The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-14
The "OId Public FunctiOnary" ON Old


We have received the following letter in the
regular course of mail from Philadelphia, pur-
porting to come from that "Old Public Func-
tioHary, james Buchanan, 'per j. D.":-
Herald Of August 10 came to me Just was leaving
Cape Island this morning. and hasten to reply 70
Fillmore say ar not 5 ne otd P6Hc M r. tctoa,Gy q
remark (Which / am inclined 70 dOqb@, he mas been
hss!aaS tRs ylsIESF always SS'sG WHISKY
ticuiar beverage 70 my friends always leaving the
Gc hS T 70 the place IN ta
hands Of the servant. and Leave him there am not
being. The insinuaton that have tried TO destroy
Of ihe Blair famiy ef the situation and Of what he
might have done Il he had been at the helm, for
'is SsspsCy RTSG II &c D.
We are inclined to believe this letter genuine.
First, because the accusation, as from ex-Presi-
dent Fillmore, is sufficiently provoking at the
fret glance to suggest the necessity of an
answer from 20. p. F." Secondly, because we
know that he was at Cape Island the other day.
Thirdly, because from cloud of witnesses the
truth of this letter in reference to Mr.. Buchan-
ans sideboard can be substantated. And lastly,
because, although good many dead men In
these latter days have come from Wheatland,
they were dead when they went there,
SO much for the letter. Now for the merits OF
the case. Mr. Buchanan says, ''If Mr. Fillmore
did make the remark (which am inclined to
0OuDt) NE mas Deen guilty. OF an 1mpertinenCe
beneath his bIeeding.n We think differently
on both these points. Mr. Fillmore, with our
correspondent in the premises, had been in
dulging In Widow clicquot,'n and when the
wine is In the wit is out" Under these
circumstances, and with the "sober second
thought the funny allusion of Mr.. Fillmore
70 the 80. P. F.n was not only perfectly
natural, but ought to be considered PERFECTLY
inoffensive. Next, it appears that while eX.
President Fillmores custom, in the case of a
friend is to sit down with him and partake of
fhe smiles of the Widow Clicquot, the "custom
AT Wheatland has been andis (and long may 1t
he u TO conduct the visitor to the sideboard
nIaee him in the hands of the servant, and leave
him there.n This was Old HickoTy's custom
and he was pronounced by Davy Crockett the
roIItest man he ever saw; for" said Davy,
iswhen he set out the old Bourbon before me
he turned his back on me, so as not TO see no
much would take" And yet MIR. Filmores
cnstom has its merits too. What Is the custom
of moor Pierce, the third OF our ex.Presidents
who "stIll live" we have yet 10 learn. We
know. however, that when called upon to
drink any peculiar water to which he Is not &C,
cnstomed, he likes "a little brandy In H. 10 XIII
the animalcule." ,, ,...
although living like philosophers, more or less,
In their retirement iron the cares OF PUBIC h
hfe are awfuly behindhand IN regard 10 the
Dolitical situation and the progress OF PUBIC
events. We have, therefore, TO Suggest !hae y
thew will appoint day for JOINT WISH 70
Washington Heights, or visit each ioI nIa niIa'
self they will not only be entertalneu accGlS .;aS
ing 10 custom which we guess VIII satLsf h,iS
them, but they will be posted up on puOhc