Chapter XXIX (1)

1865-1868.

MARRIAGE OF MISS LANE—LETTERS TO HER AND OTHER PERSONS.

In the year 1866, Mr. Buchanan had the happiness of seeing his niece, Miss Lane, married to Mr. Henry E. Johnston, of Baltimore. It seems that this engagement was first made known to him in October, 1865, when Miss Lane was absent from Wheatland. He writes to her as follows:

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MISS LANE.]

WHEATLAND, October 21, 1865.[181]

MY DEAR HARRIET:—

I received yours of the 18th yesterday. We will talk the matter
over in regard to Wheatland after your return. I believe you say
truly that nothing would have induced you to leave me, in good or
evil fortune, if I had wished you to remain with me. Such a wish
on my part would be very selfish. You have long known my desire
that you should marry, whenever a suitor worthy of you, and
possessing your affections, should offer. Indeed it has been my
strong desire to see you settled in the world before my death. You
have now made your own unbiased choice; and from the character of
Mr. Johnston I anticipate for you a happy marriage, because I
believe, from your own good sense, you will conform to your
conductor, and make him a good and loving wife. Beware of
unreasonable delays in the performance of the ceremony, lest these
may be attributed to an improper motive.

I have no news to communicate of the least importance; besides, I
hope to see you by the middle of the next week at the latest.

Blanche and Martha paid me a brief visit yesterday,—better late
than never, and so I told them.

Governor Porter was here two days during the present week. He and
I began political life nearly together, and we can talk over the
men and measures of the “auld lang syne” for the last fifty years.
His visits are always agreeable to me.

Among your numerous friends you ask only for Punch,[182] and this
in the postscript, which is said to contain the essence of a
lady’s letter. He is a companion which I shun as much as possible,
not being at all to my liking. I believe, however, his health is
in a satisfactory condition.

The proceedings of a majority of the Episcopal Convention have
afforded me great satisfaction.

If the opportunity should offer, please to remember me with great
kindness and respect to Bishop Hopkins. I have no doubt his
preaching extempore is excellent.

Give my love to Mrs. Reigart, and be sure you place an indelible
mark on _that_ stocking. Should I again get the gout, how it will
solace the pain.

Miss Hetty desires to be kindly remembered to Maria and yourself.
With my love to Maria, I remain,

Yours affectionately,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

Footnote 182:

It seems from the following letter from Dr. Blake to Mr. Buchanan,
that Miss Lane was in Washington in March, 1865, at the second
inauguration of President Lincoln.

[DR. BLAKE TO MR. BUCHANAN.]

HIS EXCELLENCY, JAMES BUCHANAN:—

MY DEAR SIR:—Your favor of the 21st inst. did not reach me until
the 23d. On the following day I saw Miss Lane, and had the same
pleasure yesterday. I expect to call on her to-morrow in company
with some ladies who wish to pay their respects to her on your and
her own accounts. She will not require any attention from me, as
her reception hours are occupied by the many friends and admirers
who visit her. At Mrs. Lincoln’s afternoon reception she was the
observed of all observers, and she was constantly surrounded by
crowds of acquaintances, and persons desirous of being introduced
to her. She, I am sure, must be highly gratified by her visit, as
nothing has occurred to mar the pleasure of it.

Our city is full of strangers, who have been attracted among us by
the approaching inauguration. There is nothing new, and I have
nothing of local interest to communicate at this time.

Very truly your friend,
JOHN B. BLAKE.

Footnote 181:

A favorite dog.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MISS LANE.]

WHEATLAND, November 30, 1865.

MY DEAR HARRIET:—

I enclose two letters. That from Mr. Capen I opened, supposing it
might require immediate attention; but when I discovered the
subject of it I ceased to read. I go to town to-day, and shall
keep this open, so that if other letters should arrive I will
enclose them.

I go to York on Saturday, having received a very kind and pressing
invitation from the Shunks. Rebecca was ill in bed, and that is
the reason why I had not heard from them. I have not a word from
either Mr. Schell or James Henry. I infer there is nothing
encouraging to write about the book. A strong attempt is making to
cry it down in New York, but it will make its own way. No news.

Yours affectionately,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

Miss Lane’s marriage took place at Wheatland on the 11th of January, 1866. The note of invitation to one of their most valued friends was written on the same day on which he received from Mr. Johnston a deed of settlement which that gentleman made in favor of his intended wife.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO COLONEL J. B. BAKER.]

WHEATLAND, January 6, 1866.

MY DEAR SIR:—

Miss Lane requests me to invite you in her name to her wedding on
Thursday, the 11th inst. The ceremony will be between 12 and 1
o’clock. It is to be a private affair. No cards of invitation have
been issued. I hope you will not fail to countenance us with your
presence.

