The life and public services of James Buchanan, president of the United States

Preface

TiTE history of the statesmen of America is one of the most interesting and instructive studies that can well employ the mind of a citizen of this free and favored land. "While nearly every other country presents, as far as political progress is concerned, little more than the dead calm of despotism, our own land, under the glorious principles of its free Constitution, has given every opportunity for that natural conflict hetwecn truth and error, which seems to be the established system of the moral universe, and the only means to insure the progress of wise and beniticent reforms. Such a state of society has, we may say, almost created " anew heaven and a new earth," and though its convulsions are regarded with amazement by foreign nations, yet we may reasonably suppose, it is because they are comparatively strangers to the travail and pains necessary to the birth and establishment of new ideas. The prominent part which Democratic statesmen have acted in

e

VI . PREFACE.

all the leading questions of public policy, which have for seventy years divided political parties, and the fact that the doctrines they sustained, have without exception, now become the settled policy of our government, lend an additional interest to their history and opinions. Those who have preserved the purity of our republican institutions, and resisted every eifort to model om* laws after the example of foreign countries, deserve scarcely less honor than those who first established them. "We think it will be shown in the following pages, that the distinguished individual whose life and public services have been, we are conscious, but feebly portrayed, has borne no humble or insignificant part in these patriotic and praiseworthy labors. Let no one, however, expect to find in them an elaborate work, or one even commensurate with the just importance of the subject.

The object of the volume is very simple and definite. "When the lion. James Buchanan was nominated on the 6th of June as a candidate for the Presidency, the public of course became interested to receive a more full and reliable account of his political opinions, than is usually afibrded them in the various newspapers of the day. Immediately after his nomination, the writer was applied to, to furnish such an account of his Life A-ND Public Services, as would promise to meet the demands of the time. The limited period allowed for the preparation of the volume, and the importance of its presentation to the public at as early a day as possible, precluded anything like a studied or careful effort,

PREFACE. VIJ

such, indeed, as its distinguished subject is eminentlj worthy of. Tlic main point has therefore been to present merely the facts of Mr. Bnclianan's career as a public man, and to show iiis position upon political questions as they have come before him for liis consideration. As the limits of tlie volume did not admit of giving anything like a full report of his public speeches, it was thought advisable to present two or three of his prominent ones upon important public questions, and to limit the extracts from the others mainly to such matters as bear upon the issues now before the country. As Mr. Buchanan has ever shunned publicity, and always been averse to courting public fiivor through the press, no account of his life and important public services to his country, through so many years of active and devoted labors, has been previously published. The writer has, therefore, been compelled to rely mostly upon the simple record of the Congressional proceedings, and a few leading facts which Mr. B. and some of his personal or political friends have been kind enough to furnish. It is proper to say, however, that while we are confident all the statements in this volume, in regard to Mr. Buchanan's private, professional or public life, may be fully relied on as correct, yet no one is responsible for a single line it contains except the writer.

New York, July 4lh, 1S56.

TREFACE TO SECOND EDITIOK.

The election of !Mr. Buclianaa to the Presidency, and the continued demand for this vohime, has rendered another edition necessary. The work has been carefully revised and brought down to the present time. Although prepared for a jDarticular exigency, yet the author feels it has a standard value, and that it gives a correct and impartial review of the principal events of" Mr. Buchanan's life. lie has, also, the satisfaction to know that it has received this commendation from all parties in politics. He, therefore, desires that it may stand or fall upon its merits, whatever they are, without being prejudiced by the fact that it first appeared at a particular juncture. By avoiding excessive laudation, as being equally oftensive to its distinguished subject as to the principles of good taste, and adhering strictly to the official record of Mr. Buchanan's political career, it is believed the public have, in the present volume, a faithful epitome of his most important services to his country, and an impartial history of the life of our new President. In this spirit it is commended to the favorable consideration of the sovereign American people.

New York, March \Zth] 185'7.

