Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-03-27
Character Of Buchanan.
THK INFLrF>CEs THAT CONTROLLED rItr
kN.PRK>iDFNT

From Jsmc- g.. Hialnc'. furthromln. IIi.,sr,
In ma ANALYSIS and true estimate 81
Mr.. Buohanan's conduc, in thr fir., .,ay,,
n The revolt. the condition Of the popular
mind a. Jns; described must Dc taken .nto
account. III. same influence. ana .x,.r,,
tinns that wrought upon the people we're
working also upon him. There were in
deed. two Mr.. BuchaHans IN the closing
months Of the administration. The frs,
Mr.. Buchanan Of November and D,c.mher
ansered by The decision Of the presidential
election and more than wiling thar IN.
Npt'h' including h!s own state. should be
disciplined by fright 10 more conscr,4tiy.
'lt". and % iricter ubserN auce 0f uha, he
conHdrred solemn obligations imposed IL
the constitution. II The southern ,hrea, of
resistance u the authority of the Union had
gone no FATHER Than this. MIR buchanan
would have been IealII, recouciled t. It's
temporary violence, and would probably have.
considered 4 a national blessing in d,s-
gnise Ihr second vas Mr. Buchanan of
January and Fet5Ty b, The reau-
II. Nl luctne evils ~hich had obviou>I,
iy,.- stI his official declarations. hoping
esrnestl, for the safety of the Union, and
YET more dI,lurb.a and narrowed IN has
mind than the mass Of loyal people who did
not stand 50 near the danger A. he, or 50
accuratel, measure i,s alarming growth
The President o: December. with Cobb anu
FLOYD and Thompson ii his cabinet, ana
the President of JanuaN With DIX and
stanton and Holt fur hi. councillors. we're
radically different men. No true estimate
Of Nr. Buchanan in the crisis Of hi. public
-. fs..l xt.ai H.
tinct.on he overlooked.
It va, Nj Buchausns misfortune 20 be
called to act IA an emergenc, which de-
m7ndcd vii. fortitude and mora. courage
HI these Quall,ic, he deficient. lie dlI
not possess the executive faculty HIs Aie
had been principally devoted % the practice
Of iaw in the mos, peaceful oi communities,
and 20 service IN Legislative bodies where he
wa, borne along by the fore. of association.
/ He had not been trained TO prompt decision,
had not been accustomed 10 exercise COM
manG He was cautious and conservative 10
the pom, Of timidity. lie possessed ability
I OF high order. and. though he thought
I SLOWLY, he could master the most difficult
subject With comprehensive power. His
I service of 10 Years IN the Honse, and an
/ -qual period in the Senate, was marked by
I CONSCIENTIOUS devotion 10 duty. lie did
/ not rank with the ablest members OF either
/ body, bu, always bore prominen, par, in
| important discussions and maintained him.
/ self With credit.
II va. said Of Mr. Buchanan that he ill.,
stinctyey dreaded 70 assume responsibility
or an, kind His keenes, critic remarked
that. in the tentative period Of political is
sues assumed by his party. Mr.. Buchanan
could ALWAYS be found two PAGES 10 the
rear, but in the hour Of triumph he marched
proudly in the front rank. tie was no
gifted with independence or set-assertion
His bearing toward southern statesmen wa
derogatory to him as man Of spirit Hi
tone toward administrations Of his own par
ty was so deterential as almost TO imply {
lack Of sef.respect. Tie was not a leader
among men. He was aways led. He wa
led By Mason and Soulr into the lmprudenct
of signing the Osiend manifesto he was lee
bv the southern members OF his cabinet int
the inexplcable folly and blunder of in
dorsng the Lecompton iniquity he was leC
b, disunion senators into the depiorabl,
mistake contained in his last annual mes
sage Fortunately for him he was led
month later by Black and Holt and Stanton
to a radical change Of his compromlsin.
position.
If Mr. Buchanan had possessed the un
conquerabIe will of Jackson or the stub
born courage of Taylor, he could hav'
changed the history of the revolt again,
the Union. A great opportunity came L
!, him but be was not equal TO it. Always al
admirable adviser where prudence and eau
tion we're the virtues required, he was fatal
IL.
prompt action and strong nerve. As rep
Iesentatiye in Congress, as senator, as min
lister abroad. as secretary of state. his caree
. was honorable and successful. His life wa
singulsrly free from personal fault or short
, coming. He was honest and pure minded
His fame would have been more enyiable
! he had never been elevated 10 the pres
I dency.
Gen. Cass was the first of the cabinet I
: feel the pressure of loyalty from the Nortl
9 The venerable secretary Of state. who's
/. whole life had been one Of patriotic devotio
I to his country, suddenly realized that h
: was in q false position. When il becam
r known that the President would not insi
!, upon the collection of the national reyenu
!. in South Carolina, or upon the strengthen
{ ing Of the United States forts in the harbC
e Of Charleston, Gen. Cass concluded thi
. Justice to his own reputation required hi
! to separate from the administration. II
= resigned on Dec. 12-nine DAYS after NJ
e Buchanan had sent his fatal message
e Congress. Judge Black, who had from Il
It beginning of the administration been NJ
e Buchanan's chief adviser, now became so
n rank, as the successor of Gen. Cass in Il
3 state department. He was man Of r
!, markable character. He was endowed
Al nature with strong understanding and
" strong will. In the profession of the la
It he had attained great eminence. His lear
ID ing had been illustrated by a prolonged Sc