Year: 1868

political heresy which was then endangerIuQ the
,nlegrty Of sne Union danger which they further
and treason or by his hesitancy and imbecility.


Glad. doubtless TO retire from the turmoils and
vexatiOns OF public life the ex-President returned
to his beautiful home at Wheatand, and there sought
repose after his long and ardu0us years of public
toll. gentleman OF high accomplishments and
profound erudition, and possessed OF q most amia-
BILE and interesting companion In the person of his
accomplished niece, his pursuits were OF q character
at once cOngenlal to his tastes and edifyinp to hs
mind. He never married, and the causes which led
10 his life OF bacheIoriood have never been fully ex-
planned. 1t was, however frequently asserted that
he was In early years disappointed In love- and in
the heat OF the Presidential campaign OF 1853 1t was
stated that this failure to obtain the object Of his
affections preyed so heavily upon his mind that
he attempted suicide Whether this statement
was correct or not has never been explained,
pears to be pretty well Authenticated While
occupying the White House, his niece Miss
Harriet Lane presided over the household, as indeed
she did az Wheatland. AS companion Mr.. Buchanan
was rather inclined TO be reserved and dgnifed, and


In this respect he was decided contrast TO his sue
cessor In Office. AS conversational, 1t has been
said that he was agreeable and entertaining to
his personal friends, but to casual acquantances the
same cannot be averred. Indeed, on all occasions
OF his holding levees his remarks to those who were
introduced were remarkably few and always the
same. 'Eave you been long in Washington Have
you the Smithsonian lnstuteT T' were his inva-
riable salutations, often repeated that they be-
came q standing JOKE And this reserve caused him
to regard with seriousness all that was said to MIN,
no matter how papable was the humOr. Soon after
the failure OF John Browns attempt at insurrecu0n
and his capture at Harpers Ferry gentleman called
al the White House and sent up card, on which was
written "COlOnel James Patton, patentee OF Pat0ns
sebalancing sash raiser and lock combined; Post Of


flee box 66l Troy ~ w. residence, 80 Seventh street,
Troy, N. Y" This individual was admitted, and
upon being presented to the President informed him
Of a plot organized in Troy for the rescue OF John
q clever ruse of a sharp man to have his business
extensively and prominently advertised free Of COST
crOss-questioned his informant and afterwards sent
q serious letter to Governor Wise, of Virginia.
bodylng the Information given. Upon his communi-
cation being made public it created much merrment
among the newspaper organs Of all political parties
and was the occasion OF numerous jokes at the eX-
pense OF the author. Still 1t natural with
Of his frame Of mind to accept such emanatons with
gravity Seldom never fndulging in levity him.
self, he could not conceive 1t In Others. But not
he was most charitable and hospitable gentleman,
and no visitor to Wheatand ever failed to receive
cordial welcome and to be treated with the kindest
hospitality.


Except on one or two occasions, when defending
himself from the numero Gus assaults OF his political
opponents, Mr.. Buchanan never made any public ap.
pearance after the close OF his Presidential term The
''Old Public Functonary," as he was dubbed from
the number Of offices he held had ceased to Interest
the public mind and had probably ceased to interest
himself in the welfare Of the public. UnqpestiOnably


man Of eminent talents, he rose up by his own ex-
ertions to I'LL the highest office in tine gift OF the
American people, and In leaving it left behind all the
popularity which had gained for him so pre-ennent
station. Butnow that he is dead now that all that
was earthly OF him has passed away, charity would
ask fOrgetfuneSs Of any errors he might have made
and would invoke remembrance alone for all the
good he may have done for his country.