Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-09-11

confidence inspired by his nomination bv the
democratic party and the apprehension of his
election inspired in the Republican ranks, that
pubhc confidence in the man was renewed and
revived by the publication of his Inaugural Ad-
dress. The Republicans many of them who
had voted for John c. Fremont said 1--WE be-
heve III Mr.. Buchanan. if he stands BY the doc
trines OF this Inaugural Address we will stand
by him." Now, had he done so, the Republi-
can and the American parties, in my opinion,
would been rytinguished We would have been
one great happy, national family After all,
what the great mass Of the people in this coun-
try desire is good Government. Every man
IN this country is not an oIiice-Seeker Nine
out Of ten are dsintcrested in their relations to
this government, and they are ready to vote for
John b. Haskin, or for John Smith. if they have
confidence in the man: and Mr. buchanan
would have suited the country as well as any
other man, if he had but fulfilled his pledges;
and therefore it was that when his inaugural
address was published, the, said one to the 9th
cr--We believe in Mr.. Burhanan--we are sor-
ry that We have not voted for him but We are
willing to trust him and stand by him to the end
MIR. buchanan had before future which Wash
ington, If he had been living, might have ell
yied-a future which, if he had walked resolute-
ly in the path he had marked out--the path il
Eliminated by his resolutions and pledges-would
have allowed him to 60 down to the grave with
the acclamation of the people. Posterity would
have pointed to his administration model
and example to all generations Pennsylvania
would have had 10 cause to have been ashamed
of her once favorite son. No, my fellow-coun-
trymen; but he did not stop here. As if tor
the purpose of accumulating pledge uponplcdgc,
as if for the purpose qt piling up pyramid of
promises upon this question, what did he do
nextY He looked around to see whom he should
get to go to Kansas for the purpose OF settling
the vexed question which had rendered Kansas,
what II has been graphically termed, 1.-THE grave
yard Of Governors" lie sought no inferior
man; he would not be tempted to take an or
dinary man. He selected gentleman, a states
man, who had been presented by large por-
ton of the leading and prominent men of the
South for seat in his Cabinet who had for
wears represented his State in the councils of
the nation. He selected Robert J. Walker
And when he called upon Mr.. Walker and ask
ed him to proceed to the Territory, Mr. Walker
said to him, "Why, Mr.. Buchanan, that would
finish me forever it has ruined every man who
has gone there ; it will ruin me. have reach
ed that time of life when cannot afford to risk
all my prospects. and probably the peace and
happiness ofmy family And he said further,
as if gifted with knowledge of the future Il
cannot run the risk of being most probably
betrayed and deserted by the Administration
that appoints me-" Mr.. Buchanan said TO
him. "Mr. Walker if you will go there, you
will settle this question in few weeks,
Everything is ready; here are your Instructions
pledge you my word that everything YOU de-
sire, you shall have. Mr.. Walker. as if inspir-
cd by sublime suspicion, said, "NIr. Buohan-
an, Will not 90 to Kansas until YOU allow me
TO meet your Cabinet face TO face and ascertain
af "a II, rbntb
agree that shall go there and carry out the
pledges of the campaign of 1866 According
ly meeting of the Cabinet of Mr.. Buchanan
was called. At the meeting every member of
the Cabinet was present. Mr.. Buchanan and
Mr.. Walker were present--Mr Buchanan IN the
chair Gov. Walker said, 81 have desired this
meeting because | have determined not to go
- - l----G-il
if there is any opposing voice, | will not go;
| do not want to go it is by no means an
enviable position; but if | have the permis-
sion and consent of you, gentlemen, for this
have asked, will 60" The Cabinet was poll
ed; but one member of the Cabinet objected
to the programme laid down by Gov " alker
| need not mention his name. Gov Walker
said, That settles the question, gentlemen;
do not wish to go; single negative is suff-
cent and | will retire from the field" But
the! took that member of the Cabinet into an
adjoining room, and there they convinced him
that Gov. Walker was right. They returned
and gave Walker his instructions. He went
to Kansas with his instruction in his pocket,
and accompanied by man well known to the
country Mr.. Stanton, who went out with SIM
liar pledges. Now, after this plain statement
of the facts, | will come down to Ily own part
of this campaign. My ambition to assist and
build up my good old State, to push forward her
great interests, and assist in the development Of
hpr iuHu Strx- lo hat xrb xrp tallI Il
at least if we desire success--for the older you
grow you should be stronger at your own home
to build yourselves up in your own counties
and own States, and when you do that you will
be respected and strong at the seat of Federal
power. Therefore it was that in the year 1857
| started the newspaper which now bears my
name at its masthead. did this for the pur-
pose of advocating Mr.. Buchanan's policy
throughout. l mad abundant pledges as TO his
course, but before publishing that paper took
care to write to Mr. Buchanans Cabinet, and to
himself, and told them onwhat ground intended
/ to stand on this question of Kansas. They were
! so good as to send me sufficient written testimo-
| ny strengthening me i'll the position had assum-
ed. went on with Walker and Stanton until
the Oxford and McGee frauds took place. when
there was a burst of execration throughout the
country. The whole democratic press had ar
/ gued constantly the policy of the Admnistra-
ton up to that times but when Gov. Walker
rejected these frauds, there was silence. A pail
fell over the columns of The Washington Union.
/ Nothing was said upon the subject of the Ok
ford and McGee frauds. No voice was heard
in Washington ageinst it; but supposed some
malignant influence for the moment, had sur
rounded that journal; that it had had an at
tack of some peculiar insanity, which has lately
become chronic with it and | allowed it to pass
by. But when the dark, damning deed of Le-
compton was perpetrated, then ! saw for the
first time that those gallant men in the terrific
ry, Walker and Stanton, and those who acted
with them, had been deserted. l saw that
democratic principles had been carried out by
them, and we were now called upon to turn
our backs upon our pledges and betray our
manhood [Applause.l Gentlemen, there was
something too much of this and when the cup
was presented to my lips refused it. Cheers
Administrations may change Presidents may
change, but had been too fully committed on
this subject to go back to PENNSYLVANIA and
turn my back upon pledges which had both
snOken and written TO thousands OF men. |