Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-02
Ex.President Ruchanan-COmp
Inentary Dinner Declined.

A large number of prominent citizanS of
Pennsy lvania recently rendered eX-Presi-
dent Buchanan public dinner, as an ''ex-
preston of their continued respect and adj
miration." TO this proffered honor Mr..
Buchanan made,th following response:
WHEATLAND, March %, 1867.
Gentlemen IL have received, with CRATE
ful emotions, your very kind invitation to
public 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 pleasant memories of long past
years. .r. ....-,s>. ..,...-cs
l deny myself this qualification, only in
Difference to what l consider the wise eX-
ample of my Democratic predecessors i'm
the office of President. After having ad-
ministered the most exalted office which
the country could bestow, they deemed it
eXpedient to remain in the retirement of
l,private life, and whilst holding their own
opinions on the political questions of the
day, they left the public discussion of them
TO gentlemen, like yourselves, still on the
busy theater of active life.
If any other, reason were required for nv
self-denial OH this occasion, might refer
you to my advanced age, of which you re-
mind me, by stating that am now the last
survivor of American statesmen of the
olden time, the only living cotemporary
OF Webster and Clay, and Benton and Cal
hOun." In passing, permit me to say, YOU
might have justly added to these distin-
guished names that of Silas Wright. He
was a statesman who, for sound practical
wisdom, for far-seeing sagacity, and for
lucid and convincing argument, had no
superior in the Senate, even at the period
when it was the greatest deliberative body
in the. world. You have my cordial thanks
for your opinion . that no responsibility for
the years of blood and sorrow we have en-
dured rests on me, who tried, in a moment
of terrible exigency, to do my duty under
the Constitution" Proceeding, as this
does, from large number of my fellow
citizens, equal in intelligence, character and
patriotism to any similar number of gem
tlemen in the State, may L not. with much
confidence, indulge the hope that you but
anticipate the general sentiment of future
times? -s-r. - ,-.is. .,fs-. ..- Shire.
Under this impression, and always firmly
relying on Divine Providence, [ have borne
with tranquil and cOntented spirit all the
! harsh criticisms which have been published
on my 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 coun-
sci, OF consolation, and, if possible, ofhope -
Consistently with my self-imposed reti-
cence, may say to you: Adhere steadily
to the Constitution of your country exert
all your power and influence in dissemin-
ating and enforcing its general principles,
BY means of the press, public speeches, pri-
! vate conversations, anu in every other hon
orable manner, and employ the same un-
firing energy in exposing and condemn
ing every departure from its precepts.
Never despair, for the time will surely
come when these shall triumph and con-
troll the administration of the Government.
With sentiments of grateful respect, |
remain your much Obliged friend,
/ saf.f -rr JAMES BUCHANAN
Hon. Asa Packer, Hon. Owen Jones,
Hon. John Cadwalader, Samuel r. S. Smith,
G; r Fox, Andrew G.. Craig, Esqs,, and
Hon. Hester Clymer, with many others.