The Nevada Democrat., 1856-08-27
From the HarisBurq LPa.l Reporter.

AARON V. DROWN.
From the Harrisburg (Pd.) Reporter.
We observe by the report of the Congression-
al proceedings, in the National Hltelligencer of
March 30th, that on the previons Friday even
ing our Senator Buchanan was assailed by Mr..
Morgan of New York and Mr.. Cooper of Penn
sylvania, upon the floor of the House of Repre-
sentatives. with the charge of once having said
in a 4th of July Grafton, "that ifhe thought he
had one drop of Democratic blood in his veins
he would let it out" This charge was prompt
ly contradicted by Mr. Ramsey and General
KEN Of the Pennsylvania delegation.
1t is not our intention at present, to make
any comments upon this ridiculous story, which
first originated in 1923, Immediately preceding
Mr. Buchanans fifth election to Congress- but
merely to republsh the letter of that gentleman
to the editor of the Pennsylvania Inquirer and
Courier, dated February 27th, 1888, contradict
ing the charge so explicitly and unequivocally
as to silence SANDER, it was supposed forever
This letter was elected by similar charge,
made in debate by Mr.. Cox a member of the
convention for amending the Constitution of
Pennsylvania, in May, 1887. 1t was then
promptly repelled, before the convention by
the present Judge Porter and Emanuel C. Rel
CART, both members of that body-the first
prominent Democrat and the latter one of the
Antmasonic party in Pennsylvania. Had this
sentiment, or any thing like it, ever been utter
ed by Mr.. Buchanan, at ''political meeting in
the courthouse at Lancaster" these two gen
tlemen, from their position and character, must
either heard it themselves, or Immediately heard
it from others; both Of them being residents of
that city where it is alleged to have been utter
ed, and Mr.. c. Reigart having resided there ev-
er since. The charge would have specially at
tracted public attention at that time, as Mr..
Rua MI TO for fho
State Legislature, both in October. 1914, and
1915.
Mr. Cox, not satisfied with the contradiction
of Mr.. Porter and Mr.. Reigart, endeavored to
obtain proof of the charge, and renewed his let
ter to the editor of the Pennsylvania Inquirer
and Courier, dated Feb "a, and published in that
paper of Feb. 26th, 1888, the testimony then
adduced in support Of it, all which could be col
lected after the laborious search consists Of the
certificate of certain Anthony McGlin, and an
extract of letter from George Ford, jr., both
of which, it viii be perceived are referred to in
the following letter Of Mr.. Buchanan.
TO the editor Of the Pennsylvania Courier & Enquirer.
Washington City, Feb 27, 1887,
SIR: have this moment perused the letter of
j. f. Cox, published in yesterdays hg,igg.-
His late official station, as member of the con-
venton, induces me to notice the stale SANDER
nounce to be utterly and absolutely false, no mater
from wha source may haze PrOceeded or shall pro-
ceed. / never did, upon any occasion, public or
private, whether at the courthouse in Lancas-
ter, or elsewhere, declare that, 'ifI knew had
a drop of Democratic blood in my veins, / would
let it out" or any words to that effect. This rid
ic,tlous story IS scbhom sbac5oao OF Foundation.
The first version Of the story was, that had
used the expression in an Grafton which de-
livered at the courthouse in Lancaster, on the
4th of July 1915 The Grafton itself disproves
this assertion, and then, after Mr. Cox had made
it the subject of debate before the Reform Con-
venton, in May last, one of the Harrisburg
papers solemnly announced that the expression
had been used by me, on the floor of the House
of Representatives, in this city, in reply to Gov.
FIoyd of Virginia, and that it could be proved
by a gentleman who had formerly been a Dem
ocratc Representative in Congress, from Penn
sylvania The scene is now again shifted to
the courthouse in Lancaster, and a certain An
thony McGlinn is the witness He states that
"a number of years ago, one evening"" whilst
was addressing political meeting there as
sembled, he had heard me use the expression
already stated sin an emphatic manner, with
my right hand elevated above my head" He
does not state the year this expression was used
nor the name of any other person who was pres
ent at this public meeting.
1t does not seem to have occurred to Mr.. Cox,
that if I had uttered such sentiment as that
attributed to me at the courthouse in Lancas-
ter, it would have been heard by hundreds of
people-that it would Immediately have become
the subject of universal remark and universal
condemnation; and that it would have been Sc
verely and Justly commented upon in the news
papers of the day. Had it been true, there
would have been no occasion for him to resort
to Anthony McGlnn to prove the charge, nor
to a conversation alleged by Mr.. Ford to have
been held with Mr.. Peter Shindel, who although
a respectable, is an aged man; and from de-
feet of memory incident to that period of life,
must have confounded what may have been sta
ted to him by others, with what he had heard
himself But again repeat, no matter who has
been or shall be the witness the tale is utterly,
and absolutely false.
Shortly after the SANDER was made a subject
of debate by Mr.. Cox, in the Reform Conven-
ton, number of the oldest and most respecta-
BILE citizens of Lancaster, without distinction of
party, signed certificate disproying the charge,
so far as it was possible for a negative to be
proved, which was placed and still remains in
the hands of one of my friends After what
has been said in reply to Mr.. Cox, by Mr.. Porter
and Mr.. Reigart, who must either have heard
the expression, had it been used, or heard Of it
Immediately after, deemed it wholly unneces-
sary to publish this certificate.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
We have said, in the commencement of this