The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-03-03
OFFICE OF "THE PRESS"
Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1883.

7
Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1883.
AUSTIN H. BROWN. Esq.--Dear Sir: i
deeply regret that il win not DO in my power
to be present at your Democratic State Con.
'vention, on the Esd OF February. My duties
here, growing out of the extraordinary phase
of the Kansas question, and the widespread
feeling against the movement to compl the
people to accept Constitution so often re-
pudiated by them, render it impossible tor
me TO absent myself from my post.
Before was Of age, my chief aspiration in
politics was to serve tho cause of James
Buchanans In whatever subsequent relation
of life-whether at the head Of my old Jour
or conducting daily newspaper here, or IN
Washington, or discharging the duties Of a
responsible official position in Congress--the
object nearest to my heart was TO sacrifice
every thing, short of personal honor, to pro-
mote, his Presidential prospects. To accom-
plish this result, there was no labor too DIFF
fcult, no responsibility too weighty, and no
expenditure of time or money, which did
not freely undertake and assume. Every
man who was James Buchanan's opponent
was mine. To make friends tor him was the
great object of my political existence. Dis
tanee did not obliterate him from my men,
ory, nor weaken his cause in my affections.
kept his flag flying when he was in retire.
ment at Lancaster; while be was serving his
country IN tho United States Senate; and in
the Cabinet of President Polk; and, finally,
when he was acting as American Minister at
the Court of st. James.
The climax of the long years of devotion,
on the part of Mr.. Buchanan's friends, and
the realization of his. own hopes, was his
nomination to the Presidency in 1856. You
may we'll conceive with how much JOY /
hailed his nomination, ano With how much
rapture 1 participated IN the memorable
struggle which crowned it with the popular
approval in October and November Of the
same year.
To differ from one towards whom have
sustained all these relations of confidence
and friendship is naturally enough not
agreeable to my feelings. 1t was nay desire
policy, and especially SO when could render
him efficient aid without being indebted to
him iop any efficient favors. The growing
course of our politics-that which is eating
out her heart and soul of our organization
is the putting up for sale the opinions of our
statesmen, and the wretched readiness with
which men support or oppose measure to
promote their own mercenary designs.
Il was my wish, after having declined all
positions at Mr.. Buchanan's hands, to sur
pass others, if not in tie ability at least in
the consistency and energy of my devotion to
his policy. In q word, to render q support
which would be sincere, because il was en-
tirely unselfsh- In accordance with his pur-
pose took care to ascertain what his policy
would be in regard to the principles and
pledges of 80 on the Kansas question. No
that doubted his fidelity to both, but that
having been made the object of curiosity and
comment on my relations to his administra.
ton, i might commit no fGur pas upon what
promised to be a most impor tant question. i
was, therefore, with infinite satisfaction tha
felt authorized to take position in favor o
Governor Walkers action in Kansas, anC
especially in support of his declaration tina
the people of that Territory should have en-
tire control over their own institutions-thu
fulfilling the pledges of 1856, and vindica
ting the principles of the Kansas Nebraski
bill. Wien say authorized, use the wore
in the fullest meaning.
As early as the 4th of July, 1857, took
public stand, with the knowledge and con
sent Of ut least portion Of Mr.. Buchanan
Administration, upon precisely the sam
Platform which you occupy to-day. And oil
the 7th of July, only three days after, Tn
Washington Union, in still stronger terms
asserted and elaborated the doctrines whcl
you and now defend. From that momen
/ threw myself into the contest, and fel
proud that was sustaining the general AID
ministration upon principles SO invincibl
and enduring.
What my part was in this discussion tn
columns of .'The Press" will bear witness
So self-evident and so righteous did on
cause then appear to be, that, beyond tn
usual threats and TRADES of the enemies 9
this Union-the extreme pro-slavery leader
of the South-all Democrats, all nationa
men, including tens of thousands of Repub
licans and Americans, stood ready to applau
hr. Buchanan, and to thank him with great
full hearts for the settlement OF the Kansa
question, on the basis of his eomprehensiv
and patriotic instructions to Robert j. Wal
ker.
The Democratic pspers, excepting thos
which are VIGOROUSLY DESTROYS of dissolvin
the Union Of these States, came into line o
the basis Of these instructions. Souther
men and southern journals did not hesita'
to declare that the Administration was righ
while, throughout the free States, the NOR