New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-11
HORATIO KING.
FROM PosToFF1CE CLERK TO PosTMAS-
TER-GENERAL.
grill. LIVING. HALE AND HEARTY ~
,yGroN-THE MEMORIES OF AN EVfNlf'"
1jrE-oNcE TIE MOST ACTIVE OF
POLITICIANS. NOW ONLY
.r.ooKER-oN IN VIENNA"

.r0oKER-oN IN VIENNA
Nash!ngtoH March 70 (SpeciaP'T ~. ~
nm was os Us name indicates De'no' avn
gan, published n the Aiue low" y ,,a,,,,r
soroo sixtv-nye years ago 1.s promo'er'' iiai'''"
s 49,, ubo bore the historic names OF nan
rrh,, I'd rorato gained National repu'a''on'
49,, {, % n be questioned ~ In their subsequent
corAers they a. any time derived as much sa''si"'
III, o- As much fun, from any venture DIS from
This ,h.i, first one The paper was cononc'ed aite'
r,.b.r primitive manner. There was an editor-in-
chic, WHO received The magnificent salary OF
altar and a half week and an apprentice Inc
nr,,r,e,ors did the rest % the work themselves
The PAPER was naturally. with such young IN
,husiasts 10 dictate its policy. strongly parus'l'
M, they allowed their sense OF humor full pay
and sometimes printed waggish poetry ABOUT '"eii
,erow-townsmen. Both of the boys for they were
no, much more. learned the art Of printing ana 'he
future vioe-president became adept. that he fire.
ouen;ly set I'D his matter without Writing H.
The Jefersonian'' was grdufylngN successful
nut its revenues even for the modest wants Oh l'S
youthful managers were insuihcleht 10 suppo''
them both 1t came to a question OF buy or sell
and Mr. King bough: Mr. Hamln out becoming ~
this change proprietor, editor. foreman OF TIC N'
posing room ani printers devil - T.,
Win tho new responsibilities hts ambitions III,
creasad The little town of Paris was too ,,
for them, and he removed MS pi'h' ~ 49, 60 seIl
Here success rewarded him. ana ne "as a. ~ .oore
his manor A. d, most advantageous figure a ie"
later IN lSSS having closed mp MS o"' -,
=, >,,.l v, King came to Washington where
a. -. Ia, 6ftv-sx wears ne has been pToHiineH'
O., oo,,re notlcal social. philanthropic SUI" a. ~.
coming 10 the capital, he was appo'"'V" - -
c,.-ksbip in Postofffce department. t"o l't
~xda and MAS gradually promoted uhVl ne pe0"".7
90. ,-.,s,ar, Postmaster General in Piercv's Adj
ir,s,ra,jon He held this office through bucnan-
ans Administration until, in the latter part Oh IT,
no was promoted TO the PoStmas'er-neherais"'p
IIol, being transferred from the Posto'fce Depart
n,ent 10 the War Department. wnich had oeei 'ei'
v,,bou, a head by Floyds resignation Mr. King is
..o ,,,o,a instance Of 4 man who rose from clerk
% no a Canine; officer Of The same Department
Mr. Kings life has peculiar inieres; In that ne
has seen all the great changes that nave '"ne"
Mace during more than half century anu mas
lived In touch with the great men VINO nave ''aue
history He was himself one OF the actors IN the
excI,Inr scenes before the war days fresident
I,,,o,oran had the warmest friendship for him. as
hook ,,ll OF autograph letters. which Mr.. King
IA, preserved shows In times OF great distress 'he
President frequently called upon him for adVice'
o,d nrod,eA by his cool and unprejudiced Judg-
mon, This friendship does not date from the be-
c,ninr Of Buchanan's Administration Indeed, the
President seemed 20 have formed pre)u1iee
AGAINST his First Assistant Postmaster-Generai'
(Which \ personal knowledge OF the man iinaIly
overcame Mr.. King is simple. direct ana for'eiu',
and IL is probable that these qualities preVehted
him from losing His official head at the beginning
OF "Old Bucks term when Inc io"o"He e'''"
RAISING nciden; occurred:
core enthusiastic abotionists in Connecticut at
the suggestion of a friend and sympathizer in Wash
.ngton sent an ardent abolitionisi protest 10 "'e
President under cover 10 Mr.. Kirg who was rep
resented as being trustworthy person to intrus'
with an important mission, begging MIN III per
sonal note 10 deliver II. Mr. King was on the very
60 .ha
reached him. In entire Ignorance OF its contents he
sent H. with the accompanying note. under MS
frank 10 the Presidents private secretary D.
buchanan Henry. Somehow. probably because ne
knew that Mr.. King had gone TO New-Engand ana
he saw the frank on the envelope the Presioeht
received the impression that his FIRST ASSISTANT
Pos,master-General responsible for Il; The
president was extremely Indignant and angry. Mr.
King was teiegraphed for on account OF the illness
Of the Postmaste General on arriving here ne
was Informed by his chief that there had been the
very devil to pay on account OF the aoolitionist
nrotest No explanation that Mr. King made
availed and It was not until he had a personal
,n,erview with Mr. buchanan. when. in sharp
1rav born of Indignation at the manner In which he
had been treated he gave his version OF the analr
that a.nity was established.
The letters of President Buchanan in Mr.. Kings
possession in clear and delicate handWritlns'
as fresh in appearance IL they had been recently
frs, OF the correspondence Is official subjects,
and one wonders to-day when personal notes on
business affairs are rare. that the PRESIDENT mao
time TO write and TO concern himself about matters
that are nowadays invariably intrusted TO clerk
The President writes to Mr.. King to come and see
him In the evening, II convenient. and makes sug-
sestons Of what he wants done at the Department
Later on the letters Of entirely personal
character After ne went out OF office he writes
freely about political affairs and continually urges
Mr. King 70 visit him at Wheatlands. 1t Is sug-
gestive fact that In nearly all the letters he con-
graduates himself that he is tranquil and at rest
He writes:
wheatland., near lancaster s
Ny Dear Sir: Ny late severe illness has heretofore
prevented me from acknowledging the receipt OF
your kind letter Of May last Rest assured that this
delay did not proceed from any wan; OF regard for
You or your family on the contrary I shall ever
cherish the most friendly feelings and ardent wishes
from you as often as may be convenient. and al
though recover my strength but slowly think
The future OF our country presents a dark cloud
through which my vision cannot penetrate
Then follow comments on National matters
should be most happy If you would call and
pay us a visit at Wheailands. You will receive
mos; hearty welcome especially Il you should be
my kndest regards to them. remain very respect
fully your friend. JAMES BUcHANAN.
Again he writes in September OF the same year:
My Dear Sir: am grarned to learn by your favor
yourself and Miss King: trust therefore that
* may be repeated. / need say that both
Miss Lane and myself Will be happy TO sec
you both again and give your cordial welcome.
In another letter he writes:
am now all alone, Miss Lane being in New
York, but. thank God. am tranquil and cOnented
and sound or nearly 50 n body and trust sound
in mind and ever true to my friend.
a picture OF "Old Buck" hangs over the rnan,e
OF Mr.. Kings drawing room. and in his library
there are many evidences OF his connection with
those times when the rebellion leaven was working
Nice-Preslden; Breckenridge was one Of Mr. Kings
ihamates and he speaks OF him with warnest af-
iec.'on' II was great grief and disappointment,
10 nun that Mr.. Breckenridge went with the Con
federacy. He had frequently discussed tho ,na,,er
LIZ