Arrival of Ex-President Buchanan at home
--His Reception.--Ex-President Buchanan left Baltimore Wednesday, escorted to the depot by the City Guard, and arrived at Lancaster, Pa., that afternoon. The arrival of the train was greeted with a salute of thirty-four guns and the ringing of bells. The Mayor, City Councils, military, firemen, and a large concourse of citizens, welcomed the ex-President. To an address of welcome by the Mayor, Mr. Buchanan replied as follows:My old neighbors, friends, and fellow-citizens — I have not language to express the feelings which swell in my heart on this occasion; but I do most cordially thank you for this demonstration of your personal kindness to an old man who comes back to you, ere long to lay his bones at rest with your fathers. And here let me say, that having visited almost every clime under the sun, my heart has ever turned to Lancaster as the spot where I would wish to live, and die, and be buried. When yet a young man in far remote Russia, my heart was still with your fathers, my friends and neighbors, in good old Lancaster. [Applause.] And although I have always been true to you, I have not been half so true to you as you have been to me. Your fathers took me up when a young man, and fostered and cherished me through many long years. All these have passed away, and I stand before you today as a man living in a second generation.--[A voice--‘ "I saw you mount your horse when you marched to Baltimore, in 1812. ".’]
I feel with all my heart, though in the midst of posterity, that these sons are manifesting the same kindness which their fathers would have done had they lived to this day. Generations of martial men rise and sink and are forgotten, but the kindness of the past generation to me, now so conspicuous in their sons, can never be forgotten. I come home, fellow citizen, to pass the remainder of my days among you as a good citizen, a faithful friend, a benefactor of the widows and the fatherless. [Loud applause.] All political aspirations have departed. All that I have done during a somewhat protracted life has passed into history, and if I have done aught to offend a single citizen, I now sincerely ask his pardon.
May God grant that this Union and Constitution may be perpetual. [Applause.] I close by repeating the sentiment dear to my heart: God grant that the Constitution and the Union may be perpetual, and continue a shield of protection to ourselves and our children forever. Mr. Buchanan retired amid enthusiastic applause. He then resumed his place in the carriage, and was escorted to Wheatland.