Contents

CnAPTER I.

ilr. Buchanan's Birthplace — Tlis Father and Mother— His Early Education— His College Life — Sperling in the Backwoods — Studies Law — Admission to the Bar — Unparralleled Success, 18

CHAPTER U.

Chapter I

Mr. Buchanan's Birthplace — His Father and Mother— His Early Education — His College Life — Sporting In the Backwoods — Studies Law — Admission to the Bar — Unparralleled Success.

James Bcchaxan was born at a place called Stony Batter, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, at the foot of the eastern ridge of the Allcghanies, on the 23d day of April, 1791. Franklin County borders on the State of Maryland, and the greater part of it consists of a broad limestone yallcy, watered with copious and unfailing mountain springs, and having a soil of unsurpassed fertility. The immense range of mountains known as the Allcghanies, which commences in the northern part of Georgia and Alabama, and runs generally in uniform ridges to the northeastern part of New York, is in Franklin County divided into an irregular series of rocky, broken eminences. The South Mountain, a continuation of the Blue Ridge of Virgmia, forms its boundary on the east, and Tuscarora or

1-i LIFE AND SEEYICES OF JAMES BUCHANAN.

Cove Mountain, on the northwest. The highest pomts of the Cove Mountain are estimated at fifteen hundred feet above the valley. The spot where Mr. Buchanan first saw the light of day is situated in a wild and romantic gorge of this mountain. The towering summits of the eternal hills surround it, and slope down like the sides of an amphitheatre. A beautiful stream of water, clear as the crystal fountain from which it flows, meanders through what was once a cleared field, not far from his humble birthplace. The remains of the old Buchanan cabin are still to be seen, although little is left but the chimney. They lie to the north of the Mercersburg and McConnellsburg turnpike, but within sight, and about three miles from the village of Mercersburg. It is a lovely spot, and the scenery has all those elements of grandeur and sublimity which serve to inspire in youthful minds noble aspirations and exalted patriotism. Such places have been those where a majority of our great men have been born and reared. The early struggles necessary to contend with the rugged inequalities of nature, have developed a hardy constitution, inspired them with honest ambition, and taught them in early life those invaluable lessons of self-denial which are the foundation of all true excellence of character.

Mr. Buchanan's father was James Buchanan, a native of the County of Donegal, in the north of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States in the year 1783. He was a poor man when he came to America, but with a vigorous arm, an industrious spirit, and untiring perseverance, he acquired before his death a handsome competency. Five years after his arrival he married Elizabeth Speer, the daughter of a respectable farmer of Adams County, Pennsylvania. At that time the broad and beautiful valleys of Franklin County were comparatively a wilderness, but Mr. Buchanan sought them, and with his young wife became a pioneer in American civilization. Having " staked his claim," and erected a rude log cabin, his own right arm felled the trees that allowed the sunlight of heaven to fall niS FATDEK AND WOTIJEK. 15

npon the little clearing that surrounded his humble home. In this log-cabin was llie present James Buchanan born, and there he continued to reside until he was eight years of age. No one would have suspected, had they then seen the log-cabin boy wandering through the primeval forests, awe-struck at the strange, weird scenes which met his gaze, that he would one day hold listening Senates in attention, and stand among the leading statesmen of America. What a commentary do not such facts present upon our free and glorious institutions !

Mr. Buchanan's father was a prominent man in the county where he resided, and exercised a large share of influence. He had an excellent English education, and so fully understood tlie advantages to be derived from one of a more liberal character, tliat he early resolved that his son should receive it. The mother of Mr. Buchanan was a woman of uncommon intellect. Although she had not enjoyed the advantages of a superior education, she was distinguished for her masculine sense, and remarkable literary taste. It is a singular fact, that although she had never read a criticism on any of the standard poets, she had selected, and could repeat from memory all the striking passages in Pope, Cowper, Milton, and other prominent English poets. She was also a woman of the most exalted and enlightened piety, and to her influence in forming his character and implanting those fundamental principles of conduct which underUe all true greatness is her son, James Buchanan, indebted for his present distinction. It is a common remark, that all great men have superior mothers ; whether such be the fact, or whether the idea has arisen from a pardonable partiality of all men for one who was their earliest protector and most devoted friend, we cannot say. But surely in tVie case of James Buchanan, the remark is strictly true, and no unmeaning compliment.

