Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-06-11

tration, 10 abolish the veto power,
contending that il was necessary to
the protection Of the people. He OPP
posed the Webster Ashburton treaty,
establishing the northeastern bounda-
ries.
When President Polk came into Of
fee Mr.. Buchanan was made Secreta-
ry Of State. In this capacity he even
tually succeeded in arranging the
northeast boundary question with
Great Britain and in concluding the
treaty with Mexico by which Texas
was ensured her independence, and
the vast domain of California and
New Mexico was added to our terri
tory. At the close of Mr.. Folks ad-
ministration Mr. Buchanan retired 10
private life, but SSH kept . close
watch upon tho political field. He
looked with alarm upon the slavery
agitation, and predicted calamities
which have since been more than re-
allied. He considered the Wilmot
proviso a stigma upon this State.
Upon the assumption of the Presi-
dency by Mr.. Pierce, Mr.. Buchanan
was appointed Minister TO England,
with a view 10 the settlement of the
Central American question, and the
possible purchase Of Cuba from Spain.
His papers in regard to the Clayton
Bulwer treaty and his conference at
Ostend and AK la Chapelle with our
Ministers at Paris and Madrid, are OF
great importance. In April, 1886, he
returned 10 the United States. Upon
his arrival at New York he was ten
dered the inequalities of the city, and
his whole journey thence TO Lancas-
ter resemble triumphal march. In
June following the Democratic Con-
vention, which met at Cincinnati,
unanimously nominated him for the
Presidency, and he was elected-re-
ceiving Ia electoral votes from nine
teen States.
On the 4th of March, 1857, Mr..
Buchanan was inaugurated President.
Immediately after the Kansas diff
Guilty arose, and threatened TO en-
broil the whole country in a sectional
war. The President made himself
clearly understood as opposed 10 sec
tionalism, and he did everything pos
sible to allay hostile feeling and 10
secure a national and fraternal feeling
between the States. After these
troubles had subsidized, the Mormons
in Utah assumed a rebellious attitude
and openly resisted the authority OF
the Government. A formidable mill
tary expedition was at once organized
TO proceed to Utah, but, true TO his
humanitarian views, MIR. Buchanan
sent along with it two peace commits
siOners-One OF whom was Col. I. L.
Kane, who had greatly beiriendsd
the Mormons during a time of famine
who shortly brought about a salts
factory settlement without the loss OF
a single life
In November, 1850, Abraham Lin
coin was elected President by party
largely made up OF the Abolition ele-
ment of the North, and the Southern
people (yetsmarting under their treat
ment in Kansas and the attempt of
John Brown and his adherents TO ar
ray the slaves against them CON-
menced threatening TO secede from
the Union. Tho remaing months Of
Mr.. Buchanan's administration were,
therefore, stormy and alarming The
people believed that the incoming
President would pursue a hostile pol
icy toward them, and hence a general
departure of SOntherners took place
from Congress, the Cabinet and other
departments of the Government, but
no man then, in either section. proba-
bly,, seriously anticipated the war
thai subsequently resulted. Mr. Blu
ehanan evidently did not at least he
seems not TO have lost faith in the
ability of the moderate and conserv-
ative men to calm the troubled ele.
ments and avert the calamities of the
approaching storm. For this, and
his alleged want of pOsitiveness in
dealing with the seceders at the out
set, he has been severely criticised and
denounced by his political opponents
We feel sure, however, that he acted
from proper and honest motives il
refraining from inaugurating, during
the last few days Of his powers policy
of aggression which would have ear.
lier precipitated the war and rendered
him and the party he represented re
sponsible for all the terrible events
which followed. lt is a historical
fact that, in the earlier stages of the
succeeding administration, Mr.. Lin
coin and his political friends did moi
either fOrsee what was coming or pre-
pare TO meet resulting emergencies
Had they adopted the aggressive
measures which Mr.. Buchanan is de
nounced for neglecting, there is httls
doubt that the "rebelliOn" would have
been crushed in its incipient stage
1t is unjust, however, TO denOuncI
/, either Mr.. Lincoln or Mr.. Buchanan
for lack Of prescience. We do no
propose to defend Mr.. Buchanan. IL
docs not need it. He acted at tha
period as be had acted during hi
b whole previous political career
through patriotic and national motive
anxious only TO allay hostility an'
! sectionalism and to keep the peoph
united in bonds OF fraternity. i
; matters not, therefore, what asper
p sions may be cast upon him now
; those who are TO come after Us vii
look calmly and dispassionatoly uPol
Z the causes and actors in the great an
/ bloody drama, and to them must b
} given the duty OF assigning 10 Jane