The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-05-09

'S"o"eeso ot our c0nnuyS4 30 sh~JigrI.ei,ys
'Ev ~ am .,--------s.o,ip-------a4, "a. d7-
Ex-President Buchanan -. Compile
mentary Dinner DeclinedaiT
A large uumber of prominent citizens
Of Pennsylvania recently tendere ex,
President Buchanan a public dinner,
as an " expression of their continued
respect aud sdmiration!'lo 10 In his reply,
declining the honor Mr.. Buehsna an said.
= L deny myself this qualification, only
in de!ere ence TO what / consider the
wise example Of roy, democratic prede-
cessors in the Office of President, AT.
ter having administered the highest Of
fee which the country could bssiow,
they deemed il expedient to remain in
the retirement of private life, and whilst
holding their own opinions on the po-
litical question Of the dav, they left the
public discussion Of them to gentlemen,
like yourselves, still on the busy theatre
Of active life. .i' r'f .Na1'f'. ~ 81
If any other reason we're required 70,
my self-denial on this occasion, 1 might
refer you TO my adv vanced age, Of which
you remind me, by stating that am
now the last survivor Of I" American
statesman Of the olden Time, the only
living contemporary Of Webster. and
Clay, and Benton, and Calhoun" In
passing, permit me 10 say, you might
have justly added to these distinguish
ed names, that Of SAas Wright. He waa
a statesmen who for practical wisdom
for far-seeing sa9acity, and for lucid
and convincing argument, had no supe-
rior in the Senate, even at The period
when it was the greatest deliberative
body in the world. You have my cor.
dial thanks for your opinion 60 that no
responsibility for the years of blood and
sorrow we have endured rests on me,
who tried, in a moment Of terrible exi~
gency, to do my duty under the consti-
tuition" Proceeding, as this does from
large number Of fellow citizens, equal
in intelligence, character and patriotism
to any similar number Of gentlemen in
the State, may not, with much
confidence, indulge the hope that you
but anticipate the general sentiment Of
future times. - IT, " r..I '-.r..i
Under this impression, and always
firmly relying on Divine Providence, I
have borne with a tranquil and content.
ed spirit all the criticisms which have
been published on my official conduc.
throughout the last unhappy years. As.
suming, as you do, "the immediate 60,
ture Of The country 10 be full Of peril"
YOU ask me for words of counsel. of
consolation, and il possible Of hope
Consistently with my self-imposed reti'
ceuce j may say. TO you: Adhere stead
lily to the constitution of your country ;
exert all your power and influence in
disseminating and enforcing IFS general
principles by means Of the press, public
speeches, private conversations, and in
every other honorable manner, and en-
ploy the same unliring energy in expos
ing and condemning every departure
from its rrecepts. Never despair, for
the time will surely come when these
shall triumph and control the admins.
tra.ion of the government. -. .'s'
JAMES BUCHANAN" -
With sentiments of greatful respect.
remain your much obliged friend. Co.
Hon. Asa Packer, Hon. Owen Jones,
Hon. John Cadwslader, Samuel r.. 8.
Smith. G. r. Fog, Andrew O. Craig,
E>q, and Hon. Hiester Clymer, with
many others. 80 -.@ d. ...as, a.,