The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-11-10

From the New York Evening Post. -~-- ' ~
II Il sonsfimes to be made . reproach to US
Americans that no man could hope 70 reach
our hiShest political place until the Virile age
was lone past. An ''old public functionary,"
a Nr. buchanan once called himself, Is likely
to be despicable object; and II It were true
that an American citizen could look 70 %
President only when he had ceased to 90 nj ios
that or anv other post of responsibility, We
should be In poor case.
But compared with our English cousins, we
are ruled by set of young men and Il H, per
hans. inst as well that our Pres1oenta and
otber high officials have usually attained to
wears of moderation and prudence before they
are entrusted with power. "Oid men Tor
council, young men for fight, was an Oao IN
dian poryerb John G. Breckinridge was the
Youngest man In the roll Of Vice-Presidents-
and his hot blood led him into the most fla.
Emile Girardin recently reproached the
blindness of death, (which has removed Rich
ard Golden, aged sixty-one, and left Lord
Palmerston, aged eighty: one." Cobdens death
was mourned as untmeiy and truly, among
the present race of British statesmen he was
counted but as o young man. Palmerston is
Prime Minister and .eighty-one; President
johnson is but ty.seven, and Mr.. Lincoln was
but fifty-six. Earl Russell Is Secretary of 70.
reign Affairs, and seventy-three. Mr.. Seward,
our Foreign Secretary, Ia Che oldest man. in the
administration and but sixty. four. MIR. Came
ron, the former Secretary of War, is but two
years his senior. The Lord high Chancellor
Of England Is sixty-five, but Chief Justice Chase
Is bat ffty.seven. Mr.. Gladstone Is fifty six,
and Ii represented as . very young man. He
IL the future premier of England, bat Earl Rus
sell stands between him and the succession in
case Of Lord Palmerston's death. d.o.5
Lord Derby, the chief of the English oppo-
sttion, 10 sixtysix, and his second, Mr.. DIsraeh,
u sixty, and must some time ago have laid
decorates his head. Among the lesser lights,
men who are slowly working their, way up
ward, and of whom the British public expect
something In the course of time. are Mr..
Miner Gibson, who 10, ffty-eight, Lord Gar
ence Paget, the laborious Secretary of the Ad-
miralty, fifty-four, Mr.. Whiteside, the eminent
Irish barrister. fifty.nine, Sir Fitzroy Kelly,
sixty seven, and other not less mature "rising
young men," a1r' .......- ... 49,. :
Let us look for amoment at the ages of our
own prominent public men. Mr.. Buchanan
became President at the age Of sixty-five; Mr..
Pierce at forty eight; Mr.. Lincoln 1t fifty two;
Mr.. johnson at fifty -seven. Breckenridge was
but thirty four when he was chosen Vice Pres.
ident; Mr.. Douglas was but forty weight when
he died; Mr.. Seward became sixty live but .
few days ago, and after long life, in opposi-
ton, reached the second place In the Admins
tration at the early age OF sixty-one. Senator
Sumner is but fifty -four, brave old Ben Wade is
sixty-hve, Senator Wilson is but fifty.three
Gen. Banks became Speaker of the House when
but thirty nine. and is now forty nine; Mr.
Fessenden is ffty-nine; Speaker Colfax is but
forty-two; Winter Davis is but forty eight and
Senator Sprague of Rhode Island, favorite of
fortune has been Governor, General and Sena.
tor, and is yet bat thirty.fve. 80 e..
Thaddeus Stevens is seventy.two and Rever.
dy johnson Is sixtyone Mr.. Harlan, Just
made Secretary of the Interior. is but fifty five;
Mr.. Adams. our Minister to England, Ia fifty.
eight; and among the Oppoeitinn Vallandig-
ham Is forty-fOur. and Fernando Wood atty
nine
JEFF Davis was born the came year Is Andy
johnson, and the year before Mr.. Lincoln.
Slidell is as old as Thad. Stevens-72; Mason,
his companion In the San Jaciuto affair, is 81 !;
Henry A. Wise y pIematurely old At 50; Orr
but 43; Toombs Is IS Alex. 81. Stevens So;
Letcher 81. Herscheu v. johnson was IS
when placed as Vice President ON the Douglas
ticket; Yancey died at 50, and Porcher Miles
u A. iHa' 'El' it3D VIZ
John A. Gilmer of North Carolina, is 60, and
VIM. A. Graham, of the same State, Is IS.
The Emperor Napoleon is the srme age as
Andrew johnson and JEFF Davis. The late
Duke de Morny, the Emperor's half brother,
died at SO. The Emperor of Russia IL ~, and
Victor Emanuel Is As.