Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-04-12
4 WHEATLAND, March 23rd, 1867.


Gentlemen-I have received, with grateful
emotions. your very kind invitation to pub
lie dinner you propose to give me in the city
Of Philadelphia, on any day | may indicate.
Nothing. | can assure you, could afford me
greater pleasure than to meet you around the
festive board, and with you renew the pleas
ant memories Of long past years.
I deny myself this qualification, only in
Difference to what consider the wise exam
pie of my Democratic predecessors in the Of
fee of President. After having administered
the most exalted Office which the country
could bestow, they deemed il expedient to re-
main in the retirement of private life; and
whilst holding their own opinions on the po-
litcal questions Of the day, they left the pub
lie discussion of them to gentlemen, like
yourselves, still on the busy theatre of active
life.
If any other reason were required for my
self-denial on this occasion, | might refer
you to my advanced age Of which you remind
Inc, by Stating that am now the last survi-
vor of g American statesmen of the olden
time, the only living contemporary Of Web
ster and Clay, and Benton aud Calhoun. p
In passing, permit me to say, you might
have Justly added to these distinguished
names that Of Silas Wright. He was a
statesman, who. for sound practical wisdom,
for far-seeing sagacity, and for lucid and
COW ncing argument, had no superior in
the Senate, even at the period when it was
the gravest deliberate body in the world
You have my cordial thanks for your opin-
ion that no responsibility for years of blood
and sorrow we have endured, rests on me,
who tried in nome 1T of terrible exigency,
to do my duty under the Constitution" Pro-
ceeding as this does, from large number of
my fellow-citizens, equal in intelligence,
character and patriotism, to any similar num-
Der Of gentlemen in the State, may | not,
with much confidence, indulge the hope that
you but anticipate the general sentiment of
future times? Under this impression, and al
ways firmly relying on Divine Providence, ]
have horne with a tranquil and contented
spirit all the harsh criticisms which have been
published on nny official conduct throughout
the last unhappy years Assuming, as you
do, . the immediate future Of the country to
be full of peril" you ask me " for words of
counsel, Of consolation, and, if possible, Of
hope" Consistently with my self-inposed
reticence, may say to you:-adhere stead
| lily TO the Constitution of your country; ex-
ert all your power and influence in dissent
mating and enforcing it's general principles.
by means Of the press, public speeches, pri-
vate conversations, and in every other hon
orable manner: and employ the same unit
ring energy in exposing and condemning ev-
cry departure from its precepts. Never de-
spair; for the time will surely come when
these shall triumph and control the admins
tration of the government. u as.st
With sentiments Of grateful respect,
Iremain, your much obliged friend,
o.f JAMES BUCHANAN.
Hon. Asa Packer, Hon. Owen Jones, Hon.
John Cadwalader, Samuel R. S Smith.
G. r Fox, Andrew c. Craig, Esquires,
and Hon. Hester Clymer, with many 9TH
r., VS. &NI.5fEg .ieEs tf s-.ye