In 1798, Mr. Buchanan's father removed with his family to the village of Mercersburg, where his son received his early education in English, Latin, and Greek. His progress in hia studies was exceedingly rapid, and lie early gave indications of a remarkably strong and comprehensive mind. At the age of fourteen, he entered Dickinson College at Carlisle, in Cumberland county, then under the presidency of Dr. Davidson. Here he immediately took rank among the most indefatigable students, and rapidly rose in the estimation of his teachers as well as his fellow pupils. The acquisition of learning was to him not at all difficult, and he mastered the most abstruse subjects with the utmost facility. The breadth and energy of his mind seemed to grasp everything as if by intuition, and to hold it with great tenacity. It was often remarked of him, that he never went to recitation unprepared. He did not merely learn his lesson, but he conquered it, and so fully and completely elaborated it, that it became his own. While, however, he was a great student, his exuberant flow of animal spirits made him enthusiastic in all kinds of relaxation and amusement. He sometimes surprised the faculty by his practical jokes, and upon one occasion was severely reprimanded for some youthful prank that was considered contrary to the strict rules of collegiate propriety. There was nothing, however, in his amusements, but what was strictly the result of a desire for mere fun ; the kindness of his disposition, and the evenness of his temper precluding any thought of anger or malignity.

While in college, he was a member of the Union P. Society, a literary body connected with the institution. All the members of this society were particularly attached to him, and he became its favorite, as, indeed, he was of the entire college. He enjoyed all the honors conferred by this society, and at Commencement was presented by its unanimous vote to the faculty for the highest collegiate honors. He graduated in 1809, at the age of eighteen.

At this period of his life, Mr. Buchanan was tall, slender, and graceful. He had been cradled in poverty, and at all tunes inured to hardships and toil. He exercised much in the open air, and the forests of Pennsylvania often resounded with

STL" ores LAW. 17

the crack of the rifle of the young sportsman, who, at an early age, like nearly all Americans, learned how to use this sharpshooting weapon. So dexterous was he with his rifle, that like a true back-woodsman, he considered it a disgrace to go home with squirrels or similar game, unless the ball had been sent with unerring precision directly through the head. His studies had expanded his mind, while his labors and recreations had given strength to his body, and already laid the firm foundation for a long life of uniform health. There can be no doubt that his vigorous, early training has been the means of giving him that wonderful endurance, which so remarkably distinguished him in after-life as a public man. The amount of labor he can perform is perfectly astonishing, and has always been remarked by all who have known him, both while engaged in his profession and in his duties in Congress.

lu December, 1809, Mr. Buchanan commenced the study of the law in the office of James Hopkins, Esq., of Lancaster city, an eminent lawyer, and a prominent, valuable, and muchrespected citizen. lie was admitted to the bar November 17 th, 1812, when he was a little over twenty-one years of age. He inuucdiately rose rapidly in his profession. He came to the bar of his native State when Pennsylvania was distinguished far and wide for the superior ability of her lawyers. She could boast then of her Baldwins, her Gibsons, her Rosses, her Duncans, her Breckinridgcs, her Dallases, and her Scmples, who shed not only honor upon their own State, but who added materially to the legal reputation of the whole country. With such men as these Mr. Buchanan was compelled to struggle for that enuuence in his profession which he subsequently attained, and so firmly kept. Perhaps we do not go too far in saying, that there never has been in our country an instance of so rapid a rise in the legal profess* on as that aff'orded in his case. From the day he was admitted until he finally retired from the eual profession, his was a series of successive triumphs. He was '^oor, and necessity demanded that exertion which soon made

IS LIFE AND SERVICES OF JAilES BUCHANAN.

