New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A BOOK DEFENDING BUCHANAN.

King Ex-Postmaster General Of the United
States Pp 4l9 J. b. Lippincott Company
The first title Of this book is not In the best
a, taste. /, would suit better the covers Of some
sensational novel than a collection or essays on
topics in recent history. There is nothing extrav-
asant IN Mr. Kings method as a writer HIS style
IA usually sober and restrained. Even those VINO
differ from him will rarely find his manner II
ritat,ng II they happen TO find something un-
peasant in his prose. they need only turn 10 ms
essays in verse TO recover their equanim'y MI
King does not seem TO have taken himself ser-
ouslv az q noet His heroics and ballads. however.
have a historical application, and they undouoted-
~ served for one reason another. to entertain
his friends The special object OF his homage MI
buchanan. criticised these illusions drily, and MI
King publishes the letter as II he enjoyed 'he
comment 81 have read your poem wrote the
ex-President from his retirement at "hea"a"u'
alludng to a rural piece. little In Johnson ;
s,re on ABANDONMENT Necessary to Happiness.
adding: There is much good sense in It, ana II IL
better than the common run OF American poetry
Sill think you were more distinguished as ->'
sistant Postmaster General and as the ch'e' Oh
the department than you will ever become DIS
poet" -,
,rbs most serious and important part OF the vol
ume comprises papers written 10 explain and de-
fend Buchanans conduct during the closing months
OF his administration as President MI hlhg tdhos
the ground that the accusations OF treachery anu Vi
sympathy with traitors made against buChane"
were unjust. II should be matter OF pride with
Americans he thinks TO say that the whole me
of Presidents has been made up OF loyal men with
out exception. AS ne was himself sternly loyal ana
warmly patriotic from the moment that he clearly
perceived the intentions OF the southern leaders
his testimony may be received with respect he Is
outspoken on the question whether the rebellion
was a conspiracy or a genuine popular uprising In
his Mace near or at the head OF the Postoffce
Denartment he busted himself in corresponding
with leading men, both North and South. IN the
anxious months preceding ths accession OF Presi-
dent Lincoln and his deliberate opinion was that
The war resulted from a conspiracy in which few
hundred men overawed and misled the people or
the South.
A particular example OF the more public methods
by which the minds OF Southern men ir general
were confused and turned to error was the ad-
vantage taken OF Buchanans doctrine respecting
coercion There was a medley Of opinions under
the head OF this important word In the South II
was represented that coercion was a synonyme ior
aggressive war by the General Government on the
States and Buchanans dctum that the Nation
could not coerce the States under the consul
tuition was interpreted IN the light OF this deh-
milton by men who meant TO have war But Mr..
King insists that coercion" as used by Buchanan
had no such meaning. 1t meant only that the
Federal Government could not take compulsory
action against a State such. but could only con-
slider the actions of the people OF any state with
reference to Federal laws National property Prob
ably Buchanan would have considered the attitude
OF the United States in the case OF the Italians
lynched in Louisiana as Illustration OF his views
The distinction between the opinion attributed to
buchanan and the one which he really held is
put in this way by Mr.. King while the secession
lists supported, | regret TO say. in no small de-
gree by the Republican party chose to represent
the President holding that the Government
OF the United States had no power under
etf Thor Dgf
a rebellous State or the individual citizen
OF such State to prevent the dismemberment OF the
Union he used the word Coercion expressly as
against seeding State in its corporate capacity
and not In respect to the people OF a State
But that Buchanan contemplated war and in one
Instance sought TO provoke overt act on the
part Of South Caronians was shown, Mr.. King
thinks by his appointment of collector Of Gus
toms at Charleston OF course in the condition Of
insanity TO which the people Of South Carolina had
worked themselves the mere effort TO collect tariff
according to law would have been deemed vo-
laton OF States rights. Violence would have fol-
lowed. and the President would have interfered
with troops 10 enforce the law. At least that was
the impression which he gave TO Mr.. King early
as September. 1861. when he could hardly have had
the af,erthoughts which might have been due the
final victory Of the Union. Had the Senate
Hrmed my nomination Of the % OF January" he
wrote. 'of a collector for the port Of Charleston.
the would probably have commenced in Janu-
airy instead of May"
Aside from innumerable details which there is
still wide difference Of opinion Mr. Kings argument
rests mainly comparison between the conduct
OF Buchanan throughout 1850 and that of Lincoln
In the early weeks Of his administration He main
tans that, II II virtue in Lincoln TO await
armed aggression by men Of the South before taking
warlike action then 1t equally a viTtue in
Buchanan to have delayed action with the same OBJ
jec in view There is. OF the defect in this
that Lincoln by device fully within the law.
startled the Southern hreeaters who were positive
~ crazy TO hear the sound Of their own cannon.
Into act OF aggression. When he allowed It TO
be known in Charleston that he would try to relieve
Sumter he took the best means TO fire that
fer.ully susceptible organ. the ante-bellum Southern
heart. The possibility OF equally transparent and
equally legitimate provocation lay open to Buchanan
long before his effort to choose collector of the
port for Charleston. But even II he had been as
decided man as Lincoln. he had confused and
divided Congress TO deal with annoyance which
Lincoln carefully avoided for four months after his
Inauguration
The logic OF long life spen; in conceding or ad-
vocating the claims of the slaveho,dng power was
also against Buchanan 1t is rather curious 10 OBJ
serve with what relief Mr.. King himself. in con-
temporary document which he prints aban-
doned the ancient Democratic attitude toward sav-
cry Abiding In 1863 10 the sympathzers with rebell
Ion who were noisy In New England he remarked:
TT seemed 10 me that many Of friends there
considered Il their duty in standing up for what they
called the rights OF the South to advocate the
cause OF slavery with quite much earnestness
We of the Democratic party in spirit OF generosi-
u, when knew less about II than at present,
felt constrained TO do in political contests pre-
vious TO the war" Buchanan. II Ae wished to
do so. could hardly have ventured to say much
as this in 1860: still less could he II he had
undergone a mental revolution. The times required
q man who had consistently maintained that the
Nation could exist half slave and half free.
Nevertheless. the future historian may perhaps
concede more virtue 10 Buchanan's dlatory tactics
than people thoroughly angry willing to allow
at the time.
Mr.. King deeply interested In the personality
and career OF Lincoln. some OF his essays show
il Is his respect for the War President that gives
force and dignity TO his defence of the polished
but prosaic Buchanan One OF his interest