The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-07
Card from President Buchanan.

s,., 9TH. New York Tribune:
r. .onrtesy ought 10 thank you Is
Hih IL for YOUR offered use of the Tn
-. g.. ...ny explaussion, comment or dis'
.,.;v,.-,, o. the acts of my ADMINISTRATION du-
-, che last six months OF It's existence.-
Th;s Kind offer would be cordially accepted
has sd nonished by advancing years,ot which
YOU give me warning. sometlme since COM
nn;I.d a history Of il during this period, chief
" from the proceedings OF congress ano o'uor
of;,;aI and available documents. too long tor
nnblIcation in the Tribune. This has not
heen published hitherto, because OF my reluc
tsnce' for several reasons, 80 obtrude myself
upon public attention during the prosecution
of the war. now happily terminated In the
suppression of ths rebellion.
Though we have been 'lifs-long political
opp ,uen.s." as you truly observe. have TOT
msny vsars been q constant reader OF the 1rs
b,lnr This have done 70 obtain knowi-
edge of the principles and policy OF the 70
publican party from their solest aud most In
fusntisi expounder. and one who, winnie CON,
tending against political opponsnts, has mao
the candor and courage to present 70 the PUG
lie ,hs democratic prop ,sitions and principles
he assaulted. Iwouid. therefore, put it to
yourself whether it was quite compatible with
this character Co assume that my contradic-
ton of an article in another journal, relating
70 matter, of tact dating as far back as the
Cincinnati convention of June 1856, had been
intended az a defense of the acts OF an ad
ministrstion which did not come into exist
ence until nine months afterwards, land there
upon to pronounce tho conclusion THAT Mr.,
Buchsnan's letter has not vindicated MIR. Bu-
chsnan's career.
MIR. Buchanan has carefully refralned Tor
four long years from any attempS to vIndlcate
L
this wa. forced upon him in his controversy
with General Scott; and this course he shall
continue 10 pursue until the publication OF
his h,storioai sketch. Indeed, his recent let
ter to the editor of the New York Post would
not have been written had the editor repuo
Eshed from his files the old article rs pub
lished nearly nine years before (thougo
never known to Mr.. B. until 9 few days ago.
with auy comments he might have thoughs
proper. That of which Mr. Buchanan now
complsins is, that the new article, though
os,spsiblv based upon the old. presents a
statement of facts essentially different, in a
most important particular. from the original,
and this. too. with the evident object OF In
hiring his character This change consists
in substituting for the name OF Col. Black
who pGs a delegate TO the Cinclnnati conven
ton, that of judge Black who UGs not, and
at tbs sans time referring TO the TACT that
..shs judgs was sfrsrward attorney general
under Mr.. Buchanan"
Whence this radical change. If not to
bring home to Mr. Buchanan completely In
the infamous pledge which the last article
falsely. but in express terms attributes TO
Judge Black. Had the facts sta'ed in this
article, ON the authority of the editor of the
Post remained without contradiction, they
would have been taken for granted by the
public to the lasting and serious injury OF
the reputation both OF Judge Black and Mr..
Buchanan.
1t is but justice to the memory OF brave
and Iamented officer TO repeat that. H. his
ardent and impassioned remarks before the
convention. evidently without previous pre-
paration, there is not the least color for at
tributing TO Col. Black pledge which would
have been a serious imputatioD upon the fair
fame of a man without fear and without re-
proach. Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
WHEArLAND, near Lancaster, May %,
1865.
TAs Mr.. Buchanan has not seen fit to com
ment on the new points made in our former
article. we deem it but fair to say no more.
Editor Tribune.