Mm the rival and equal of the best lawyers in his State. He was engaged in all important causes tried in Dauphin, York, and other neighboring counties, and his name appears in the Pennsylvania Reports more frequently than that of any other lawyer of his day.

In the session of 1816-17 of the Pennsylvania State Senate, when he was only twenty-six years of age, he defended, unassisted by senior counsel, a distinguished judge of his Strte, who was tried upon articles of impeachment, and was successful. At the age of thirty he had risen to the highest class of legal minds, and commanded a practice more enviable and more extensive than that of any other lawyer in the State. At this time, however, he yielded to the urgent and repeated solicitations of his friends, and consented to become a candidate for Congress. He was elected, and continued in the same position for ten years, when he peremptorily declined a re-election. He occasionally, during the vacations of Congress, tried some important cause, which, from past associations, or other reasons, he did not feel at liberty to decline. He retired, however, from his profession altogether in 1831, having accumulated a competence by his steady devotion to business and the superiority in his profession, which his commanding talents had given him. Avarice being no trait in Mr. Buchanan's character, he gladly sought repose from business, when Providence had blessed his labors with the realization of the sincere prayer of Agar, " give me neither poverty nor riches." When he retired he left more business than any one man could attend to. Thus had the log-cabin-boy, born in a wild and rocky gorge of the Alleghany Mountains, at the early age of forty years, been the architect of his own fortune, and become the admiration and pride of his native State.

Once only after he left his profession, could he be prevailed upon to again appear at the bar. This was in the cause of an aged widow, where he was appealed to by the most earnest solicitations. It was an action of ejectment which involved

TINPAKALLELED SUCCESS 19

all her little property. Tlie case was a cliOicult one, and technically decidedly against the unfortunate woman. To iho surprise and astonishment of every one, he succeeded in establishing her title to the property in question. The poor woman was intoxicated with joy, and overwhelmed her benefactor with expressions of gratefulness, and offers of remuneration. Mr. Buchanan, however, would accept notlung for hi? services.

20 LIFE AND SERVICES OF JAMES BrCnAI3"AN.

Chapter II

Mr. Buchanan as Volunteer in the War oflS12 — Election to the Legislature in 1814 — liis Support of the Volunteer System — Tlie Resolutions of the Connecticut and Massachusetts Legislatures in Regard to Naturalized Citizens — Re-election to the Legislature in 1815 — The Charge of Federalism.

Mr. Buchaxax early signalized his devotion to liis country by acts as well as words. During the war of 1812 with Great Britain, the English army, after having sacked the city of Washington, threatened to attack Baltimore. The high-handed and outrageous act of destroying the public buildings at Washington lighted up a flame of indignant patriotism, which overspread the whole country. A public meeting was called in Lancaster in 1814, for the purpose of obtaining volunteers to march to the defence of Baltimore. On that occasion I^[r. Buchanan addressed his fellow-citizens in a speech of great ability, in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war, which he followed up by registering his name as a volunteer, the first with a number of other young and patriotic hearts. His country called for his services, and, throwing his law books aside, the stripling lawyer thus enrolled himself as a private soldier, willing to take any place if he could but defend the interests of his native laud. The company was commanded by Judge Henry Shippen. They marched to Baltimore, and served under the command of Major Charles Sterret Ridgeley until they were honorably discharged This early stand of Mr. Buchanan in favor of the war of 1812, will show his feelmgs

TIIK HARTFOKD CONVENTION CALUMNY. 21

at that day, and at a time when tlie country ncodod tlie stroijg anus and stout hearts of its citizens. How senseless and calumnious, then, has been the story that Mr. Buchanan united ^\ith the federalists in opposing the war, and who, about the very time that he was shouldering his musket, and assisting to defend the honor and interests of his country, were meeting in a convention at Hartford to make peace with England without the consent of the United States 1 The whole cause of this calumny is noticed in a frank and manly letter written by Mr. Buchanan in 184T, after taking a seat in Mr. Polk's cabinet, as fallows :

Washisgtos, April 23, l&tT.

