The New York herald., 1868-06-02


portant measure, the annexation OF Texas was
urged by him scource OF security for the slave
holding States and OF commercial Importance 70 tne
In lS43 Mr.. Buchanan was reelected a Senator TO
Congress-, but in 1s45, upon Mr.; POLK, the newly
tary OF State he resigned his seat and entered the
Cabinet. The Northwestern territory was then
claimed by both England and the United States,
would result in a serious dinlculty between the two
countries The dangers were, however, happily
surnounted by an agreement between Mr.. Buchanan
and Mr. Packenham, by which the compromise line
OF fOrty-nine degrees North was accepted by both
nations. The war with Mexico followed. and upon
Its close the large territory ceded to the United
States was obtained principally by the diplomacy OF
the deceased. Better terms might have been had, 1t
Is true; but Mr.. Buchanan suggested in his letter
OF instructions to John Siidell, then Minister to
Mexico, no demands were to be made that would
render probable European intervention.
With the close OF Mr.. POlk's administration Mr.
Buchanan retired to private life. He purchased
beautiful estate called Wheatand situated near Lam
his family which consisted Of his niece, nephew,
lady acting as his hOusekeeper and the domestics OF
the house. While thus withdrawn from active pub
exhibited for political affairs. His Harvest Home"
letters to his friends in Pennsylvania advising the
extension OF the Missouri compromise line Of latitude
30 degrees 80 minutes north to the Pacific Ocean,
and the letter to the Union meeting In Ph4adelpha
that related to the afairs Of the country He was
not, however, permitted to remain long In retire
ment ON the return OF Mr.. Lawrence from England,
Mr.. Pierce, the lately elected President, rendered
him the appointment. The mission was accepted,
and the successful manner in which he per-
nected with the position Is q matter Of
history. The celebrated Clayton-Bulwer treaty
did not succeed in settling the controversy, the
entire matter deliberately discussed by Mr.. Bu-
chanan He also took an active and conspicuous
part In the meeting OF United States Minister'S which
resulted In the now celebrated Ostend manifesto
and created q decided sensation in Europe. With
many other prominent men he believed that the an
nexaton OF Cuba to the United States was political
and geographical necessity, and but for the sectional
diltculties which convulsed the country it is proba-
BILE that during his subsequent administration as
President OF the republic that beautiful island would
have become portion OF the Union
popularity, and upon his return to the United States
in 1855 was enthusiastically received by his fellow
him the q The c and aoes
the entire route Of his journey to Lam
the people united IL making him the
confidence and esteem. These marks OF popularity
were recognized by the Democratic Convention which
assembled at Cincinnati in the month Of lune follow
Ing, and he was unanimously nominated for the
Presidency. The canvass was close and exciting,
one hundred and seventy-fOur electoral votes from
nineteen States This success of the democatc party
was hailed with great satisfaction by the people and
1t was believed that the sectional strife which had
ragged with increasing intensity between the North
and the South during the administration of
seemed for while realized; sectional passions sub
sided and the attention Of the country had been d.
OI
ton, from which great things were expected. when
the difficulties in Kansas unhappily broke out and
plunged the nation into those increased internal dis
sensions which subsequently brought about the late
rebellion.
The course pursued by Mr.. Buchanan during those
troublesome times properly belongs to history, and
therefore in biographical sketch no opinion can be
Off red regarding its wisdom or errors. In his
nOunced the slavery agitation, and expressed him
self In favor OF amicaby settling the Kansas Ques
ton. But the inhabitants of that Territory were in
llstn thApo
they desired. The Convention met at Lecompton
and framed constitution which was submitted to
and approved by the President and his Cabinet. For
this act the deceased was fercely assailed by his
political opponents, who averred that the Conven-
ton did not reflect the sentiments of the
voters OF Kansas majority Of whom kept
away from the polls. In book entitled
"Buchanans Administration" written by the
ex-Presdent himself and published since the close
Of the war, he defends himself against the charges
brought against him in this connection, aud
asserts that the Lecompton Convention was legal
insisted that Congress, by decided majority, had
refused to recognize the Topeka or Free state Con-
under 1t We're guilty OF treason to the government
In the meantime affairs in Kansas continued in
men Of every shade and character filed the Territory
with bloodshed, murder and rapine In these vio-
sympathizers in the Northern and Southern States,
until the aspect OF affairs became decidedly threat
enng that large bodies OF troops had to be stationed
at different points to maintain peace and security.
While these events were transpring the sectional
war between the North and south continued
fercer than ever and all Of Mr.. Buchanan's
efforts to calm down the political passions OF the two
parties were utterly unavang- That his sympathies
were with the SOHth at this time we have his ad-
mission for. But he also averred, subsequent to the
election OF Mr. Lincoln, and indeed IN an indirect
opposed to the institution of slavery and only sup
ported 1t because 1t was guaranteed by the constu
ton, and interference with 1t waFnOt only usurpa
tion, but strong incentive TO disruption Of the
Union. In like manner, In the work alluded to else
where he cOnfesses that the South erred in desiring
State geographically UNITE difor the Institution.
During his administration John Browns abortve at
tempt at a negro insurrecton TOOK place, ana the
measures adopted by the State Of Virginia for the
punishment OF the insurgents received his full and
cordial support. The rebelliolirl Utah also broke
ous soon after he assumed the executive authority,
but this was happily suppressed without boodshed
In the foreign affairs Of the coury Mr.. Buchanan's
administration was generally gGccassfu The claims
against Spain recognized a. adj an agreement en-
tered into by which they wound have been settled
but upon the convention beng ansmitted to the
Senate In $780, that body refused ) give its consent
principally because 1t included tn 3 Amistad claims
for the value OF certain slaves for yhich the Spanish
With Great Britain the admlnissu ltion was equally
successful and the result moro satisfactory. The
settled tho British government mpelled by the VIC
orous measures adopted, abanda med their claim tt
the right OF search, and thus J y settled question
which threatened serious w lr between the two
countries. Our difficulties with China and PARAGUAY
were also finally and amicabsy adjusted, and oul
present advantageous codamerv la treaty with Japan
We now arrive at period in the public life of Mr.
Buchanan which. although the most important In hi.
career. has been, and probably will be, the sub
| ject OF antagonistic opinienJ. The events which
transpired Immediately suose quent TO the election
Mr.. Lincoln are Of too recent date and from the mo
mentous events they proceeds must have too vivid ar
impression on the memory 'of the reader TO need
tended reference. But theAcourse pursued by Mr. Bu
chanan In those hours OF peril his efforts to stay the
madness OF secession and rebellion or his encourage
| ment Of 1t, the acts OF commission or omission o.
which he was the author, not yet satisfactorily
placed before the publc and Is probable that tht
true facts VIII never be Known The charges against
him OF aiding and encouraging the rebellion have heer
| numerous and are supported by so many plausible
statements that we may well hesitate and falter ir
the belief that he was loyal to his oath OF Office
| to the constitution and to the country. On the
other hand, both M Buchanan and his friends Wig
orousy defended him against the assaults OF his op
| ponents. 1t was urged by them that no act OF his
could have stayed the torrant OF rebellion. There
| was no adequate army and no efficient navy will
which to prevent seizure Of the forts and arsenals bl