scott will give
him another broadside, although no answer to
this lame and impotent defence of Mr.. Buchan-
an is needed. His position in history is fixed as
the most lamentable failure of any ruler of
modern times.