" My dear sir : I have this moment received you letter of the 15th inst., and hasten to return an answer.

" In one respect, I have been fortunate as a public man. My political enemies are obliged to go back for more than thu'ty years to find plausible charges against me.

" lu 1814, when a very young man (being this day 56 years of age), I made my first public speech before a meeting of my fellow-citizens of Lancaster. The ol)jcct of this speech was to urge upon them the duty of volunteering their services in defence of their invaded country. A volunteer company was raised upon the spot, in which I was the first, I believe, to enter my name as a private. "VVe forthwith proceeded to Baltimore, and served until we were honorably discharged. "In October, 1814, I was elected a member of the Pennsylvania legislature ; and in that body gave my support to every measure calculated, in my opinion, to aid the country against the common enemy.

" In 1815, after peace had been concluded, I did express opinions in relation to the causes and conduct of the war, which I very soon after regretted and recalled. Since that period I have been ten years a member of the House of Representatives, and an equal time of the Senate, acting a part on every great question. My political enemies, finding nothing assailable throughout this long public career, now resort back to my youthful years, for expressions to injure my poUtical character. The brave and generous citizens of Tennessee, to whatever political party they may belong, will agree that this is a hard measure of justice ; and it is still harder that, for this reason, they should condemn the President for having voluntarily offered me a seat in his cabinet.

" I never deemed it proper, at any period of my life, whilst the country was actually engaged in a war with a foreign enemy to utter a sentiment which could interfere with its successful prosecution. Whilst the war with Great Britain was raging, I should have deemed it little better than moral treason to paralyze the arm of the government whilst dealing blows against the enemy. After peace was concluded, the case was then different. My enemies cannot point to an expression uttered by me, during the continuance of the war, which was not favorable to its vigorous prosecution.

" From your friend, very respectfully,

" James Buchanan."

IIox. George W. Jones.

Mr. Buchanan's active friendship m behalf of his country did not stop with his volunteer campaign. He was elected, in October, 1814, to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and there assumed the same fearless and patriotic course which had distinguished him throughout the war. An attack was threatened against the city of Philadelphia. The general government was reduced nearly to a state of bankruptcy, and could scarcely raise sufficient money to maintain the regular troops on the remote frontiers of the country. Pennsylvania was obhged to rely upon her own resources for defence, and the people were ready to do their utmost in the cause. Two plans were proposed in

HE SUPPOliTS TUE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM. 23

the Legislature ; the one was what was called the " couscri[)- tioD bill," and similar to that which was rejected by Congress, by which it was proposed to divide the white male inhabitants of the State, above the age of eighteen, into classes of twenty-two men each, and to designate one man from the members of each class, who should serve one year, each class being compelled to raise a sum of money not exceeding $200, as a bounty to the conscript. During the discussion of these two plans, Mr. IJuchanan took an active and highly patriotic stand. In the course of the debate, he said :

" Since, then, Congress has deserted us in our time of need, there is no alternative but either to protect ourselves by some efficient measures, or surrender up that independence which has been purchased by the blood of our forefathers. No American can hesitate which of these alternatives ought to be adopted. The invading enemy must be expelled from our shores ; he must be taught to respect the rights of freemen.

"We need not be afraid to trust to the patriotism or courage of the people of this country when they are invaded. Let them have good militia officers, and they will soon be equal to any troops in the world. Have not our volunteers and mihtia under General Jackson covered themselves with glory ? Have not our volunteers and militia on the Niagara frontier fought in such a manner as to merit the gratitude of the nation ? Is it to be supposed that the same spirit of patriotism would animate the man who is dragged out by a conscription law to defend his country, that the volunteer or militia men would feel ?''

This noble stand, so early taken by Mr. Buchanan, displays a patriotic love of country and shows, even at this early time, his confidence in the people.

•24- LIFE AND SERVICES OF JA^^IES BUCHANAN.

