Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-06-30
Mr.. Buohanan's VIII.

We remember that Sir Robert Peel made
testamentary provision for justice to his
memory, and appointed, as what he termed
his literary executors, the present Earl Stan
hope. then Lord MahOu, and Mr. Edward
Cardwell. FIX President buchanan, it ap-
pears, has done something of the kind We
give the exact text of the codiciI in which
this provision is made. and which seems to
US very graceful and touching:
81 hereby direct my executors named in
my last will and testament to place all the
papers. correspondence, and private aud public
documents connected with my public life in
the hands of my friend, William B. Reed,
who having shown to me in my retirement
great kindness, and in whom have entire
confidence, to enable him to prepare such
biographical work as | desire. With this
view L direct my executors to pay to the order
of William 3. Reed such sans, in the aggre~
gate not exceeding one thousand dollars. as
may be necessary in his opinion to secure the
proper publication Of such biographical work,
and in case it or any part of it is not so used,
it shall go unto the remainder of my estate.
as some compensation for the work which
Mr. Reed has undertaken to perform, give
and bequeath 10 his wife, Mrs. Mary l. iced,
the sum Of five thousand dollars, which l
direct to be legacy for her separate use and
benefit, and in case OF her death, for her
children, said amount to be paid to her on the
completion of the work, Ia the event OF
her death before that, to her children"
Here is arecognition not only Of Nr. Reeds
intellectual fitness which, We imagine, even
his PhiladepA!a eneu&ies do not question, but
of something better and higher. HE is my
friend and has been kind and attentive to me
in my retirement" This is pure and graceful
praise. The hackneyed stanza, as old as the
days of Poultney and Sir Robert WaiPole,
comes back to our memory:
"Lct others court the rising sun.
bow to him whose race Is run )
and Mr.. Reed may well be proud of this
tribute, coming as it were from the grave, to
his dlsinterested fidelity. The visitors at
Whcatland during the last seven years of
gloom were truer and drawer and better men
than the crowds which infested &c when Mr..
Buchanan had honors and emOlnments to
bestow. We trust we do not violate the
sauctlty of private sorrow in saying that there
is something touching, too, III the fact that
the eX President, an aged man, survived the
accomplished lady, the wife of his Trend, t"
whom the bcquest made. II enures. we
presume, to the benefit of her young children.
And what a comment is this selection on
Tue tIduSiIOIS nature W biu ItStI'puCu I''''
ical asperitIeS and prcjudices in this country
of ours Mar. Buchanan, Il sraunch. per-
Sstent jackson Democrat, chooses rs his
literary executor and b"grapher an equally
consistent thorough going Henry Clay Wing.
for such Mr.. Reed cminently was. He never
left the Wings till they became .tsio de 50 in.
1854. This is as it should be. How narrow
after all, compared to the great gulf that sePa-
rated parties nova days, was the crcvice
which divided Democrats from Wings. Theirs
was common faith in the essentials Of the
Constitution. 1t is unnecessary for us to say
what our expectations are as to the execution
Of the work with which Mr.. Reed is iutgu>ted
1t is one which will REQUIRE tine and careful
elaboration, and be is too conscientious
OF letters, too Thoroughly trained in his
scrutiaIainS profession, t" DO his work hastily
specifically. The pr"pItiuus time for the
Appearance Of such publication will be (and
it is not very distaut) when the constitutional
party of the country of which Mr.. Buchanan
was once n leader, shall have resumed its
ascendancy. and the obscene birds which now
deie the ruins Of the Union shall be driven
out.-N y EOrid