The New York herald., 1868-06-02
Q BIT u A r Y.
James Buchanan, Ex-Pres!dent of the United
states.

EX-treSs0euI U
States.
James Buchanan, the fifteenth President OF the
Unted States expired at his residence at Wheatand,
near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at hsifpast eight
O'Clock yesterday morning, aged seventy-seven
years. one month and twenty days. Thus after four
four weeks OF Illness has passed away a man
whose position in life at one period equaed that OF
any monarch, and whose career during the last
months Of his administration forms a great part Of
the history of the United States in their most dan
gerous, exciting and interesting epoch
James Buchanan was born on the 10Th Of Apsil,
1871, in Franklin county. Pennsylvania, at a
locality then called Stony Batter. His father whose
name he bore, an Irishman by birth, and farmer
by occupation, emigrated to this country In 1888
and settled in Pennsylvania, where he pursued his
calling. His mother was Elizabeth Spear, the
daughter OF respectable farmer residing In Adams
county. BY dint Of hard and cOmmendable industry
the father acquired competency, and was enabled
to procure for the subject Of this sketch
o classical educatlons Mr.. Buchanan was
accordingly sent to Dickinson College, in Carlisle
whence. in 1sOo he graduated with distinguished
honor. During the latter portion Of the same year
he entered the Office Of James Hopkins, Of Lancaster
and commenced the study Of law, and ON November
IT, 1872 being then but few months past his twenty
first year, was admitted to the bar His career as
lawyer was rapid and successful. and placed him on
an equality with the distinguished men OF the day.
The success won IN his profession made him popular
among the people, and In 1915 he first appeared In
the political arena member OF the federal party.
He was elected o member of the State Legislature
during the same year by majority Of $40 votes over
M. G. Rogers, the democratic candidate, and on the
close Of the term was reelected by an increased
majority. As the position embarrassed his profess
tI,i-
election and devoted his time entirely to law. His
practice had become very large, and the skill and
ability with which he conducted all cases entrusted
to his care soon made him one Of the most popular
and best known lawyers in Pennsylvania.
In 1920 Mr.. Buchanan was elected to Congress from
the Lancaster district, the represented by
Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens. Four successive times he
was returned by the federal party, and during the
eight years of such representation distinguished him.
self by his oratorica powers The political excite
men In relation to the constitutionaty of the United
States Bank which eliminated in 1927 resulted
in his leaving the federal party and forming ALL
ance with the democracy. For this change OF senti-
ment he was fercely assaed by his former political
associates, and every effort was made to defeat him
ma mated By the de democrats. @ Mr.. Buchanan canvassed
the district for himself and the State OF Pennsylvania
for General Jackson, thoroughly and the result of bis
efforts was reelection by alarger majority than he
had ever before obtained and the success OF the
Jackson Presidential ticket by a majority of 10000.
During his last term in Congress Mr.. Buchanan, on
the part Of the prosecution closed the celebrated
impeachment of Judge Peck, Of Missouri, before
the United States Senate, and although the Senate.
by vote Of % to 81 refused to bring In verdict of
guilty, the remarks Of the deceased created a pro-
found impression, and had much to do with the sub
sequenJ revision Of the law by which repetition OF
the offence committed by the Judge was efectuaily
prevented.
On the close of his Congressional term in 1881 Mr.
Buchanan declined reelection, and about the same
time retired from professional practice. Perhaps no
other lawyer in the country ever succeeded In
making competency sufficiently large to retire upon
In the comparatively short space Of time that he
did Upon only one subsequent occasion was he
ever ndaced TO reappear at he par and tnat was
was involved. He voluntarily offered his SER
vices in the case, and, although it was surrounded
tualy succeeded in proving the Widows title
For few months Mr.. Buchanan remained in re-
tement when IN re return nd aor tne M and
tion General Jackson rendered to him, unsolicited,
the mission to st. Petersburg The offer was sac. ac-
able services to the country by negotiating the first
commercial treaty between Russia and the United
States which secured to commerce the ports of the
Baltic and Black The importance Of this treaty
recognized at the time and may be said to have
been the first movement towards that friendship and
cordiality which exist at the present day between
the two countries in question. In 1888 Mr. Buchanan
elected to the United States Senate by the Leg
isature Of Pennsylvania. During his absence
the great rupture between General Jackson
ton of the Cabinet Sectional animosity had
showed itself In most threatening manner, and even
threatened the most determined resistance to his
wishes. The result was an almost general removal
from office; and an attempt was made by Mr.
Clay to pass q bill preventing the President
from removing any person from office with
out the advice and consent OF the Senate. The oppo.
sition OF Mr.. Buchanan to this was decided
and vigorous. He insisted upon the right Of the
Executive to remove and appoint officers II he
thought t and pTope AND charged the 90
animosity to General Jackson That the bill failed to
become law was, perhaps, due more to his efforts
than to those OF any other Senator.
In 1885 the anti-slavery agitation assumed proper
tions which threatened the result 1t afterwards
brought about. Although the number Of abolition
Isis then in the country was quite Insignificant the
persistency with which anti-savery views were
promulgated and taught alarmed the south
and created much uneasness among prescient
statesmen Of the North Petitions were sent to Con.
gress for the abolition OF slavery In the District OF
the North and ciandestiney circulated in the SOUTH
and English emissares were sent TO tins country for
the ayowed purpose OF agsasng the . question od
were incpient and Insignificant Mr.. Buchanan per-
ceived that the movement would eventually become
was promptly and thoroughly stined. He therefore
favored the respectful reception OF all abolition ma-
% aea the% with the that
gress had constitutional powers to legtsate on the
sutjcct In an able speech which he made during
the consideration Of these abolition petitions Mr..
Buchanan said:"I repeat that Intended to make rs
strong a motion In this case the circumstances
would Justify. II is necessary that we should every
constitutional effort to suppress the agitation which
now disturbs the land: This Is necessary as much
for the happiness and future prospects Of the slave
as the security OF the MASTER Before this storm
began to rage the laws in regard to slaves had been
really ameliorated by the slavehoding States they
enj0yed many privileges which were unknown In
former times In some Of the slave States prospec.
tive and gradual emancipation was publicly and
seriously discussed. But now, thanks TO the abot
tionsts the slaves have been deprived OF these priv
eges and while the integrity OF the Union is endan
rered their prospect Of dna emancipation Is delayed
to an indefinite period To leave this question where
the constitution has left It, to the saveholding States
themselves is equally dictated by humane regart
for the slaves for their masters" The Speech o
which the foregoing Is an extract was able and Wig
| crous throughout and produced a decided impres
sion on all present. At the time Il was delivered hi
views were greatly opposed by Daniel webster, bu
subsequently the Senator from Massachusetts coin
Cided with them, as in his great speech delivere,
March Z, $780, Mr.. Webster uttered almost the sam
! words.
I During the struggle between Texas and Mexico
| Mr.. Buchanan gave his entire sympathy and suppor