Mr. Buchanan assumed a position at this time, upon tbe question of the proscription of naturalized citizens, a position he lias, through all the fluctuating changes of politics for forty years since, consistently adhered to. The governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut transmitted to the governor of Pennsylvania, and by him sent to the legislature of his own State, resolutions recommending certain amendments to the Constitution of the United States, among which was the following :

" That no person who shall be hereafter naturalized shall be eligible as a member of the Senate or the House of Eepresentatives of the United States, nor capable of holding any civil office under the authority of the United States."

A committee was appointed to report upon this, among their other resolutions. They disapproved of every resolution sent ; but we only give as much of their report as relates to the one we have quoted. It is as follows :

" It may be fairly questioned whether the total esclusiot proposed is generous to others, or wise to ourselves. The revolutions of Europe may hereafter drive, as they have already driven, many an honorable and distinguished exile to the shelter of our hospitality. The distance which separates him from his native country is some guarantee that he has not chosen his new residence from any motive of levity, but from deliberate choice, and when he has abjured his allegiance to that country, when his fortunes and family are fixed among us, when he has closed all the avenues to his return, when a long probation has evinced his attachment to our institutions, why should his miiyl continue still in exile and why should the natural and honorable ambition for political distinction be extinguished for ever in his breast? Why, too, should wo deprive ourselves of the choice of such a man, whose European

THE KATURAMZATION LAWS. 25

experience may l)e useful, if the deliberate voice of the coraninnity is iu his favor? Other nations do not indulge in so jealous au exclusion There is scarcely a nation iu Europe which does not haiiitually employ the talents of strangers, ■;\herevcr they can be most useful.

" Even in England, the most fastidious of all the nations of Europe, with regard to strangers, naturalization is in many respects more easy than iu the United States. Many of the restrictions on aliens may be at once removed by act of parliament, or by the mere wish of the crown ; and we can readily call to our recollection, even within the present reign, several officers of high rank, both civil and military, employed in important and confidential stations, by the government of that country. In the United States, moreover, we enjoy a greater security than other nations, from the deliberation with which the choice of our country must be made ; the probationary term of residence, and the certainty that no foreigner can rise to power, but by the voluntary suffrage of the community.

" The number of foreigners now iu office does not threaten any inconvenience, and even that number will no doubt rapidly diminish. Out of 182 representatives in Congress, there are, it is believed, not more than four who were born out of the limits of the United States, and in the Senate, not one member. In one respect, too, the operation of the amendment would be injurious, by preventing the employment of American consuls, natives of the countries in which they reside — a practice almost universal among commercial nations. The natural and prudent precautions against foreign inQuence will, therefore, probably be satisfied, by requiring a long uovitiate to wean a stranger from foreign modes of thinking, and insure his attachment to onr institutions, and after that ordeal is past, leaving him a fair competition with native talents for political advancement ; a competition in which the natural bias in favor of our own couutryraeu wUl insure them at least an equal chance of suo cess. The committee therefore recommend a clisseut from th« proposed ameudmeDt."

The novitiate required at that time was five years, tlie same as at present, and yet this committee did uot see fit to recommend any alteration, but even referred to five years as a long novitiate ; for it will be remembered that during a portion of Washington's administration the term had been but two years. Mr. Buchanan concurred fully in this report, indeed it was unanimously adopted in both houses.

In October, 1815, Mr. Buchanan was again elected to the legislature, and again he distinguished himself by a patriotic love of country, and by a devotion to its honor and interests which won for him the universal applause of his constituents, "'t is well known that no State has ever shown a more earnest love for the Union than Pennsylvania. Instead of endeavoring to embarrass the general government in its delicate and often difficult duties, it has when necessity demanded it, come to its assistance. At this session of the legislature a bill was brought in appropriating the sum of $300,000 as a loan 'o the United States to pay the militia and the volunteers of that State, in the United States service. The general goverimient had l>een on the verge of bankruptcy, and this patriotic action on the part of Pennsylvania was as noble as its remembrance will ever be grateful, to every lover of his country. This appropriation received the warm sup])ort of Mr. Buchanan.