The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-07-03
The Charge of federalism Against
MIR. Buchanan-His Letter Of


The Charge of federalism Against
Mr.. Buchanan-His Letter Of
IS47.
We notice that quite a number Of the
Black Republican papers are engaged in
publishing the Fourth ofJuly Grafton deliv-
cred by Mr.. Buchanan at Lancaster, Penn,
more than forty years ago, in which he in
culcated Federal sentiments. They are
driven to this necessity from the fact that,
since that time, there is nothing in his po-
litical record that is assailable, or that in
the least conflicts with the Democratic
creed. Hardly one of our public men has
served the country so long and has SO few
salient points as Mr.. Buchanan. When the
Lancaster oration was delivered he was bu'
twcnty-three years of age, and his Feder-
alsm then may we'll be pardOned as one of
the indiscretions of youth. For more than
two generations, and ever since he arrived
at early manhood, he has been active in and
devoted to the Democratic cause. This
charge of Federalism, in connection with
the Lancaster grafton, is pretty well put to
rest by the following letter, written by Mr..
Buchanan in lS47, to the Hon. G. w. Jon es
of Tennessee. We give it below.-Er.
WASHINGTON, April %, ls47.
Mv Dear Sir: | have this moment re-
ceived your letter o: the 18th instant, and
hasten to return an answer.
In one respect, have been fortunate as
public man. My political enemies are
obliged to go back for more than thirty
years to find plausible charges against me +.
In 1914, when very young man, (being
this day fifty-six years of age) l made my
first speech before meeting Of my fellow
citizens OF Lancaster. The object of this
speech was to urge upon them the duty of
volunteering their services in defense of
their invaded country. A volunteer compa-
ny was raised upon the spot, in which | was
the first, Ibelieve, to enter my name as pri-
vate. We forthwith proceeded to Baltimore
and served until we were honorably dis.
charged.
In October, 1914, was elected a men,
Der Of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and in
that body gave my support to every measure
calculated, in my opinion, to aid the coun-
try against the common enemy.
In 1915, after peace had been concluded,
| did express opinions in relation to the
causes aud conduct of the war, which | very
soon after regretted and recalled. Since
that period have been ten years member
of the House of Representatives and an
equal time of the Senate, acting part on
OF nru nront nuosfion NV noliticnl pnpmips =
finding nothing assailabe throughout this
long public career, now resort back to NY
youthful years for expressions to injnre my
political character. he brave and gener-
GUS citizens of Tennessee, to whatever po.
litical party they may belong, will agree
that this is hard measure of justice |;
and it is still harder that, for this reason,
they should condemn the President for hav-
ing voluntarily offered me a seat in his Cab
met.
| never deemed it proper, at my period OF
life, while my country was actually engaged
in war with foreign enemy, to utter sen.
timent which could interfere with its sue
cessful prosecution. While the war was
raging, should have deemed it little better
than moral treason to paralyze the arm OF
the Government while dealing blows against
the enemy. After peace was conc cluded,
the case was then diferent My enemies
cannot point to an expression uttered by me,
during the continuance Of the war, which
was not favorable to its vigorous prosecu-
ton.
From your friend, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Hon. GEORGE w. JONES.