The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-06-10
THE FIFTEENTH pREsIDENT.

| We announce this morning the death
ofa distinguished citizen and ma
tive Of Pennsylvania-JAMEs BU-
cHANAN, who was the XVth Presi-
dent of the United States, born in
franklin county, April 22d, 1871,
died June 1st, at his residence near
Lancaster. He had been for some
months an invalid, but, latterly, hoped
that he might regain as much health
as is naturally permitted to seventy
seven years of age. These hopes were
not realized he experienced re-
lapse, sank rapidly and passed away
at an early hour yesterday morning,
retaining conciousness to almost his la
test moments.
| The deceased was during long
and conspicuous career actively and
inhuentially identified with the polit-
ical events and thepublic interests of
his State and of the nation. Called to
the bar in his 22d year; he speedily
acquired reputation, and in his 24th
year entered upon public life as a
member of the State Legislature. In
1920 he was chosena representative in
Congress, remaining therein ten years.
lnlS31 he was sent by President Jack
son as Minister TO Rus ia, and,negotia-
ted an important commercial treaty;
with that power. In 1888, returning
home, he was elected to the United
States Senate, serving twelve years.
In 1915 he became Secretary of State
under Mr.. Polk, and negotiated a set
Element of the Oregon boundary ques-
tion, having aided in its consummation
by the advice of the Senate. Retiring
from the Cabinet in 1S49 he remained
in private life until appointed by Presi-
dent Pierce in 1868 Minister to Eng
land, in which capacity his participa-
tion in the celebrated Ostend Confer
ence meeting of our Ministers at Eu-
ropcan Courts to discuss the propriety
OF the proposed acquisition of Cuba,
was the most prominent event of r.
his mission. Returning home in
1856, he was selected as the Democrats
ic candidate for the Presidency. His
election, the four years of his admin
istmtion and his retirement at its end
from public life, are matters familiar
ly in the memory of our readers. y
"A Federalist in the outset of his po-
litical career, he became Democrat
OF the strictest sect, and lived long
enough to witness the complete final
triumph of the Federalism which ho
had labored for fifty years to over
throw. More consistent in other re-
spects, he survived to behold the abso-
lutte and perpetual extinguishment Of
the institution of slavery which he
had from the earliest years defended
as an essential element in our political
privileges enjoyed by the Southern
States, and as uniformly, and with
even more ability and zeal, an oppo-
nent ofthe Northern agitation of the
high question of Liberty for all men,
nc looked out from the retirement of
age to behold the scctionalism which
he had denounced at the North, array
ing itself at the South in arms against
the Union, and at last conquered into
obedience, its special privileges oblit-
Grated, and that Northern agitation.
which he had dcplored ripening into
5he Constitutional mastery ofthe des-
sinies of the Republic. Entering up
IN the Chief Magistracy in 1857, atso
period of more than ordinary political
'epose-Kansas furnishing the only,
,cxed questions of our politics-le
ound the country quiet, prosperous
md as firmly united as the essential
contradictions then embodied in its
Constitution could admit. He retired
it the end of four years after froma4
,reat trust which he had 30 adminis-
cred as to bring the Republic to the
Utmost verge of fatal ruin. As
politician and statesman he had, in all
Ter public career, aimed at the pacif-
'ation of sectional questions in our do
nestle politics, and he lived to witness
lnder his own Executive administra-
ion, the inevitable elimination of that
'olicy which he had denounced, in the
most sanguinary and critical rebellion
;ver known to civilized people. And
he pacifcation which he had desired
anne at last, not as the fruits of his p,
'olicy, but in spite oft, the naturally
natured and victorious issue of the
ioD-given instincts of a free people.
Charged by his country with foreign
rust, he was moderately successful,
nd a fortunate diplomist rather than
s sagreat statesman. With the brief :.
intervals of such employments abroad
lis career of nearly fifty years in our,
omestic politics, however, it may have
ecmed at times to be marked by tenn
orary partizan triumphs, will be re-
orded in the history of the Republic
s "a career of mistakes, and Of fail
res, crowned finally by the most fatal
roof of his incapability to compre-
end and be faithful to the dominant
pirit ofour constitutions. How fatal
hose proofs were near to beeowing,
OF only to his reputation as Chief,
Iagistrate, but to the national honor,
!, the life Of the Union, to the CON-
nued existence Of the Republic ITSELF
-e do not deem it needful to- specifvJ