Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-09-17


his Cabinet. lie issued his inaugural Adj (
dress: and here, at this point, let me say,
that the public confidence inspired by his
nomination by the Democratic party, and the
apprehension of his election inspired in the
Republican ranks. that public confidence in
the man was renewed and revived by the pub
LEGATION of his Inaugural Address. The Re-
publcans, many of them who voted for John
G. Fremont, said 1--WE believe in Mr. Blu
chanan if he stands by the doctrines of this
Inaugural Address we will stand by him. -
Now, had he done so, the Republican and the
American parties in my opinion, would have
been cXtinguished VIC would have been one
great happy, national family. After all,
what the great mass of the people in this
country desire is good government. Every
man in this country is not an office seeker
Nine out Of ten are disinterested in their re-
lations to this government and they are roa-
dy to vote for John b. HaslSin, 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 publish
ed, they said one to the other We believe
in Mr.. Buchanan--we are sorry that we have
not voted for him but we are willing to trust
him and stand by him to the end. Mr.. Blu
chanan had before him future which Wash
ington, he had been living. might have envied
IA future which, if he had walked rcsolutely
in the path he had marked out-the path IL
Eliminated by his resolutions and pledges
would have allowed him to go down to the
grave with tho reclamation of the people
Postority would have pointed to his admins
tration a model and example to all genera
tions Pennsylvania would have had no cause
to have been ashamed of her once favoritc son.
No, my follow-countrymen but he did not
stop here. As if for the purpose of accumu-
latng pledge upon pledge, as if for the pur-
pose Of piing up pyramid of promises upon
this question, what did he do next; lie
looked around to see whom he should get to
90 to Kansas for the purpose of settling the
vexed question which had rendered Kansas.
what it has been graphically termed, "the
graveyard Of Governors He sought no in
fcrior man he would not be tempted to take
an ordinary man. He selected a gentleman,
statesman, who had been presented by large
portion of the leading and prominent men Of
the South for a seat in his Cabinet, who had
for years represented his State in the councils
of the nation. He selected Robert J. Walk
er. And when he called upon Mr.. Walker,
=
Mr.. Walker said to him, "Why. Mr.. Buchan-
an, that would finish me forev,r it has ruin
cd every man who has gone there; it will
ruin me. | have reached that time of life
when cannot afford to risk all my prospects,
and probably the peace and happiness of my
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 APP
points me-" Mr.. Buchanan said to him.
"Mr. Walker, if you will go there, you viii
settle this question in few weeks. Every
thing is ready here are your instructions
. pledge you my word that everything you
desire, you shall have" Mr.. Walker as if
inspired by sublime suspicion said, ':Mr.
Buchanan, | will not 90 to Kansas until you
allow me to meet your Cabinet face to face,
and ascertain from that Cabinet in person
I whether they will agree that | shall 20 there
and carry out the pledges Of the campaign OF
1856. Accordingly meeting of the Cabi-
net 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 meet
ing because | have determined not to go to
Kansas unless have full instructions to car
ry out those pledges and those principles If
there is any opposing voice, | will not 60
do not want to go; it is by no means an en-
viable position but if | have the permission
and consent of you, gentlemen, for this have
asked, | will GO The Cabinet was polled
but one member Of the Cabinet objected to
the programme laid down by Gov. Walker.
| need not mention his name, Gov. Walker
said, That settles the question, gentlemen
do not wish to GO; a single negative is suf-
fcient, and | will retire from the field" But
they took that member of the Cabinet into an
adjoining room. and there they convinced
him that Gov Walker was right. They re-
turned and gave Walker his Instructions
He went to Kansas with his instructions in
his pocket, and accompanied by man we'll
known to the country, Mr.. Stanton, who went
out with similar pledges. Now. after this
plain statement of the facts, will come down
to my own part of this campaign. My ambi-
ton to assist and build up my good old State,
to push forward her great interests, and as
slst in the development of her industry--to
do that which we must all do at least il we
desire Succession 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
purpose of advocating Mr. Buchanans policy
throughout. | had abundant pledges as to
his course, but before publishing that paper
/ took care to write to Mr.. Buchanan's Cab
met and to himself, and told them or what
ground | intended to stand on this question
of Kansas. They were so good as to send
me sufficient written testimony strengthening
me in the position | had assumed. | went
on with Walker and Stanton, until the Ok
ford and MCGEE frauds took place, when there
was burst of execration throughout the
country. The whole democratic press had
argued constantly the policy of the Admins
tration up to that time but when Gov
Walker rejected these frauds, there was ST.
lence. A pail fell over the columns of tn,
Washington Union. Nothing was said upon
the subject of the Oxford and McGeo frauds
No voice was heard in Washington against il
but | supposed some malignant influence fol
the moment, had surrounded that journal
that it had had an attack of some peculiar in.
sanity which has lately become chrome with