New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-12
BUCHANAN'S AMBITION.
FRESH LETTERS ABOUT HIS PRESIDENTIAL
HOPES

AsTRAf--DOUBT5 AND FEARS AND PURPO-
sES.
fFeoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUNE.l
PHILADELPHIA, Aug LITTLE Press will print
tomorrow number Of hitherto unpublished letters writ
ten by Buchanan before he became President to various
personal and political friends The Press by way of intro
ducon to letter in the series addressed Buchanan
by Simon Cameron, says:
Early in his political career Mr.. Buchanan became
intimate with General Simon Cameron and whether he
silent From his correspondence 1t would seem that he
either taught Mr. Cameron some bright lessons or that
useful Information IN the game OF reaching for public
office IL sounds singular at this day TO say that Simon
Cameron and James Buchanan began their close politi
cal association early in the present century, or mad any
relations existed between them for many years. period
covering many OF the most important events In the ais
Mr. Polk 10 the Presidency. They had worked harmo
p P to secure that end and on February u.s. lsa0
the Office of Secretary OF State
shold member Of my Cabinet become candidate for
viii be- Or %po The S an
VIII Ie,e rom TIE cab net m rs qaca ihteTIeIenee oy Gs
Buchanan took this document to General Cameron and
said:
"Certainy. But why ask my advice. You must have
already decided to take It," replied Cameron.
Buchanan then said
"whom shall we elect Senator in my place"
az think will be" replied Cameron.
From that hour the arrangement began that rpened
into bitter hostility within six months. For Mr.:
Cameron was elected to succeed MI buchanan as United
States Senator and at showed himself master in
stead OF servant In politics by forcing President Polk
potent Than his secretary Of State There we're reasons
for this that VIII appear later. Mr. Buchanan lacked
supplying the force he lacked. This weak point Mr..
Buchanans composition gave his friends no end OF
trouble and they always had difficulty IN keeping up to
almost any emergency.
The following extracts from tho letter from Simon
Cameron Buchanan interesting exhibition of the
relations between the two men aud OF the politica
methods of the time. The letter is dated Mddetown,
October 49, 1884, and relates to Mr. Buchanans political
interests Ia Pennsylvania:
You have enemies and stronger ones. too. than
OF The Governor will be friend.
but he IL that kind OF friend who can do much for
any one. One cunning man about HIM could use the
believing IT, You have In the office OF Secretary
man 10 look w Ser I yoar ' neres L light eo
should be an original friend OF the Governor; and 10
from Democratic county should reside the East
also Now it is nard TO lind just such man and yet
Henry Welsh no man in the state would make better
officer in all respects You can have Nun appointed "A
It, for in truth be can find NO man better
ss sssaeS fro alt 9Ssr.r am told that
Buehler, Of Harrisburg would not refuse IT, shall not
does right and acts fairly to my friends viii sustain
hun. II he does not, will oppose him.
burg ratification meeting will TO look with sus
plcon him. no personal feeling for or against
more tnan ten years have been looking with a steady
eye 10 Your advancement IL Is so long that
II | could unite your sagaety and prudence with
my zeal and energy would swear upon your success.
Your position II you attend your Interests,
will enable you keep your state in your hands. IL
you put Welsh there you VIII De safe. know no other
man who do 50 much for you. Let some small
pattern" 20 into that place and your chances VIII Do
I wish TO be fairly understood. have personal
wish or interest IN this matter. want TO see Welsh
appointed only for your sake.
"Mr Buchanan" says The Press " failed to take Gen.
eral rs advice and Jesse Miller appointed
Secretary State and the writer OF this letter
dcted gave Mr. Buchanan end Of trouble In future
political yements Polk had carried Pennsylvania as
Mr. had prophesied and been elected Presdent
Mr. Buchanan had been appointed Secretary OF State,
end Simon Cameron had succeeded him as United States
Senator Mr Buchanan began to feel that he had Loaf
his strongest political ally and began to despond"
About this time he wrote the following letter to friend
WASHINGTON. 17th July, 1s45
MY DEAR SIR: have received your very KIND letter.
ment which IL expresses Tor myself Iconsider IL very
doubtful whether shall ever DC candllate Tor tue
Presidency; out whether or not k9ow now 70 a2pre-
ciatc your friendship In alt sincerity, do not thtnk
the Presidency the efforts necessary to reach IL;
aud it's very questionable whether any Fennsy VInan
"in our day aud generation VIII ever win tae prize
Unless a candidate can commence with the Undivided
capital OF his party In his own state his prospect OF
success can DO bright. Now. In my case, other
states wond nave TO oPeraIe on Feh"'yNA'' ra'ner
''"" Your trend, JAMES BUCHANAN
The following lettor, written friend in 1850. shows
tue state OF Mr. Buchanans mind respecting the Presi-
dental nomination two years later:
wHEATLAND January %, 1850.
the stn instant Rest assured | Justly appreciate
your friendship II | mad twenty suen friends
be- moraiIy certain There are SO may divisions
aud subdivisions in orr party. so many local
almost impossible to subduo them all into harmonious
action 1t Is true thsI after nomination has once been
fir ms
OF election. but secure national nomination Tor au
Individual his state must present an undivided front IA
advance Had this been the case III regard 10 myself
1nGs Of canddaes in other states knowing how ecc
lively they work IN Pennsylvania to promote divi-
sc Sa this object. II a few OF my friends.
"a YOU kindly suggest, could meet at Harris.
burg during the present session OF tne Lesisa,
ture they could do much TO counterfeit such efforts
have had from several quarters that General
Cass would again be candidate; but MS move.
ments nc Washington would seem TO indicate dHerent
conclusion. The reason which he gave Tor decnning
was his he will be IN his seventyhitn year when
the Presidential term wiz expire But age does
not cool the ardor or ambition. We have astriklng
ana almost absurd, example OF TINS IN Alr cay VINO
he survive that advanced age at tue end oil the
next Presidential term snaI go tomorrow 20
Washington. there TO remain Tor some week'
aud shall soon learn the intention OF Gen,
era cass. For hun entertain very great esteem and
believe IL 10 rcciprOcated. The agitation % Tue
North mas infected the slaves OF the South aud rendered
the condition oi their masters Insecure IL mas enuau
grred the lives OF pless women and children ana heu
them dreadful apprrhcnsions. Tnls agitation may
uemagOguc3 III tne NOTl Dut ~ h'y dnO VIC
death the people OF tue SOUTH l must cease or tue
Union is IN more imminent danger than 10 has ever Deen
since the adoption OF the Federal Constitution.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
six months later Mr. Buchanan wrote this letter TO
poltical lieutenant on tho same general subject
wuEArLAND, near Lancaster, July Ii, 1851.
MY DEAR SIR: Many thanks for your klnd ana en-
couru Viug letter rust know how 10 apr clate your
uniform aud valuable friendship. l require 1t much
because my enemies ia this State, Cameron, Frazer ana
complny are btter untiring aud malignant They can
mot cInert majority or the delegates In tue 4th OF
March convention anything like IL; but they wish
to create az much division pos}bo az nome fOr tue
purpose of producing effect abroad II my own state
sustained me tho Democracy OF otner states
sus ain their candidates, my nomination would De
certain; even 1t 49, judging from all the Information
receive think my prospects are AT present brighter
than those of any other Democratic Candidate
NJ be ceOled Preslenl III lSO2 agalnst