The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-04
A Letter from Ex-President Buchanan

Under date of Philadelphia, Feb, u,
number of Phiadelphians desiring to tender
President Buchanan 1.-The expression OF their
continuing respect and admiration, and also
desiring Ito hear words of counsel, of consota-
ton, and if possible of hope, from one who
now survives, as the last of American states
men of the olden time" rendered him pub
lie dinner. To this letter President Buchan-
an replied:
WHEATLAND, March %, 1867.
GENTLEMEN--I have received, with CRATE
full emotions, your very kind invitation to a
public dinner you propose to give me, In
the city of Philapelphia, on any day L may
indicate. Nothing, | can assure you, could
afford me greater pleasure than to meet you
around the festive board, and with you renew
the pleasant memories Of long past years: :,
| aanv r.y.slr ibis srauinca1ion, oniy III
Difference to what consider the wise exam
pie ofrny democratic predecessors IN the once
of president. After having administered
| the most exalted office which the country
| could bestow, they deemed 1t eXpedlent 10
| remain in the retirement OF private lie ana
| while holding their own opinions on the poi
itical questions Of the day, they left the pub
lie discussion of them to gentlemen, like
yourselves, still on the busy theatre OF active
life.
selfdenial on this occasion, | might refer
YOU to my advanced age, ofwhich you remind
me, by stating that am now the last survl-
vor of american statesmen OF the olden
time, the only living cotemporary OF W ebster
and CLAY, and Benton and Calhoun In
passing, permit me to say you might nave
Justly added TO these distinguished names
that of Silas Wright. He was a statesman
who, for sound, practical wisdom, for tar-see
ing sagacity, and for lucid and convincing
argument, had no superior Ill the senate
even at the period when it was the greatest
deliberative body in the world. You have
nv cordial thanks for your opinion that nc
responsibility for the years of blood and sor
row we have endured, rests on me, who tired
in a moment OF terrible exlgency, to 90 IN.
duty under the constitution" Proceeding
as this does, from large number OF my Eel
- low citizens, equal in intelligence, characte
y | and patriotism to any similar number of gen
tlemen in the state, may / not, with mucl
Il confidence, Indulge the hope that you but ar
- ticipate the general sentiment of future times
y Under this impression, and always firmly re
IS living on Divine Providence, ] have born
i, with tranquil and contented spirit all tn
N harsh criticisms which have been pubhshe
o. on my official conduct throughout the last III
happy years. Assuming, as you do, 18th
immediate future of the country to be full {
OF peril" you ask me ''for words of counsel,
TO consolation and, if possible, of hope" Coz
Mt sistently with my elfimposed reticence,
in may say to you-adhere steadily to the Co
as stitutfon of your country, exert all your POI
st er aud influence in disseminating and entor
or ing its general principles, by means of tt
@ e press, public speeches, private conversation
Oh and in every other honorable manner; an
be employ the same untiring energyin exposiI!
he and condemning every departure from
fly precepts Never despair for the time W
OF surely come when these shall triumph al
by control the administration of the Cover
nit ment.
he With sentiments of grateful respect, l
in, main, your much obliged friend.
ue JAMES BUCHANAN.
rise Hon. Asa Packer, Hon. Owen Jones, He
"a John Cadwalader, Samuel Z. S. Smith,
,s R. Fox, Andrew C. Craig, Esq :, and He
or Hester Clymer, with many Others.