Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-07-26
Mr.. pnchausn and his Antsceden9.

Mr.. Buchanan and his AntscedenS.
,..t ~ produced from the record, testimony
"a show. :h.t Mr.. BUCHANAN, in the outset, and du'
ring the earlier part Of his political career, was an
.ndsut supporter OF Federalism, and = no less ardent
onpouent Of Slavery eztsusion-facts, that few OF our
Democratic friends have had the tenerity to deny,
and none, the ingenuity to combat, with anything hAe
. shadow Of success.
1t il our purpose, now, to examine the remaining
landmarks in his history, as briefly as may be, VIII
mt doing Injustice to the parties interested.
7, 1soo Mr.. BUCHANAN was elected 4 representative
.co,or..x Int A he did not take his seat untlfthe
following year, Of course, he was unable 10 paf"c'Ia''
j., the exciting scenes, growing out of the proposition
to admit Missouri into The Union; yet we bei'eSe"
can he satisfa ctorily shown, that he and his tr'enos,
were in a great measure, responsible TOT the ih'Eoouc-
ton into Congress. at This period, Of a trebr"nd,
th.t rome wen nigh setting the whlle country IN
a,rs, in the sha PC Of an amendatory condition toihe
bill of admission, conceived in the following terms;
u., children of slaves, born with the said state
after tn. admission thereof into the ln'o''' slia'' 'e
free. but nav be held TO service until me age u '"'ll
ar involuntary ~.ervitude is prohibited, except ,or tLe
M u;shment Of crimes whereof the party shsil nave
beea duly convicted
This amendment, which gave rise to 4 state OF eA,
| c,,ement, that almost produced a disrnpuon i VIC
Union. was introduced in the House, by one OF TIC
| Pennsylvania delegation, Ne believe, and Is, ts'oh'm
,;,<n,,,m , transcript Of the instructions OF the
legislature OF Pennsylvania to her senators AND rep
| ressntatives in the Congress-.
I. will be reco,lected that the resolutions OF instruc'
-. .r. voro aInrfat December lslu,
n.ndino the discussion Of the bill for the admission OF
| Missouri, and moreover, that they were ADOPTED, '"'e-
! cortonce, with : set of resolutions q sample u VINO"
y, published in our last issue) drafted by Nj bt'
cuAS.x and others, At 3 meeting held in lancaster =
| short time previous to the action OF the legislature
mon the subject. In view Of such a statement OF facts,
.o unpreiudiceo mind can deny that Mr.. BUCHANAN IS
rssponsible TO . greater or less extent, for the nts'
treat sectional contest in this country.
Bnt however strong may have been Mr.. BUCHANAN
opiuions, in opposition to the admission of new terri
,i.ory, without = condition prohibiting 1.-The further
introduction Of slavery in such territory. 1t IS GER
tain. after the country had become tranQu'l'1ed
and reposeG in complete acquiescence in the settle
mea: of the Missouri Question that he yielded to
rho ronular sentiment, and thereafter continued 4
warn, defender of til. inviolabiiity Of the Compromise
| Of 1890.
Il was no. until 1896, six years after Mr.. BUCHANAN
entered Congress, that ANYTHING occurred, in his po
political career, worthy CT note. Sometime during
tho session of that year, in April we think, he tool
occasion for the first time, As = representative IN GU!
national legislature, TO give expression 10 MS VIEW
in reference to the question Of slavery. vie quo''
from his speech delivered At that session:
Perui. me here, Mr.. Chairman, for : moment y
speak on a subject to which ! heve never before az
ye.tet upon this floor, and 70 which ! trust, ! ma
neye, again have occasion TO advert. l mean TN
subject Of slavery. I5esicrc il to bd great in'ltcat any
a or,at moral emil. THANK God my lot has tesn eda II
a State uacre il does not eria. = "
n he, BEEN a CURSE .n,aiiat upon usby that nation mh'c'
makes i a subject Of r7rodch in our Institutions.
These are not the sentiments of inexperienced youth
bu. OF 4 middle aged man, whose experience had e1
tended through twelve years Of public Life and who's
Judgment was fully matured.
Now. We would ask those, who have felt disposed t
deny or doubt Mr.. BucHASAs's participation IN Ina
much talked Of Lancaster meeting and Nr. IIASc
JONES particularly. the only authority for sucn denia
or doubt, to compare his views above, IN reference /
the subject Of slavery. with those expressed By hill
in 1919, 70 be found embodied in the Lancaster resolv
tons. In both We discover the same deep rooted pre-.
udiees .gain.. the institution of slavery. if not actus
hostility; andl there be any difference in his opinions
At these different periods, the balance is in favor
the latter; for his prejudices seem to have increase
nth are. rather than have diminished, as will MOI
clearly appear hereafter.
In 1928. We find another chapter in Mr.. BUCHANAN
history worthy Of notice, relative to his action in r.
ference to wh9 is commonly called the BLACK TariH.
Although =: this period, he had given in mis- adherene
to the Democratic party, he still retained the sam
views, that he did, while a member OF the old, defun'
Federal party, in regard to a high protective Tari'
and retains them to this day We presume; for A. late
ls42, No find him supporting the same anti-Democrat
doctrine upon that question. So far IS the South ":
concerned, it was almost . unit in opposition to Il
tariff Of 1873, and South Carolina openly rebellt
against the government, in its attempts to enforce i
; provisions, and yet, Mr.. BUCHANAN strenuonsly SUI
! ported this Tariff, 50 odious to the whole Southe,
Democracy.
!. From this period up to 1874, We are unable to d
cover anything in Mr.. BUcHAsAs's record worthy
notice, unless it be, his voting against Edward Eve
EFT. as Minister to England, on the grounds las is q
! leged) of his opinion. that Congress had power
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia. We ref
to this fact with all the more pleasure, as it is Il
only one in his whole history, that we have be-
able to discover, which looks anything like a spirit
e toleration. But We fear even this act will not be
too close IN inspection. II has been charged, but
do not vouch for the truth Of the charge, that N
BUcHASAs's action IN this matter, was influenced
" personal motives, and circumstances, 60 very far t
3 wards corroborating the truth Of the charge. III
Z Mr.. BUCHANAN, who, up to this time, was an open
svowed opponent Of slavery, should vote against N
n EvERE1r's representing our government at . Forei
Court, simply because he was OF opinion that Congre
had the power to abolish slavery in the District
Columbia, is very strange and unaccountable, to 81
;, the least. However, admitting his motives to~ha
been what they were alleged to be, what does it ma