From James Buchanan Henry, Esq., nephew of the President, and for some time his private secretary, and from Miss Buchanan, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Buchanan, I have received interesting contributions, which have found their place in my work.
Next to these, the immediate relatives of President Buchanan, I am indebted to the Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, Attorney-General and afterwards Secretary of State during Mr. Buchanan’s Presidency, for important information. I am under like obligations to Brinton Coxe and Joseph B. Baker, Esqs., of Philadelphia, friends of the late President.
And finally, from my own valued friend of many years, Samuel L. M. Barlow, Esq., of New York, I have received two very interesting contributions, which are quoted and credited in their appropriate places. I am also under a similar obligation to W. U. Hensel, Esq., of Lancaster, and to George Plumer Smith, Esq., of Philadelphia. Nor should I omit to mention the name of Hiram B. Swarr, Esq., co-executor with Dr. Buchanan, and the confidential lawyer of the late President, at Lancaster, as one who has very materially aided my researches.
New York, May 1, 1883.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| 1791–1820. | |
| PAGE | |
| Birth and Parentage—Early Education and College Life—Study of the Law—Admission to the Bar—Settles in Lancaster—A Volunteer in the War of 1812—Enters the Legislature of Pennsylvania—Early Distinction—Professional Income—Retires from Public Life—Disappointment in Love—Re-enters Public Life—Elected to Congress | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| 1820–1824. | |
| Monroe’s Administration—Eminent Men in Congress—Notices of William Lowndes and John Randolph of Roanoke—John Sargeant—Buchanan becomes a leading Debater—Bankrupt Bill—Cumberland Road—The Tariff | [23] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| 1824–1825. | |
| Election of John Quincy Adams—The “Bargain and Corruption”—Unfounded Charge—General Jackson’s erroneous Impression—His Correspondence with Mr. Buchanan | [38] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| 1825–1826. | |
| Bitter Opposition to the Administration of John Quincy Adams—Bill for the Relief of the Revolutionary Officers—The Panama Mission—Incidental Reference to Slavery | [57] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| 1827–1829. | |
| Great Increase of General Jackson’s Popularity—“Retrenchment” made a Political Cry—Debate on the Tariff—Buchanan on Internal Improvements—The Interests of Navigation—The Cumberland Road again Discussed—Ineligibility of a President | [70] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| 1829–1831. | |
| The first Election of General Jackson—Buchanan again elected to the House of Representatives—He becomes Chairman of the Judiciary Committee—Impeachment of Judge Peck—Buchanan defeats a Repeal of the 25th Section of the Judiciary Act—Proposed in Pennsylvania as a Candidate for the Vice-Presidency—Wishes to retire from Public Life—Fitness for great Success at the Bar | [94] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| 1831–1833. | |
| John Randolph of Roanoke made Minister to Russia—Failure of Mr. Randolph’s Health—The Mission offered to Mr. Buchanan—His Mother’s Opposition to his Acceptance—Embarks at New York and arrives at Liverpool—Letters from England—Journey to St. Petersburg—Correspondence with Friends at Home | [128] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| 1832–1833. | |
| Negotiation of Treaties—Count Nesselrode—His characteristic Management of opposing Colleagues—The Emperor Nicholas—His sudden Announcement of his Consent to a Commercial Treaty—Why no Treaty concerning Maritime Rights was made—Complaints about the American Press—Baron Sacken’s imprudent Note—Buchanan skillfully exonerates his Government—Sensitiveness of the Emperor on the subject of Poland | [161] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| 1832–1833. | |
