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

would be necessary to enlarge more than the |
subject WA rantr, the contents of this review,
but Mr.. Curtis book makes the matter clear.
Chapter VII OF this second volume will be
entertaining especially to the ladies' for
through letters written by Miss Harriet Lane
to her sister in the United States, and letters
written to various persons by Mr.. Buchanan
himself, we have very fair representation of
society in England during the years 1854 and
1855. Mr.. Ruchanan's niece WAS as fortunate
as her distinguished uncle In making a most
favorable impression in the highest circles in
England. On this subject, as the lady is still
living, the biogrApher, from motives Of
delicacy, can only say this-"Nany most
eligible opportunities occurred which might
have liked the fate Of this young lady away
from her own land, and it appears from one
of her uncle's letters that after her return to
America, a very exalted parsonage expressed
regret that she had not been detained in
England" 1t WAS entirely from her own
choice she WAS not. She was married in 1866
to MIR. Henri, E. johnson Of Baltimore Mary
land.
One of the most important chapters in this
work is chapter XIII. of the II volume entitled
"a Summary of the Slavery Question"
1t is written in fair and unbiased manner,
and we say emphatically no man DESTROYS Of
an impartial view of this momentous
question, should fail to read it carefully.
1t is a curious fact that the movements iii
the South in favor of emancipation, which at
one time were strong, ceased Just about the
time such movements became active i'll the
North. This is clearly shown in pages 277
and 276, volume II. But the blemish which
the South was about to eradicate, became a
blessing, as soon as somebody else began to
NEEDLE with 1t.
Never was man placed in more trying
position than was buchanan after Mr.
Lincoln's, election and after reading this
book, commencing 1t with no great admiration
RlrhnnaT Nyt ara pOu pali ah tn,
say that no man has been more unjustly ira
duced than he. His message to Congress in
December 1860, was unsatisfactory to the
dominant parties both North and South. In
it he denied distinctly the right of state to
secede from the Union, bnt IL clearly and un-
equivocally pointed out that the coerciye
power OF the Federal government was neces-
sarlly confined and must DE applied TO the
execution upon individuals of the laws OF the
United States.
Nearly the whole Republican party"
1 without any rational excuse (says Mr.
| Curtis) "for such q misconstructiou saw fit to
| treat the message AZ a denial Of any power to
enforce the laws against the citizens of
| state after secession, and even after actual
rebellion" But the disunionists of the
| South did not misunderstood the message
i They saw clearly that it not only denounced
/ secession, but that while it enumerated the
| doctrine that the Federal Government could
| not apply force TO prevent state from
| adopting an ordinance of secession, it could
| and must use force If need be, to execute its
laws, notwithstanding the secession. 1t
| utterly denies that state ordinance of seces-
| sion could absolve its people from obeying
the laws of the United States All friendly
! Intercourse between him and the leading dis
nnionist ceased after the message became
public, and the secessionlstH commenced pre-
| paratioDs for war.
OF the perplexing situations in which MIR,
1 IRtnhanun xgaa nj Nv %
his cabinet, by the unfaithfulness of many
| of those in close intercourse with him, by
utter lack of assistance from Congress, by
| the treacherous attempts of former friends
| to snare him into plans favorable to the
secessionists, by the diverse views presented
| to him by those who deserved his confidence.
and by the stobborn spirit manifested both
| North aud South, and especially by the
determined war spirit OF the southern fire.
ears" and the utter blindness of the masset
of the Northern people to the dangers of a
| civil war, this work fully explains
Says Mr.. Curtis, at has been one OF the
fashionable errors concerning Mr. Buchanan
| to lmpute to him from age or some otheI
cause, lack of hrmness and self-possessiol
III this perious emergency He i,
spoken of as having lost his faculties or az
} being bewilde-ed by the perpleNities OF hi
| situation There never was more uufoundel
, | mputation. Mr.. Buchanan's ma,
have made mistakes. If | had discovered
I | them | should not have hesitated to poin
, | them out. But that his policy was sound tina
| 1t was the only policy that could have hat
5 any chance OF preservieg the Union withUu
civil war; that his motive WAS eminent
patriotic that with severe and super
patience he incurred the risk Of oblUguy AM
Misrepresentation for the sake of his country
4 | all this should be the judgment OF an
impartial mind"
In January and February state after stat
i anpa1gH bur
L effort to enable the President to call out vol
: unteers. or call forth the militia for the pur
A pose of protecting the forts, magazines am
other property of the United States although
Il attention was called by Mr. Buchanan to til
3 / Necessity Of some action. On the 9Th dAy d
= March, 1861, Mr.. Buchanan surrendered til
| executive power Of The Government to Mi
= Lincoln, and retired forever from public life
u In a little over one month afterNard the grea
o civil war commenced. Surrounded by Town
il friends, serene III the confidence that in afte
days his memory would be relieved froI
II obloquy, With the exception If few visits {
3 Bedford Springs, the old statesman passe
+ his tranquil latter days. at the beautiful oil
10 | home heatlauds, until the LIST day of JULY
1858 On that day the world and the world
& interests faded away from him, and the III
le | known future opened before him.
/ There are so few things to criticise in thes
g very carefully prepared volumes, hat We d
70 not care to attempt the talk; most of theI
&c arise, no doubt, from the natural desire Of
rs blographer who esteems his subject highly
De to present his life in the most fayorabl
lie aspect. The book il generally accurate eve
- TO minute details, though an obseryaf
IN reader has called to the writer's attention
ID curious error On page 400 of the secou
ID volume. committee Of thirteel
st was appointed after the reading Of the PIES
ID dents message Of December, 1860, iii IL
st senate. 1t was select committee to whic
s. was referred that portion Of his mezsal
Or which related to the agitated condition Of II
a. county and the grievances between IL
ID slsve-holding and non. slaye-holdlng state
sr MIR. Curtis says that the Hon. Jesse s Brigl
or was on the committee This Is mistake
81 Henry NJ. lsice Of Minnesota whose nan
was omitted should be placed vice Brigh
as We suppose this mistake srose from the fa
that III 1850, when similar emergency arcs
lie a committee was appointed, also cnmpost
n Of ID members, Mr.. Bright was on that col
l F,,ftt