Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-11-22
Bo0h NOTICES.

LlsE or JANE BUCHANAN. Fifteenth
President OF the United states, by Geo, ge Tick
non Curtis. In two volumes New iork,
Harper Brothers.
1t ID fortunate that this book did not
appear sooner, for not until within very re-
cent period, even il then, was it possible for a
calm and dispassionate view to be taken of a
man whose connection with the earliest stages
of our great civil war had caused such preju-
dice against him amongst very large portion
Of the American people. 1t is even doubtful
whether yet a fair consideration of the course
adopted by Mr.. Buchanan during what is
sometimes called the secession winter of
SO and 81, can be had. Mr.. BuchanAns
motives and conduct are indicated by his
biographer az will more fully appear in the
concluding portion Of this review.
The biographer rapidly sketches Buchanan's
early life dwelling however at considerable
length upon that ssddest chapter, his unfortu-
nate love affair with the over-sensitiye young
woman whose death WIS directly traceable to
her voluntary breaking of their marriage
engagement The estrangement OF the lovers
was but one of those common occurrences
that perpetually verify the saying that ''the
course of true love never did run smooth
But IT ran i'll this case pure and unbroken in
the heart Of the survivor through q long and
varied life. 1t became a grief which could
| distant allusion could be made; sacred
unceasing sorrow, buried deep in the breast
of man who was formed for domestic Joys
| His peculiar and reverential demeanor
| towards women, little varied by rank, or sta
| ton, or individual attractions was doubtless
in a large degree caused by the tender
| memory Of what he found, or fancied, in her
whom he had lost in bis early days by 30 cruel
fate.
In 1920 he was first elected to Congress az
a Federallst But his political principles ar
statesman were yet to be formed. When he
took hia seat in 1921 he found assembled a.
| brilliant a galaxy of men a. ever was
| gathered at the capital. Among those with
| whom he soon became acquainted we're job
| c. Calhoun, George McDuitie j. Il. Poinsett,
Sergeant Of Pennaylvsnla, McLsne Of Della
| ware, Philip +, Barbour Of Virginia, Lowudeg
" south Carolina and Randolph Of Virginia
A great many Of the earliest friends he made
/ we're southern men, who at that time were
| by far the ablest and .2.Szt Influential
| members Of both the Senate and the House.
The friendships he formed with men like
| Macon, Lowndes, McDutde, Calhoun barbour
| Of Virginia and other Southerners, may have
had very great influence III forming his
| political opinions. And they were worthy Of
any mans friendship and esteem. Speaking
OF them, that sturdy old abotionist Josiah
| Quincy, says ''the time has not yet come to
estimate with impartiality this class Of
| Southern gentlemen. Many Of them were
men Of great ability and singular fascination
| Of manner"
Mr.. Buchanan soon attained q prominent
place III the House to which he was repeat
| eddy elected, His connection with the
famous bargain and sale charge against
| Mr.. Clay made him many enemies, and on a
| rather careless reading Of Mr.. Curtis account
Of it we were not satisfied, but on more care.
fully examining it We think MIR. Buchanan =
candor and honor in the matter are completely
indicated.
An interesting feature OF the book il
Buchanan's letters from Europe written dur
ing his diplomatic career in Russia and his
visit to England. The careless student his.
tory will be interested to learn here, too, the
| facts connected with our threatened war with
France in 80 and "a. 1t is curious here to
note that King Louis Phillip addressed an
autograph letter to President Jackson adyis-
ing him to adopt very decided tone upon the
French question in his message to Congress,
| Louis, who wished to avoid war, believing
that such tone would induce the stubborn
Chamber Of Deputies to yield to this coun.
try's reasonable demands.
The LIST volume of this work takes us III
to the year 1919 and treats Of MIR. Buchanan
| connection with the removal of executive Off
/ | GERS, the tariff question, the United State
| Bank legislation, the independent treasury
| Tylers yetoes, the bankrupt act Of 1871, an
i | nexation of Texas, the Oregon contrcyers,
/ | with England, the questions in reference Il
Central America i'll connection with thu
D | Monroe doctrine, the Cayton-Bulwer treaty
OF all these and many other great nationa
questions Buchanan took prominent part
The second volume naturally will attrac
: the great mass OF readers, because 1t gives
great deal OF new and valuable information
in reference to public events Just before tn
b commencement of civil hostilitiea. 1t il
l.. valuable contribution to American history
! There are other matters of deep interest con
q tanned in it, however among them an accoun
q Of Buchanans stay in England as ministe
from this country. There he was socia
favorite.
In 1854 the famous Ostend circular wa
issued being the result of a conference be
tween MIR. Buchanan, John L. Mason an
Pierre Soule, the American ministers h
ID Great Britain, France and Spain. The cor
It ference at Ostend had its origin in the recon
:, mendation OF Secretary Of State William L
Ii Marcy. Mr.. Soule had been sent as ministe
to Spain, with special and extraordinary IL
structions and powers all lookin
OF Cuba. Mr. Marcy suggeste
r. a meeting Of the three ministers above meG
toned for conference, and the views an
: recommendations Of these ministers &C
ly dressed to our State Department known a
m the Ostend manifesto produced much excite
ment throughout Europe. The part whic
:, especially excited the attention OF othe
Of countries WAS this remarkable declaration
g. ''Our past history forbids that we shoul
;, acquire the Island Of Cuba without the COZ
sent of Spain, unless justified by the gres
lie law OF self-preservation. If the acquistio
y OF the island should become the very conditio
Is OF our existence, then il Spain shall refuse t
part with it for price far beyond its presen
10 value, we shall be justified in wrestling
W from her upon the very same principle this
% would justify an individual in tearing dow
"a the burning house Of his neighbor, il ther
70 were no other means Of preventing the flame
a from destroying his own home" To undei
d stand fully the purport OF this language,