Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-08-22
NEW SERIES, VOL. l6, NO. %.

pared letter To sustain it, written with all
the little ability of which ! am master
You may ask why it has not been published
The answer is very easy. From a careful
examination of the proceedings in Congress.
it is clear tint poH-iBtcrcchioH is all TINT
rW beyeqgireiLy tie South. Wchstcr's speech
is to I've the base of the compromisr-it is
audcd 20 the echo by distinguished South
crn men and What is it Non-irtcrvcn-
ton and aoH-ini0jeDtioR simWy bec1Hse tie
IlHRtot Proriao is MT rc7Uirej 10 prerem tie
cVrSs IF SIace,W .trom Jcing iaRjr'm an TIE
T,vrri'Orisy. Under these circumstances il
would he madness in me to publish my let
ter. and take higher ground for the South
than they have taken for themselves. This
would he to out llcrod llcrod. and to lie
more Southern than the South. Il could
do no good. but might do much mischief
The truth is, the South have got them
selves into Il condition ON this rucstion
from Which, it appears to mo now, they can
not cNtricatc Themselves. NJ proposition
of thr Missouri Compromise was at once
abandoned by them. and the cry WAS non
Intervention. They fought the battle AZ tHc
last Presidential election with this device
upon their banners. The Democracy of
Pennsylvania are now everywhere mIiyjng
to non-intcrvcuiiun. They suppose in do
ing this they are standing hy the Souih in
the manner most acceptable to their South
crn brethren. Our Democratic journals are
praising the speech of Webster. because all
the appearance arc that 1t i, satisfactory to
the South. It is now too late to change
front with any hope of success. You may
retreat with honor upon the principle that
you can carry your slaves to California, ani
1 81 4.
refer the question to the supreme Court of
the United States. ! am sorry, both for Your
sakcs and my own, that such is the condi-
tion in which you are placed.
] ~tg jar HY o.-l SI}e because can never
yield the position which have deliberately
taken in favor Of the Missouri COMPROMISE.
and shall he assailcd 10y fanatics and Free
soilcrs a~ long as live for having gone fur
thcr in support Of the right, Of the South
than southern Senators and Representa-
tiyes. am committed for the Missouri
Compromise, 0qd Nat commitfa r1nH e'and.
Should there he any unexpected change
in the aspect of affairs ut Washington. which
would hold out the hope that the puh!ira.
tion of my Missouri Compromise letter
would do any good, it shall yet he pHb-
lishcd.
/ was about to write more, but this letter
is long enough.
l. may re, aud iouhtlcsS was. the fact
that, in 1919 or lS20. my name wa, placed
on Il committee which reported the rc-olu-
tions to which the scamp, Gen. Cameron,
refers. | was then young ntu, hiu II
great ycncration for the chairman Of die
committee as my legal prvccpi"r. and pro-
badly was under the Influence ui 'ut v&,ID-
mCnt then universal in Pennsylvania. J !ir.t
went to Congress in December. lS-l, and.
throughout my whole public career. have
been uniform in maintaining the Just con
stitutional rights oi the South, have made
more speeches on the ,Ul,icct, lolu uu the
floor OF the Senate and at home. than pro
hahly any other maa Aow living. one of
them now enclose to YOU, mor',d whic.
fell into my hands last evening while ! was
looking Tor other matters
| wish You would read my speech through
on the veto power 1t j. the only one |
ever made which fully P!ca,c> myself
From your friend. very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
To Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Z. S.-Why did not the southern gentle
men agree upon Il common basis ct settle
mcnt: Please to let me hear irnm }uu
soon. | am invited ctly eEpecWy to we'd
ding in Washington, and possibly | may hc
there for one day on the 9Th of Apu..
Would to Heaven that Gen. Tay!ur might
come out in favor OF the Missouri CuupIo-
mise. l should glory in sustaining him.