The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-06-26

Lancaster toirtNpondencc, Cincinnati Com
mercial.l
LANCASTER, June !, 1865
BUCHANAN AS A LAWYER.
THE President Judge of Lancaster
told, at the bar-meeting last Thursday,
this incident of Buchanan's shrcwtness
in cross-eXamination:
y man brought a charge against
another of threatening his life. Buchan-
an was retained for the defence. He
examined the plaintiff thus:
"Well, Mr.. Blank, suppose you were
a man of more nerve, Il man not easily
frightened by threatLput yourself in
the position of courageous man.
would you have cared for this threat of
my client ?"
81 am man." said the plaintiff, "of
rs much courage as any body, sir"
"Then you were not frightened when
my client threatened you?"
"No, sir"
"You are not afraid of him"
mo! am not"
"Well, then, what did you bring
this charge for?'
The justice dismissed the case.
Buchanan was not a man of decision
except in cases where he had fully eX-
amined himself. Thus, when he gave
up the law at the age Of forty, he was
never but once tempted back to it, and
then ON the earnest plea Oft widow. He
was frequently urged to come forward
again, but his mind was made up.
There are instances Of professional
charity on his part, though very few
Of pecuniary charity. He once cleared
man for homicide and refused fee
saying to the man.
500 you take this money and move
away; use it to begin life again. Stop
drinking and go to church, and that is
the best way you can pay me.
Tradition relates that the man came
back after period of years, repentant
and well-to-do, and thanked the old
lawyer.
As lawyer, Buchanan was noted
chiefly for the perspicuity of his state
ments. Like Lincoln, he presented a
case so that. .both,sides oft were exposed.
His voice was of fair strength, very de-
liberately enuncated, and pitched in a
peculiar tone, attended with blinking
of one eye as he drew fine sights OF
meaning. He had no personal collision
with opposite counsel, being too cold OF
temperament to sell his heart with his
talents. Nobody ever saw him cast
down; he was sometimes angry, but
put small value upon Vindictiveness
whatever personal despite or humilia
ton he felt was husbanded up in hi,
secret bachelor heart and no man shared
its pang. He laughed often, more We
hemently than heartily, and chiefly al
| his own relations of things past or per
| sons absent.
BUCHANAN's MODELS AND AVERsIoNs
Mr.. Swarr, his executor, says that h,
has often heard Mr.. Buchanan express
his admiration of Mr.. Henry Clay. Thi
was, Of course, after Mr.. Clay's decease
Said he:
"Ofall the men | ever knew, Mr.
Clay stood highest in magnanimity, il
conscious, positive superiority. He wa'
a splendid leader, largely endowed will
the graces, with eloquence, genius
heartiness, and soul"
His generic admirations were not cas-
aboutamong popular and represeutativ,
favorites, however. Mr.. Brown,
leading lawyer here, states that the ole
gentleman used to mention, with higl
respect, Silas Wright as his chief mod
el. So did he admire Nathaniel Macol
VIM. Lowndes, of South Carolina, Nh
Chestnut and Mr.. Pinckney. lie had
regard for the good that was in Presi
dent Taylor's intentions. His favorit
author among statesmen was Thoma
Jefferson, and he used to describe, wit
a single mixture OF amusement and rs
tonishment, the rough grained sagacit
of Andrew jackson. From the con
bined testimony of his visitors 1t AZ
pears that Buchanan's expression {
love for his State favorites was an il
tellectual measurement rather than
reverence or grateful reminiscenc
He stated to Mr.. Smith, editor of ii
famous old Democratic sheet. the I.al
easter lntelligencer, that Andrew JOIN