The Washington critic., 1888-01-14
THE TRUTHOF HISTORY
A VindicatiOn of Mr. Buchanan
From Unjust Criticism,
EARLY DAYS OF SECESSION,
A Policy of Peace and Cancellation
UP To the 18th of April, 1891.

In q recent number of the Century
Magazine" there appeared contribu-
ton on Abraham Lincoln and his Adj
ministration, from the pen Of Messrs.
Hay and Nicolay, who were the pri-
vate secretaries TO Mr.. Lincoln and his
present biographers. In the course of
the article they INDUCED in some
serious and unjust reflections upon
the late ex-President Buchanan, to
which the Hon. Horatio King, who
was the postmaster-general during the
closing months of Mr.. Buchanan's Adj
ministration, took exception, and
wrote strong, indeed unanswerable,
defense of the President, which APP
peared in the Washington Post. A
friend in Washington sent a copy of
the paper containing Mr.. Kings com
munication TO Mr.. Alfred Sanderson,
of Harrisburg, Pa, and between that
gentleman and Mr.. King there has
since taken place the following CORE
spondence, which first appears in the
columns of the Harrisburg PdtrjoE
Mr. Sandcrson's letter.
HARRISBURG Jan. 81, 1888.
Hon. HOrdtio King:
My DEAR SIR: Some time since friend
sent me copy of the Washington Post,
containing communication from you in
reply to certain charges made against the
late President buchanan by Messrs. Hay
and NicOlay, the biographers of Mr.. Lin
coin. / read IL carefully and found it
thorough refutation of the llimsy, not TO
say iiendish, attac made upon the
memory of that much maligned but re-
verod statesman.
Messrs. Hay and Nicolay can be easily
hoisted 10y their own pctard. You will
doubtless recOlleCt that in the early part
of the civil war q correspondence of the
State Department at Washington with our
ministers to several foreign governments
was published in which they were in
stlucted TO say. to those governments that
the policy of the last Administration Mr..
| Buchanan's) in reference To the seeded
| States would be strictly followed, rs the
only policy which would
PRESERVE THE UNION
! and keep the peace. ] am aware that
few, irany copies Of this correspondence
are now cXtant. For some reason it was
suppressed. | know of two prominent
gentlemen in this city who had copies,
but they were either stolen or surrepti-
| llOuSly lukcn from lneln, ana never re-
| turned. But that it was evidently in
tended to be the policy of Mr.. Lincoln
will be seen by reference to an extract OF
a letter from Mr.. Seward, then Secretary
of State to Mr.. Charles Francis Adams,
then Minister to England, to he found on
page 351 vol >, of Curtis Life of Blu.
| Chanan.'
As to the charge Of Mr.. Lincoln's BIZ
ographers that Mr.. Buchanan was q man
of mediocre ability and feeble minded. !
knew Mr.. Buchanan well, and whatever
may have been his failings the want of
ability, feeble mind and lack of cour-
age could never be laid at his door, il
Mr.. Lincon's biographers are no nearer
the truth in the other portions of theil
writings, the matter they are now pub
fishing in the Century Diagd.iHe is worthy
of but little crcdcnce.
am not writing as an apologist of Mr.
buchanan, but the time has come when
the truth of history should be made know
whOmsoever IL may hurt.
Very truly yours,
ALFRED SANDERsON.