Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-11-23
Ex-President Buchanan,s BOOK.

!. "
Ex-President Buchanan's Book.
1t is entitled "Mrs Buchanans Administra-
ton on the Eve of the Rebellion The Phila-
delphia Press, (Forneys paper) is severe upon
it. We give the indexes Of three Of the chap
ters; sfs,t., Hss-.i ie-f, s.ai
CHAPTER 1.-The rise aud progress of anti
slavery agitaton-The higher law-Anti-slay-
ery societies-Their formation and proceedings
Their effect destructive of State emancipation
The case in Neutrality-suspicious. of the
post offices to circulate incendiary publications
, and pictures among the slaves Message of Gen.
Jackson to prohibit this by law-His recon-
mendation defcated-The pulpit the press, and
other agencies-Abolition petltons-The rise
of an extreme Southern pro-slavery party-The
| fugitive-slaye law of 1793 andthe case OF Prigg
VS.. Pennsylvania, and its pernicious effects
| The South threaten secession-1he cotirse OF
Mr.. Buchanan as Senator-The Wilmot proyiso
and its consequences-Tho Union in serious
danger at the meeting Of Congress in December,
| l849. sr b.5a.'at aaaa ed a-Hai.. ta. iaicg
| CHAPTER, H.--Decisions of the Supreme
Court in the Dred Scott case--Repudiated by
the Republican party and the Douglas Delnoc-
racy-Sustained by the old Democracy-The
Kansas AMI Nebraska Act-- The policy and
practice Of Congress toward the Territores-
Abuse of President Buchanan for not adherlng
to the CINCINNATI platform without foundations
| CHATTER VIII.-CoRgress passes no measure
to enable the President to execute the laws or
defend the Government They decline. to re-
yiye the authority of the Federal Judiciary in
South Carolina, suspended by the resignation OF
all the judicial officers-thcy refuse authority
to call forth the militia or accept volunteers to
SUPPRESS insurrection against the United States,
and it was never proposed 20 grant an apprc-
priation for this purpose-Ihe Senate declines
| throughout the entire SIS ion to act up)n the
nomnationof Collector of the Port of Charles
ton-Congress refuses to grant the President
the authority long since expired, which had
been granted to General jackson for the collec-
ton of the revenue-I'he Thirty sixth Congress
expires, leaving the law just as they found it
| General observations. F
The following is the preface
The following historical narrative of theevcnts
preceding the late rebellion was prepared soon
after its outbreak, substantially.in the present
form. II may be asked why, then, was it not
published at an earlier period The answer is,
| that the publication was delayed TO avoid the
possible imputation, unjust as this would have
| be, that any portion of it was intended to
embarrass Mr.. Lincoln's Administration in the
viaosous prosecttion of pending hostlllties.-
The. author deemed it far better to SITTER tenn
| porary injustice than to expose himself TO such
a Charge. He never doubted the SUI ceisful
event of the war, even during its most gloomy
periods Having drawn his first breath soon
;f.er the adoption Of the Federal Constitution
and the Union which it established, aud having
been an eyewitness of the blesel effects Of
these, in scouting liberty and prosperity at
home, and in presenting an example to tie op-
pressed Of other lands, he felt an abiding con-
yiction that the American people would never
suffer the great charter of their rights to be de-
stroyed. To the Constitution, as interpreted
by its trainers, he has ever been devoted be-
leving that the specific powers, which it con-
fers on the Federal Government, notwthstanG-
ing the experience of.the last dreary years, are
sufficient for almost every possible emergency,
whether in peace or in war He, therefore,
claims the merit--if merit it be simply TO do
ones duty-that while in the exercise OF exec
utive functions, he never violated any OF its pro
visions.
IL nav be observed that no extensive an for
midablcrebelionof fanintelligcntpeople,a against
an established Government has ever arisen
without long train Of previous and subsidiary
causes. Aprindpsl object Of the author, there
fore, is to present to the rca1cr a historical
sketch of the antccedents ending in the late 10
belIion. In performing this task. the eye nat
uraIly fixes itself, as the starting peint, upon
the existence Of domestic slavery in the South,
recognized and protected as this was by the
Constitution of The United States. We shall
not inquire whether its patriotic and cnlight-
ened trainers acted with wise foresight in yield
ing their sanction TO an institution which Is
in itself great social evil, though they con
sidered this was necessary to avoid tie still
greater calamity Of dissolving the convention
without the formation CT our Federal Union
The narrative viii prove that the original
and conspiring causes of all our future troubles
are to be found in the long, active and persist
ent hostility of the Northern Abolitionists. both
in and out of Congress, against Southern slave
ry, until the final triumph Of their Cause in the
election Of President Lincoln; aud ontheother
hand, the corresponding antsgonism and vio-
lence with which the advocates Of slavery re-
sisted these efforts, and vindicated its preserva-