Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-04-27
Condemned out of his own Mouth.
BUCHANAN'S LETTER TO WALKER
Buchanan'S Prayer
WAsH1NoroN, Anril lsLh, 1se!


Ellis B. Schuabel, being sworn before the
Covode Committee, testified as follows:
Question 1--Were you eger shown let
ter dated July IL, 1857, written by the
President of the United States, to Gov.
Robert ]. Walker, the latter then in Kansas
Answer-I never saw but one letter in
manuscript, written by the President to
Gov. Walker, and that, believe, bore the
date July IL, 1857.
Question 2-Was it shown to you conf
IDENTIFY, or are you at liberty, without viola
ting any promise or secresy, to speak of its
contents?
Answer am under no obligation of
secresy whatever; have discussed the mer-
its of that letter with a great many differ
ent persons within the last eighteen months;
presume twenty different people in Wash
ington to-day have been long aware of my
knowledge of this letter; Gov. Walker ex-
hibited it to me in vindication of his course
T in Kansas, and at the time also stated that
he himself was under no confidential re-
straints; at this time Governor Walker was
exceedingly indignant and angry; he also
expressed his fear that the President would
not only destroy the Democratic party, but
the country with it; urged immediate pub
lication; he feared the consequences to the
country, and thought its welfare would be
best secured by being not too precipitaut,
although he stated, with determined en-
> phasis, that inasmuch as the President had
suddenly changed front, since the date of
that letter, the tendency of which change
might be TO disparage him, (Walker,) in
public estimation, as faithful servant of
the people, should that ever appear, either
in assailing his honor or tho manner in
which he discharged his duties as public
officer, he not only felt entirely free, but
would Justify and defend himself before the
country by publishing the letter of the 18th
of July, 1857; he expressly stated that the
letter was semi-oficia, aud entirely divest-
! ed of confidential restrictions; as for myself
; having no confidential obligations resting
upon me, and having freely discussed tho
matter with numerous persons at intervals,
2 during a year and half, at least, l feel per-
. fectly free to speak of its contents.
! Question 3-What is your recollection Of
its contentsY
Answer-The time l saw the letter was
soon after the resignation of Gov Walker,
I, with many other gentlemen, earnestly
i urged his appointment; hence l felt pro-
found interest in his success; conversing
with him about what was being an indirect
removal of him from Kansas, led to the in
PRODUCTION of this letter. at the interview re-
ferred to, l considered it most extraordin-
airy document when / remembered that
Mr.. Walker was no longer Governor of
Kansas it seemed TO me, from the contents
Of this letter, that he was forced to abandon
out, as far as he had power, the instructions
and advice of President Buchanan; l consid-
er the letter an unqualified endorsement of
Gov. Walkers course in Kansas; | was par
ticularly struck with the potent fact that
the President considered the submission of
the Constitution by the Convention to the
: people of Kansas, as the true principle and
Interpretation Of the Kansas and Nebraska
bill; further, that his views are equivalent
to advising Gov. Walker to devote himself
to the policy of submission, for the double
reason, first, that it would secure his success,
and his success would prove fatal to the
resolutions against Gov. Walker, passed a
short timo previous in Georgia and Missis-
sippi the President plainly indicated to
. Gov. Walker that his success depended up
on the doctrine Of submission, and adds al
. most in the following Words That, upon
e tho doctrine of the submission of the Con-
stitution to the people, he, the President
! was willing to stand or fall. / remember
also that was impressed with the singular
: solemnity of the President, from the fact
? that the advice contained in the letter was
clinched with seemingly devout prayer; !;
this is substantially my recollection of tho
!; spirit and meaning of that document as it
4 was read 10 me by Gov. Walker.
/ Question 4.--Have you recently con-
5 versed with any member of this administra-
ton on the subject of this letter; if so, are
Q you at liberty to speak Of it2
f Answer-I have recently had such con-
versation; there is no secret about it; no
}, confidential restraint upon either party;
2 have described the scene TO many persons
a since Friday last; Ipresume this Commit
4 toe, like many others, have heard of it; /
had an accidental discussion with Attorney
General Black, upon the truth of the exis-
q tence of such document as the one re-
n fered to in this testimony--he denying,
(! aud affirming; he declared that no such
|. document existed and never did exist; l
, told him / had seen il; he affirmed that l
was mistaken; that il such letter existed,
/, no good citizen would Withhold it; inquired
i of him whether he invited its production 10
y the name of The President; he replied yes
: that he challenged its production; that il
t Gov. Walker bad such paper, his duty to
Q his country, as well as TO himself, required
!. him to produce il; that in point Of fact,
however, he said the story was not founded