The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-06-25

covered their names with infamy by the
sympathy which they manifested for the
enemy,
But is not our purpose to dignity thia
stale charge against Mr.. buchanan By
an elaborate defence. He had the mag:
nanimity, soon after the speech was made,
to acknowledge the error of the sensi.
ments it contained, and to retract them;
and now for more than thirty years, he
has devoted his talents and bis energies
to those great Democratic principles oH
which rest the continually increasing
prosperity and glory of the country, To
show how ready Mr.. buchanan has ever
been to retrsot an erroneous opinion, as
well as his frmness and and fearlessness
in maintaining his position when he bcs
lieves it to be right, we have obtainai
permission of Hon. George w, Jones, of
Tennessee, to publieh letter written to
him in l847 by Mr.. Buchanan, which
will place his anti-war charge in its true
light. Mr.. Buchanan was, at the date
Of the letter, member of Mr.. Folks
cabinet, and in the canyas in Tennessee,
Mr.. Polk was assailed for appointing to
so elevated position man who had
opposed the war of 1912. Mr.. Jones
addressed a letter to Mr.. Buchanan,
asking him for facts in connection with
the charge. To this letter Mr.. Buchan.
an gave the following frank and patriot.
ic reply, which Mr.. Jones has allowed
us to publish.
WAsHIEeroN, April %, ls47.
MY DEAR SIR: 1 have this moment
received your letter of 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, lbe-
ing this day Sc years of age,] I made
my first public speech before meeting
of my fellow citizens of Lancaster. The
object of this speech was to urge upon
them the duty of volunteering ther SER
vices in defence of their invaded coun-
try. A volunteer company was raised
upon the spot, in which was the first,
1 believe to enter my name as pri-
yate. We forthYith proceeded to Bal
timore and served until we were honor.
ably discharged.
In October, 1914, gas elected q.
of the Pennsylvania legislature;
and in that body gave my support to
every measure calculated, in my opinion,
to aid the country against the common
enemy.
In 1915, after peace had been conclu,
ded, did express opinions in relation
to the causes and conduct of the war,
which very soon after regretted and re-
called. Since that time have been ten
years a member of the House of Repre-.
and an equal time of the Sem
ate, acting part in every great ques-
tion. Ny political enemies, finding
nothing assailabls throughout this long
public career, now resort back to my
youthful years for expressions to ipjure
my political character. The brave and
generous citizens of Tennessee, to what
ever political 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
the President for haying voluntarily Of:
fered me seat in his cabinet.
meyer deemed it proper at any Pc
riod of my life, whilst the country was
engaged in war with foreign
enemy, to utter sentiment which could
interfere with its successful prosecution.
Whilst the war with Great Britain was
raging, 1 should have deemed it little
better than moral treason to paralyze
the arm of the government whilst deal
ing blows against the enemy. After
peace was concluded, the case was then
different. My enemies cannot point to
an expression uttered by me, during the
of the war, which was not
favorable to it's vigorous prosecution.
From your friend, very resp'y,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Hon. GEORGE W. JONES.