New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-16

Int only Caesars and Nspoleons can grasp 'ne'n.
We do not imagine that the execution OF noD0'
Toombs would have subdued the South, ou'i' wo''o
have 40 strengthened and intensified the nshonS'
continent that the Rebellion would have been over
wbeImed nv the tumultuous waves OF Northern
patriotism. The war would have begun IN 'anu"i!,
but it would have given the North the sdVah'aseo'
being three months ahead. This sdVantaeo N''
surrendered to the South; and it gave US bun nDn'
Tbi, then. was Mr. Buchsnans mistake, iof We
do not see any evidence OF crime. Ine ~eaA o''
gentleman imagined that wordy conPfoni'.
would end the strife. He was not alone IN sucn
ancies. Those who condemn Mr.. Buchanan iot
treason in turning his face from the future, shouid
remember that Mr.. Seward was OF the same
that he felt it would be sixty days var, anu nsn'
be prevented BY use Of the franKAg pri'n0e.'
Vet Mr.. Stewards conservatism, his toying WIN
events tho cooling, misty speeches that neitnet
meant peace nor war, but fell upon the country iNs
so many fogs, did not prevent him from oecomins'
in his way, and at the time, most useiui e"o az
complished statesman. As Q diplomatst, MI pu
cbanan would have excelled, just as Mr.. Seward has
erceed. But be wanted the nerve, the nre, 'h'
daring heart and tho iron hand and 20, wnen h''
bellion burst out, he took up his per and began !"
write most furiously. As if ink could WASH away
the sin Of centuries While he wrote, the heDe'
advanced. They came from Montgomery TO kich-
mond, surging into Maryland, advancing 70 NeN-
York and Philadelphia, and becoming simos. a.
fashionable as the opera The Southern ieaoei' pe'
came insolent. They saw this old gentleman sciip'
bling away, writing writing, writing-wrtine o''
ders in the morning, and writing cancelauons Ia
the afternoon. while under his roof traitors were
arranging new Government, and speaking OF him
a, a foreign ruler and in every Southern State the
anyils were ringing, the looms were hummihe, sho
everything betokened war. They sawtms weak oia
gentleman paralyzed by gasconadins "ComnA'-
sioner" and felt that no victory could be more easy
than the triumph of Slavery, and that race Oh
Yankee Buchanans might be whipped in sixty days.
if BY chance they fought at all. They did not see
behind him Massachusetts, and Pennsylvanis, ana
Illinois, and the shadow of old John Brown
The lesson that Mr.. Buchanans fate must feaSn
ia this that no ruler can succeed who distrusts inc
people. Here was Lincolns great success 10
went with the nation. If it wanted to hight, 70
would make war. If it wanted peace, he would %
higher than common sense, and Mr. Lhcoin "'s
eminently sensible. Mr.. Buchanan was not' h4s
WAYS were fixed. He had been raised IN tne mye'
terious school of Pennsylvania politics. and mad an
intense respect for the things called "con'eh-
tons.r So the nation ran ahead of him. He eouio
not understand what it all meant Ihere wa.
nothing about it in the Cincinnati PLATFORM, anu
puzzled him. He had been going round anu ioeh0
in his constitutional tread-mill for fifty years, anon
cop,a not hear 10 strike off into new paths. 10
los. the confidence Of the nation. When Maloi
Anderson disobeyed his orders, guns were fired 'oi
Anderson. When Cass resigned, and thre"
his trumpet down." the act was cheered. "heA
Cen. Scot. sent down the Star Of the West hs
was instantly called upon to take the PRESIDENCY
in his own hands; and when, one day, the oiu
gentleman put on his uniform, and got INTO eti'
rage. and rode out to see Q company OF soldiers,
the nation was on the point Of taking him by force
and placine him in the White House. After tho
attack upon the Star Of the West, peace became an
Iimpossbiity The blow had been given, and We
had skunk away-with burning, bushing cheek
from Rebels We had lost our national manhood,
and upon Mr.. Buchanan was visited all the inorul'
cation of insult and defeat.
The generation that felt that blow can never ior-
give the man who permitted it to pass unreyenged.
But we trust and believe the future will not be 20
harsh. The last five years must have been fuil Ok
bitter days to James Buchanan. To live in silence,
and retirement and obloquy-his name the most de-
tested, with the exception Of Jefferson DAVIS Ok
any name in America-to sit in his home, with the
wears rapidly bending him into<he grave, and feel
that after so much power and honor, and, above
all, so many opportunities, he was the most unpop-
ular of Americans-to feel this and yet to know
that he was partly the victim Of fate, that, after all,
he had been merely q whirling mariner in hurri-
eane-the weakest most mudded, most distracted
seaman, il is true that ever went out upon the salt
seas and that for the life of him he could not tel
whether the ship was on her keel or beam-ends-
that his craftsmanship was scribbling and praying,
and that he meant TO do what was best, even while
doing the worst--to sit and hear nothing but lm-
precautions from people he had served oroo years,
10 DO cursed by mothers who had lost their chill
dren, to have no friends even among the people Of
the South, for whom he sacrificed all-this Is
retrbuton more terrible than that of Belisarius
wandering in poverty and blindness, or the dis
crowned Lear, on the storm-beaten moor, welding
his scepter of straw. This is passing away. We
trust we are becoming more just TO James b.
chsnan We see now how very small he was when
confronted by the majestic and terrible events OF
the Secession Drama! Destiny cruelty placed HIM
| "A mere politician and writer Of resolutions
position that would have tried the submest states
mauship in the world. He did as well as his nature
would permit him, and the best Of US can do 20
more.