The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1868-06-13
Ex-President Buchanan.

We yesterday received the telegraphic
announcement of the death of Ex-Pres-
ident James Buchanan, at the ripe age of
seventy-seven years. Over forty years
OF his life was spent in tho service of his
country, having filled every position
within the gilt of the people, from the
humblest to the most exalted. Ofcourse
a prominent statesman like Mr.. Bucilan-
an, who has breasted the storm of polit-
ieal fury as one of the acknowledged
leaders of the great Democratic party,
has been at no period without hosts of
warm friends and of bitter enemies; but
with all the detraetion he has suffered,
growing out of the heat OF partisanslip,
all have accorded him the highest need
of praise for blameless private life, ir
radiated with all the virtues of u Chris
tian gentleman. No breath of slander
ever invaded the sanctity of his home,
and though many OF his public acts have
been harshly criticised, his worst calum-
matters never attributed them to other
than errors of Judgement
james Buchanan was born in Frank
lin county, Pennsylvania. April 18th, 1871,
was educated at Dickinson College,
where he graduated with honors in 1909,
and entered the practice af the law, at
which he was IL laboriols but successful
practitioner up to his fortietil year. When
he Was enabled, by the accumulation of
a handsome fortune, to abandon it tot:d-
ly for the duties of public life. When
only twenty three years of age, he had
been elected member of the Pennsyl-
vania Legislature, and when subsequent
ly the war with Great Britain broke out,
he entered the ranks for IL short cam
paign as private soldier. marching
from his native place TO the defence of
Congress, in which body he speedily
took prominent position. He was re-
elected to serve five successive terms,
during which his name became associa-
ted with many important public meas
ures OF the time. An ardent supporter
of Gen. Jackson for the Presidency, the
closest intimacy ever existed between
the two. After Jaekson's election, he
was sent in 1881 as Minister to St. Peters
burg, and concluded the first commercial
treaty between the United States and
Russia. Transferring the sphere of his
labors to the United States Senate, to
| which he was elected in 1888, he became
the staunch and steadfsst defender of
President jackson through the stormy
| debates upon, the national bank charter,
the tariff, and the expnnging resolutions.
Thereafter, during his long term OF SER
| vice in tile Senate, we find him closely
| connected with every prominent Demo-
cratic measure. He advocated the adj
mission of Texas and the independent
treasury; opposed the Ashburton Treaty
aud the French Indemnity, in all of
which he gained the respect and confi-
| dence of his feIloW-citizens. Upon the
accession OF Mr.. Polk, Mr.. Buchanan
assumed the office of Secretary OF State,
and at the close of his term retired TO
I private life in I5I9. President Pierce,
/ III 1853, prevailed upon him to accept
/ the mission to England at d time when
our affairs in that country were in a
critical condition. 1t was in the dis
charge of this mission that Mr.. BucIlan-
an called together the Osfend Confer
4 ence, which afterwards adjourned TO
! AK la Chapelle for tllepurpose of con-
stdering the purchase OF Cuba aud up
holding the Monroe doctrine. His course
i'm this lllatter was sharply criticised BY
I English statesmen, who regarded his
u
i'm 1856 with considerable alarm. Ii was
during his administration that the con-
II hIcting elements OF destruction III the
/ country began to take form and sub
stance, and just at its close eliminated
in open rebellion. with what attenaent
] horrors we are all too thoroughly aware.
4 MIR. Buchanan, actuated throughout the
stormy scenes with genuine love fol
tile Uiiion Uf his fOrefatIers, iiesitated to
rslsilly oppose the reeaicltrsInt people o1
the South with armed force, and was al
Ways hopeful of a peaceful solution OF
4 the ditficuiry. ~. ~
His disinclination to force affairs that
4 were already threatening an open fup-
I ture, was the subject of much aninlld.
4 version at the time; and it has even. In
\ d measure, blurred his clalms to patriot
ism among the more violent of his own
4 section. We are inclined, however, tc
I believe that, in time, President Buehan-
ans pacific course alter the secession oi
South Carolina, will yet be regarded as
his ciearest claim to excellent statesman
u ship. His Administration had not pro
4 duced the conflict. Had his suggestions
u made with all the sanction of the Execn,
1 tive office, been followed, there might
II have been peace. As it was, il WAS moi
to be expected that an American Presl
4 dent, at tile close of his term OF service
4 shonld rashly inaugnrate = policy thai
could only end In convnlsing the coun
Il try from centre to circumference
4 Mi. Lincoln's party had been respan
sibIe for the action taken by the Proyis
ional Congress OF Montgomery, Ala. I
I was but proper that the burden OF begin
/. ming d counter revolution should fall up
/. Oh him and them. This, unless we er
greatly, will be the Judgment which pos
farity, judging actually for itself, an,
unsWayed by partisan prejudIces, vii
pass upon this remarkable crisis j
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