Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-06-19
LANES BUCHANAN.


We believe it is conceded that in the COM
mencement of his political career, Mr.. Buch-
anan was Federalist; at least he had Atm
tiles with that organization, and was so elect
ed to the Legislature Of Pennsylvania. En-
tering Congress, however, in lS20-21, dur
ing the administration of Mr. Monroe, he
participated in the general cessation of hos
tilities which then prevailed all over the Un-
ion. The Federal Party had been finally
defeated in the triumphs of the Democratic
Party under Mr.. Monroe, and during that
administration were slowly forming the two
great parties, which, as Whig and Democrat
ic, have divided the country ever since. Mr.:
Buchanan ranged himselfin the ranks Of the
Democratic Party, and gave his every effort
to the election of General Jackson, over Mr..
Adams, in 1924. These efforts were unsuc-
cessful then, but being repeated, were crown
ed with triumph in 1928. In 1881, he was
sent by President Jackson, Minister to Rus
sia, where he acquitted himself of his diplo-
matte functions with great ability and sue
ceeded in negotiating the first commercial
treaty with that government, and thus open
ed to the commerce of the States, the Rus
sian ports of the Baltic and the Black Sea.
In 1884 he returned from Russia, and was
soon after elected to the Senate of the Uni
ted States from the State of Pennsylvania.
This office he held until Mr.. Polk was elect
ed President in 1874, when he accepted the
office of Secretary of State under this Ad-
ministration, and conhnued in that Office un-
til the close Of the term in 1S49. For four
years he continued in private and only aban-
doned his seclusion to assume the duties of
minister to England upon the return of Mr..
Everett, which he continued to discharge
until within very recent period:
The political course of Mr.. Buchanan has
been eminently able and distinguished. He
has advocated opinions which might disqual-
ify him, perhaps, for the Presidency of a
Southern Republic, but upon all questions
he has spoken from the centre of the whole
country, and has always exhibited the senti-
ments and the character of an American
statesman. Under the influence of opinions
common at the time of his entrance upon po-
litical life, he has indicated the belief that
slavery is an evil, but has ever strenuously
opposed infripgements upon the constitution
al rights of the South. When, years ago,
there was an effort by abolitionists to make
the public mail the vehicle for the convey
ance of incendiary publications to the South,
he ventured upon the perilous experiment of
advocating their exclusion. When it was
urged that the annexation of Texas would
give strength and prominence to the institu-
ton of domestic slavery, he advocated the
measure, and as Secretary of State under
Mr.. Polk, he conducted the negotiations
which resulted in the introduction of that
country When it was claimed that Con-
gress had power to legislate upon slavery in
the District Of Columbia, and when the claim
was supported and enforced by all parties at
the North, he gave the weight of his iufu-
ence 10 the opposition: He joined the South
in excluding abolition petitions from the
halls of Congress, and while in private life,
after his retirement from the Office of Secre-
tary of State, at the close of the administra-
tration of Mr.. Polk, he used his utmost ef-
forts in his own State to procure the firm
and efficient enforcement of the fugitive law.
With sentiments, therefore, in reference to
the institution of domestic slavery, which
necessarily resulted from the circumstances
of his early education, he has been eminent
ly true to the constitutional rights and obli'
cations of every section of the country
His opinions upon the subject OF prolecs-
tive tariff, also, have not been altsgether
agreeable to the South. The great Ameri- M