Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-18
Buchanan's Ambitious.


ton to me. and some of them have open
ly expressed the opinion that Mr.. Bu-
chanan had apprehensions that the dem
ocratic national convention. which is to
meet at Baltimore in May next, might in
s!st upon nominating me for second
term, and that, fearing this. lie had pro-
cured this letter writer to assail me
through the New York Herald with a
view to prevent such a result. The cir
cumstanees. / must confess, favor this
belief Nugent has been for weeks no
toriously and in constant and intimate
intercourse with Mr.. Buchanan. and dur
ing the same period his letters to the
Herald have praised Mr. Buchanan, Wnlie
they have been full Of misrepresentation
in relation to myself. and have abused
Cen Cass and Mr.. Woodbury., who are
supposed to be Mr.. Buchanan's chleI
competitors for the nomination Tor the
presidency. These circumstances, though
strong. are not conclusive that Mr.. Blu
chanan has instigatede the attacks upon
me. II they were conclusive beyond the
possibility Of doubt l would dismiss him
from my cabinet, for l would keep no
one near M who was capable of such
conduct
The President then proceeds to note,
las a remarkable circumstance, in view
OF the foregoing facts and cireum-
stances that MIR. Buchanan had that
VERY DAY requested from him copy OF
a letter he had addressed to the President
In February. 1915. regarding the nomi-
nation Of Mr. Folks successor.
Mr. Polk says that when he invited
each Of the gentlemen TO accept places "
my. ca binet, | stated to them severally
that II they accepted. and should become
candidates to the presidency or vice
presidency. they would be expected upon
the happening of that event To retire
senting to the condition. Mr.. Buchanan
has been publicly candidate for the
democratic nomination for the presidency
for some months past and this is the
first time that he seems to have remen
bered the promise contained in his. letter,
for a copy of which he now asks.
..I have constantly. for months. fe.t the
embarrassment which he ga'>' me by re-
naming in the cabinet. He has been sell
Ash and all his acts and opinions seem
IA have been controlled with a view to
his own advancement. so much so that
7 can have no confidence or reliance IN
any advice he may give upon pu nc ques-
tiors I have horne with MN ana over
looked his weaknesses for the sake or
the public good. He is poe bly, now
troubled. in con -equence OF the lnvestiga-
tons gong on in the Senata concerning
his political friend and my caiumniator.
Nugent ard 1t is a title singular that
this nrecise neriod Of time Is seected by
him TO request a copy Of his letter to me
of February 1S4J. Will search for his
letter ard direct my private secretary TO
give him copy OF II.
Buchanan's Oeria'.
When the cabinet met the next day
President Polk detained Mr.. Buchanan
after his colleagues had retired. ito hold
q conversation with him on the subject
Il va. the first conversation had haG
with him." he records In his diary. He
had not mentioned 1t to me and ! felt o
delicacy and reluctance to mention it to
him sooner He said he had no agency
IN causing the publ cation to be made. and
that he was able TO account for all the
printed copies of the treaty and cores
pondence which had been furnished TO the
State Department He asked me If
thought he had furnished the coy to
Nugent. l told him did not. OF course,
I could not say otherwise after his posi-
tive denial that he had.
Il expressed my contempt for Nugent
and my regret that he had had any con-
nection or intercourse with him. said
10 him that l had expressed this opinion
to him some weeks ago, and regretted ex-