The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-02

| James Buchanan, fifteenth President of the
United States, whose death is announced in
our telegr9phic columns, was born in Frank
| lin county, Pennsylvania. in 1871. He was
| graduated with honor at Dickinson College,
| Carlisle, in 1909. In the same year he COM
menced the study of the law at Lancaster, and
was admitted to the bar in 1872. He early dis
| tnguished himself as lawyer. When only
% years of age he successfully defended, un-
aided by senior counsel, in the Pennsylvania
Senate, a distinguished Judge who was tried
upon articles of impeachment His practice
| was so large and lucrative that at the age of
| 40 he was able to retire from business.
Mr.. Buchanan early entered political life,
| becoming member of the Legislature of his
| native State at the age of %. In 1920 he en-
| tered Congress, and continued to represent his
district for ten years. In 1928 he was placed
at the head of the Judiciary Committee, which
position had previously been occupied by
Daniel Webster. In 1881, at the close of his
| fifth term he voluntarily withdrew from Con-
| gress, and was soon after sent by President
Jackson to st. Petersburg as Envoy Extraor-
binary and Minister Plenipotentiary. On his
return, in 1888, he was elected to the u. S.
0Sudle HIS CAREER Ill GUdC DOuY was marked
by immense activity in public affairs. Few
men of that time welded a greater influence,
and his name is inseparably identified with
many public measures of great importance
and not a few of great utility AS Secretary
of State III der Mr.. Polk he brought the north
western boundary question between England
and this country to a satisfactory settlement;
but was less fortunate in his measures for the
adjustment of our difficulties with Mexico
Mr.. Buchanan from the first watched with
alarm the progress of the anti-slavery agita-
ton, and bitterly opposed it. He regarded it
as a stigma on his native State that one of its
members of Congress should have set in mo-
ton the Wilmot provso; an while yet in the
Cabinet of Mr.. Polk he wrote his Harvest
Home letter" to his friends in Pennsylvania
advising the extension of the Missouri COM
promise line to the Pacific Ocean, but the
proposition when introduced into Congress
was voted down. Under Mr.. Pierces admin
istraton Mr.. Buchanan was Minister to Eng
land, and was one of those who met at Ostend
to attempt some settlement of the delicate ne
gotiations which had arisen with Spain. In
1856 he was elected to the Presidency, receiv-
ing ia electoral votes from nineteen States
The history of his Presidential career is too
fresh in the memory of all to make any refer
enee to it here necessary. Since the close of
his term he has lived in retirement, occupying
himself chiefly in literary labors. A work of
his published last year, and consisting of
history of political parties in the United
States, WIS noticed in these columns at the
time of its appearance.
MARsHALL's GRANT.-It has been for some
time known to the public that Mr.. William E.
Marshall, whose engraved portraits of Wash
ington and Lincoln have elected such univer-
sal admiration, was engaged upon a similar
portrait of General Grant. This work is now
completed, and the engraving is published by
Ticknor & Fields of Boston. In size and style
it is a companion to the Lincoln. CT its ex-
ecution it is scarcely possible to speak in terms
of too high praise. The challenge to "match
him" so boldly put forth at Chicago, may safe
ly be uttered in reference to this picture. 1t is
not merely matchless, but it is so incompara-
bly, superior to all the other portraits of Grant
that we know of none which can evel be
named as second to it.
The engraving is made from Mr.. Marshalrs
own painting, executed by him at the head
quarters of the General at Washington, where
he had every facility extended to him for thor
oughly studying his subject As portrait it
differs widely from any other representation of
the original now before the public, but the
likeness is eminently satisfactory to the fami-
ly and intimate friends of the General Mr..
Marshall's idea of what true portrait should
represent is embodied in the following extract
from letter of his to the publishers:
1t is a Characteristic of really great men,
that they impress by their personalities, vari-
GUS persons in very different ways; and it may
be said of General Grant that there as many
different ideas respecting his general appear
ance as there are various opinions respecting
him.
l have had the pleasure of studying him
well, not only from professional point of
view, but in ordinary intercourse; and within
the limits of my profession have endeavored
TO represent him as found him. 1t was my
privilege to know him and observe him, at a
..'ne when he was quietly performing many of
enose services which it has since become neces-
SAT shay ior MN publicly to avow; and felt in
Tue eAecuIon OF my undertaking that nothing
less was demanded of me- than 70 ronrasant
truly the features of his countenance and aft
the same etc give expression To those
traits of character which belong to the man
behind them.
Such has been the artists endeavor
and the result of his labors will greatly
assist in the forming of true concep-
ton of one to whom the country is turn
ing as to its future Chief Magistrate. As
work of art the picture is most admirable
Every line is drawn with rare firmness, truth
and delicacy, and the face stands out with