| General Jackson’s second Election—Grave public Events at Home reflected in Mr. Buchanan’s Letters from his Friends—Feelings of General Jackson towards the “Nullifiers”—Movements in Pennsylvania for electing Mr. Buchanan to the Senate of the United States—He makes a Journey to Moscow—Return to St. Petersburg—Death of his Mother—Singular Interview with the Emperor Nicholas at his Audience of Leave | [183] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| 1833. | |
| Departure from St. Petersburg—Journey to Paris—Princess Lieven—Pozzo di Borgo—Duc de Broglie—General Lafayette—Louis Philippe—Arrival in London—Dinners at Prince Lieven’s and Lord Palmerston’s—Prince Talleyrand | [217] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| 1833–1836. | |
| Mr. Buchanan returns Home—Greeting from General Jackson—Elected to the Senate of the United States—State of Parties—The great Whig Leaders in the Senate—Peril of a War with France | [227] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| 1835–1837. | |
| Removal of Executive Officers—Benton’s “Expunging” Resolution | [281] |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| 1836. | |
| First Introduction of the Subject of Slavery in the Senate, during the Administration of Jackson—Petitions for its Abolition in the District of Columbia—The Right of Petition vindicated by Buchanan—Incendiary Publications—Admission of Michigan into the Union—Statuary for the Capitol—Affairs of Texas | [315] |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| 1837–1840. | |
| Bill to prevent the Interference of Federal Officers with Elections—Devotion of the Followers of Jackson—The Whig Party less compact in consequence of the Rivalry between Mr. Clay and Mr. Webster—Retrospective Review of the Bank Question—The Specie Circular—Great Financial Disasters | [378] |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| 1837–1841. | |
| Mr. Van Buren’s Presidency—The Financial Troubles accumulating—Remedy of the Independent Treasury—Buchanan on the Causes of Specie Suspension, and the Pennsylvania Bank of the United States—Great Political Revolution of 1840—Buchanan declines a Seat in Mr. Van Buren’s Cabinet | [418] |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| 1841–1842. | |
| Death of President Harrison—Breach between President Tyler and the Whigs—Tyler’s Vetoes—Buchanan’s Reply to Clay on the Veto Power—His Opposition to the Bankrupt Act of 1841 | [458] |
| CHAPTER XVII. | |
| 1843–1844. | |
| Buchanan elected to the Senate for a Third Term—Efforts of his Pennsylvania Friends to have him nominated for the Presidency—Motives of his Withdrawal from the Canvass—The Baltimore Democratic Convention of 1844 nominates Mr. Polk—The Old Story of “Bargain and Corruption”—Private Correspondence | [515] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| 1842–1849. | |
| Harriet Lane | [531] |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| 1844–1845. | |
| Annexation of Texas—Election of President Polk—The Department of State accepted by Mr. Buchanan | [543] |
| CHAPTER XX. | |
| 1845–1846. | |
| The Oregon Controversy—Danger of a War with England—Negotiation for a Settlement of a Boundary—Private Correspondence | [551] |
| CHAPTER XXI. | |
| 1845–1848. | |
| Origin of the War with Mexico—Efforts of Mr. Polk’s Administration to prevent it | [579] |
| CHAPTER XXII. | |
| 1848–1849. | |
| Central America—The Monroe Doctrine, and the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty | [619] |
LIFE OF JAMES BUCHANAN.
CHAPTER I.
1791–1820.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE—EARLY EDUCATION AND COLLEGE LIFE—STUDY OF THE LAW—ADMISSION TO THE BAR—SETTLES IN LANCASTER—A VOLUNTEER IN THE WAR OF 1812—ENTERS THE LEGISLATURE OF PENNSYLVANIA—EARLY DISTINCTION—PROFESSIONAL INCOME—RETIRES FROM PUBLIC LIFE—DISAPPOINTMENT IN LOVE—RE-ENTERS PUBLIC LIFE—ELECTED TO CONGRESS.
Autobiography, when it exists, usually furnishes the most interesting and reliable information of at least the early life of any man. Among the papers of Mr. Buchanan, there remains a fragment of an autobiography, without date, written however, it is supposed, many years before his death. This sketch, for it is only a sketch, ends with the year 1816, when he was at the age of twenty-five. I shall quote from it, in connection with the events of this part of his life, adding such further elucidations of its text as the other materials within my reach enable me to give.