The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-08-25
THE SECESSION PERIOD.
Jndge Jerry BlHck Answers to the Charges Of
TreacherY Against Buchanan.

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PHILADELPHIA, August % In the course OF an.
other interview which the Philadelphia Press will
print tomorrow, Judge Jtre Black says: ITO
charge Buchanan with unfaithiulness to the UI.
ioniss 10 the foulest sander that wasever uttered
To say that Q was Influenced by any feeling akin
to personal fear or that he ever acted or forebore
10 act without the sanction Of his conscience s an
Outrage upon truth too gross TO be endured. He
had faults, but what may not be forgiven to man
OF great ability and pure integrity who spent the
best years Of his life In the public Service2 He
was as honest patriot as ever lived and no man
ever sat in the Presidential chair who knew bet
than he did how to enforce the respect due 10
him and to his Office. Perhaps no calumny that
was uttered against him hurt his feelings or iniur.
ed his character more than that by which he was
represented as being bullied and draRooned by
Stanton and others. Stanton never but once vent.
ured beyond the line Of mere obsequIouSneB and
then was driven back TO his place, covering mn.
der the lash Of the Priests reprimSnd. Buchanan
did not reinforce the forts In Charleston havbor,
and have right to condemn that as an error, be
cause laid It was wrong at the time and acted
sct ordingly ell through. But does 1t lie in the
mouth Of his political enemies to find fault with
him for that OF any other omission to place the
country In better state Of defense against the
SeceHBIOniSts. When he told Congress the true
state the Union was in and that the means at the
disposal Of the Executive were altogether made.
quAte 10 check the rising resolution, they sat 81.
lent Gnd unmoved. When he called upon them
for help, WHICH they alone could give, they an
swered him with insult and VltuperatlOn. They
admitted that the exposition Of the law, and def.
nitlon Of his powers Whicn he made were perfect.
u correct, but the needed legislation 10 enlarge
them Wp8 not passed. On the contrary, ell bills
looking to the increase Of the force at his com.
mAnd were either voted down or smotheTed In
committee When he nominated the Collector OF
the Port Of Charleston he rendered them prsctl.
cal issue which the Senate evaded BY letting the
nomination lie on the table until Mr.. Lincoln
came In and Withdrew II Mr.. Lincoln himself
on the way to the Capitol let 1t be distinctly un.
derstOod that he was Rs much Rverse TO q war as
Buchanan was. In bis inaugural address he de.
cIAred that he would not only foIbeRr all hostile
actions, but he would not even execute the laws
or attempt 10 IetRke any Of the public property
which the seceBsionlsts had already unAWiu ly
appropriated, but II they would let him he would
carry the mails for them. He invited the negO-
tiahs which Buchanan had repelled and he tenn
porized and Vacillated about the surrender Of
Fort Sumter. HIS Cabinet voted six to one In
favor OF the surrender, and his Secretary Of State
pledged his faith to give 1t up. When Mr.. Lincoln
at last refused to execute this pledge, Seward In
an underhGnd way did all that he could to pre-.
vent the success Of the relieving expedition.
These facts being perfectly well known. what are
we to think Of the men who charged Buchanan
with treachery or timidity, and in the same
breath laud Lincoln and bis administration as
faithful and hrDT'