Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-12-01
Bit of UnWrItten History Suggested
by Mr.. EVarts's Speech.

To the Editor Of the NetC York Evening Post:
The Evening Post, of late date, in its no
tIce of Mr.. Evarts's speech, speaks Of the
course and character'of Andrew Jackson,
as contrasted with those of James Buehan-
an, ''whO tamely yielded to the Secession
lists, and publicly and shamelessly declared
that be was powerless to prevent the coun-
try from drifting to destruction
This statement can confirm by a remin-
iscence of an interview with Buchanan
which your words recall:
While Gen. Anderson was holding Fort
Sumter, and Just before the South Carolina
insurgents opened fire upon our flag. meet
ing of conservative men was called at No.
81 Pine street to consult as to the critical
condition of public affairs. The sentiments
avoided by those who spoke seemed either
despairing or Southern. There was no
power to coeree a State. The Government
at Washington was soon to be overturned.
New York was to be like Bremen, and ''the
Union was rope of sand" Others felt
that time ought to be gained for negotia-
ton, and that if the Government could not
send aid to its forces in Sumter, food at
least might be furnished by private persons,
which peaceful succor would not be resisted
ySouth Carolina. Sopainful to me were the
traitorOus doctrines of the speakers that l
attempted to leave the assembly. John Il.
O'Sullivan, however, insisted on my taking
part in the discussion. and I maintained
that the United States was a real Nation,
and had the same power to cOerce one Of
its members that a father had to eoerce and
bring back a seeding and refractory small
boy. The result was that | was requested
to proceed at once to Albany, and urge, on
behalf of the meeting, Mr.. Erastus Corn
ing and Mr. Thurlow Weed to accompany
me to Washington for the purpose of per-
suading President Buchanan to relieve the
starving garrison of Charleston. 1t was
said that in some sense such delegation
would represent the Democratic, the Con-
servative Wing, and the Radical parties,
and would have great weight with the Pres
ident. The same evening Invent to Albany,
saw Mr.. Corning, who willingly consentedt to
go Immediately. Mr.. Weed was not at
home, but in the morning agreed to act
with us. The next night Mr.. Corning and
| went to Washington, and by an arrange
ment made through Mr.. Appleton, acting
Secretary of State, we were admitted about
II on the following morning to an inter
view with the President. Mr.. Weed was
not able to go with us. Mr.. Buchanan re-
ceived US in his private office, in morning
gown and slippers. After a few words of
ordinary salutation, Mr.. Corning stated the
object of our visit. The President made
no reply. After pause told hat had
been done at the meeting in Pine street, and
pointed out the urgent need of Major An
derson. Mr.. Buchanan remained silent.
Then Mr.. Corning said that the relief of
Sumter would be sustained BY all Demo-
Gratis at the North, and that should an at
tack be made upon the flag Of the United
States, there would be an uprising Of men
of all parties in its defense. He asked that
aid might be sent at once.
Still not word from President Buchan-
an. After long silence remember plead
ing warmly in my turn that food, at least.
might be given. Here the President said,
81 have not ship" We then assured him i
that the merchants of New York had load
ed the steamship Star of the West Offered
by Mr.. Charles H. MarshalD with provi-
sions, and only waited for authority from
the Government to dispatch her, but the
President answered never word. Calling
a servant who put his head into the room,
he ordered cigars, and offered them to US,
taking one himself, and chewing it, but not
smoking. When the servant had gone,
Mr., Corning, with warmth quite unusual
with him, pleaded earnestly with the Pres
idelt to put down the beginning OF a civil
war, insisting that even in party point Of
view it would be wise, bat that as a duty
of the office he held, he had the example Of
Andrew jackson to guide him. Not word
in reply Finally besought him to avail
himself Of the offer we were sent to make,
merely to feed, if he could not relieve in a
military sense, Major Anderson's forces,
pressing upon him the certainty Of the uni
/ ted North, irrespective Of party, to sustain
his action. We sat silently waiting for an
answer, until finally the President, looking
over his shoulder out of the window said.
| "a very fine day, gentlemen, a very fine
day!" And so we rose, and after spending
an hour with him in vain, walked slowly
/ away.
As out of the three persons then present
| am the only survivor, it may be useful to
| have this testimony to the eowardioe, il not
treason, of the unhappy Buchanan. Mr..
| Evarts asked whether the people were will
ing to reproduce the phantom Of Buchan-
ans likeness in the Presidential chair.
From my recollection Of the man himself.
| | certainly was not
JAMES W. BEEKMAN.
/ nN-Star Raw |, I Nov Q,l fQ~a