, 1863-07-23

Some years sgo Gen. Wilkinson made an
"arbitrary arrest" Of Aaron Buar, who was
believed to be engaged in an unlawful enter
prise on the Western rivers. A few politi-
clans we're found then to object 10 the act
and stir up au agitation against Gen. Wilkin-
son ard President Jefferson. The 1atter, in
replying to the letter Of friend, used the
folloHinglanguage:
The question you propose-Whether CIR
cumstances do not sometimes occur which
make 1t q duty IN officers Of high trust to as
sumo authorities beyond the LAWS easy Of
rassing In practice. = A strict observance OF
the written laws Is doubtless one Of the high
duties OF q good citizen, but 1t is not the
highest. 9hel01as efneccssitv, of seJ.presezra-
tt0n, Of saving our country srlaeH in danger, are
al eJ htgher obligation. 70 lose our country
by kcrupu1ons adherence to written Law,
would be to lose itself with life, liberty.
property, and all those who arc enjoying
then tue rith 1th ns thus absusdly sscrietug the
In Judging the case, we are bound to con-
cider the state Of the information, correct
eetsed. He expected Burr and his baud from
ahoye, a British feet from below; and he
lEew there was formidable conspiracy With
the city. Under these circumstances was he
justlflable-1st, In seizing notorious coaspi-
Intors On this there cal be but two opiu-
ions; one Of the gutltyand their accomplices,
tie other that Of all honest men, Cd. In send
ing them tp the seat OF Government when the
written law gave them right to q trial In the
Territory Tie danger Of their rescue-of
their continuing their Vaccinations, the tardt-
ness OF the law, n;'atby Of the Judges, nctlve
patronage of1ht "Au;c tribe Of hWyers, un-
known d'sIositi.n ot the jas1es. and hourly
expectation OF the etseu.y, salvation Of the
city and Of the Cnion its<G2i, which would have
been conVu1sed to its centre had that con-
alitacy succeeded all these constituted
law Of necessity and selfp1eservation, and
rendered the solus pop.,N supreme over the
written law. The otfc who is called to act
on this superior ground, does indeed risk
himself on the Justice Of the controlling pow
ers Of the constitution, and his station makes
1t his duty to- incur that rlsk."
There would seem from this to be little
doubt how Jefferson would act were he at
the head Of af1airs now.
MT. Buckle as n Talker.
In book just published, under the title Of
".ArabIan Days and Nights,' Miss Marguer-
ite a. Power gives an interesting sketch Of
her meeting in Egypt with Mr.. Buckle but a
few weeks before bis death.
At Cairo we had the good fortune to fall In
With one whose premature death few weeks
later now makes the souvenir of the encoun-
ter now doubly Interesting. This wss Buckle,
Nho. in his researches for fresh materials for
his "History OF Civilization" was now on
his way back from journey up the Nile. He
bud, on his arrival II Egypt, brought letters
were already acquainted, he came almost i'm
mediatcly to call. and ~as asked to dinner on
IN early day. have known most of the cele-
brate1 talkers OIL will not say how many
years back-of the time, III 4 word, when
sydney Smith rejoiced in his green, bright
old age, and Luttreu md Rogers and Tommy
Moore y ere still capable Of giving forth an
occasional da<h b, and when ths venerable Lord
Brougham, and get more venerable Lord
l3ndhnrst, delighted in friendly aud brilliant
sparripg at dinner tables, whose hosts are
now In their halfforgotten graves. I have
known ZONE brilliant takers in Paris-Laul-
est, or nt least most constantly bright OF all,
the late Madame Emile de Girardtn. I knew
Douglass JeErold; and I am still happy
enough to claim acquaintance with certain
nen and women whoee names, though
Heli-kn0Wp, 1t were perhaps iurfdious now
to mention. But, foE inexhaastiblllty, veraa-
thty, memory aud seli:confdence, I ueyer
met any to compete With Buckle. Talking
was meat, drink and sleep to lin; he lived
upon talk. He could keep pace with any
given number OF lnter1ocuters on any given
number Of subjects, from the abstruseat point
on the abstrusest science, to the lightest ftu
d'e.prit, and talk them all down, and be quite
reacy to start fresh. Among the hundred
and one anecdotes with which be entertained
tis, may be permitted to give, say the huu-
died and flfst Wo'dsw0rth," said Charles
Lamb, "one day told me that he considered
Shakespeare greatly oy.r-r4lcd." "There is
al 'nmensitY Of trick In all Shakespeare
wrote" be eaid, "and people arc taken In by
it.. Nov if / had a mind l could write exact
IL like Shakespeare"
quietly, lit was only The mind tint was want.
ing" We met Buckle Oh seyernl e1beequent
occaticns. and his ta1k and spirits never
tisgged; the same unti'i.g energy marked: all
be taid, and did, and thought. and fatigne aud
depression appeared to besthings unknown to
him.