Your friend, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. JOHNSTON.]

WHEATLAND, January 6, 1866.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received your favor of the 4th, with the deed, which
I think has been well and carefully prepared. For this
purely voluntary act of your kindness Miss Lane feels
herself greatly indebted, and you will please to accept my
cordial acknowledgments.

Had I been consulted, I should have preferred that my name had not
appeared as a trustee, having determined, at my advanced age, to
relieve myself, as far as possible, from all worldly affairs; but,
as the chief burden will rest upon your brother Josiah, who is
abundantly competent to perform the duty, I shall cheerfully
accept the trust. Besides, this will place upon record, for
whatever it may be worth, my entire approbation of the marriage.

With sentiments of warm regard, I remain,

Very respectfully your friend,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. LEIPER.]

WHEATLAND, February 24, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received your favor of the 21st instant, and rejoice to
learn that your health has so much improved. I trust that the
genial air of the spring and the active exercise to which you have
been all your life accustomed, may restore you once more to
perfect health. Thank God! my own health has been good thus far
throughout the severe and inclement weather.

I duly received your letter of the 17th January, and have been
under the impression it was answered. I have often since thought
of the description which you gave of your happy Christmas meeting
with your children and grandchildren under the old paternal roof,
and what heartfelt satisfaction it must have afforded to Mrs.
Leiper and yourself. I trust that several more such family
reunions may be in reserve for you, though we have both attained
an age when we cannot expect much time in this world, and when we
ought to be preparing to meet our God in peace.

I had not learned, until the receipt of your last, that Mr.
Lincoln had joined the Church. Let us hope, in Christian charity,
that the act was done in sincerity. The old Presbyterian Church is
not now what it was in former years. The last general assembly has
thoroughly abolitionized it.

I confess I was much gratified at the capture of Charleston. This
city was the nest of all our troubles. For more than a quarter of
a century the people were disunionists, and during this whole
period have been persistently engaged in inoculating the other
slave States with their virus. Alas, for poor Virginia! who has
suffered so much, and who was so reluctantly dragged into their
support.

Miss Lane is now on a visit to Mrs. Berghman’s (the daughter of
Charles Macalester), in Washington city.

From your friend always,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. FLINN.]

WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, April 18, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I was much astonished to learn from yours of the 17th that you had
not received the bond and mortgage. At least ten days before the
1st of April, I enclosed the bond and mortgage to you, with a
regular power of attorney, duly stamped and acknowledged,
authorizing the recorder of deeds from Alleghany county to enter
satisfaction on the record. My letter inclosing these papers was
placed in the post office at Lancaster on the day after its date
by a friend who happened to be at Wheatland, and the postage was
paid. What can have become of it, I cannot conjecture. It must
have gone astray, as many letters do. Should it not soon turn up,
I shall send another power to enter satisfaction. Not knowing the
name of the recorder, I gave the power to him by his official
title, which is sufficient. Should it prove to be necessary to
have a new power, please to state his name.

I thank you for the information relative to the assassination of
President Lincoln, though I had received the news of this
deplorable event before it came to hand. The ways of Divine
Providence are inscrutable; and it is the duty of poor, frail man,
whether he will or not, to submit to His mysterious dispensations.
The war—the necessary war—forced upon us by the madness of the
rebels, we all fondly hoped was drawing to a triumphant conclusion
in the restoration of the Union with a return to friendly
relations among all the States, under the auspices of Mr. Lincoln.
At such a moment the terrible crime was committed, which hurried
him into eternity, and God only knows what may be the direful
consequences. I deeply mourn his loss, from private feelings, but
still more deeply for the sake of the country. Heaven, I trust,
will not suffer the perpetrators of the deed, and all their guilty
accomplices, to escape just punishment. But we must not despair of
the Republic.

I have known President Johnson for many years. Indeed, he once
honored me with a visit at Wheatland. That he has risen from an
humble station to the highest political position of the Union, is
evidence both of his ability and his merits. He is (certainly he
used to be) a man of sound judgment, excellent common sense, and
devoted to the elevation and welfare of the people. I wish him
success, with all my heart, in performing the arduous and
responsible duties which have been cast upon him. I shall judge
him fairly, as I ever did his lamented predecessor, though my
opinions may be of but little importance. I hope he may exercise
his own good judgment, first weighing the counsels of his advisers
carefully, as was ever the practice of the first and greatest of
our Presidents, before the adoption of any decided resolution. The
feelings naturally springing from the horrid deed ought first to
have a few days to subside, before a final committal of the
administration to any fixed policy.

I have weighed your suggestion with care, but regret to say I
cannot agree with you. Such an act would be misrepresented.[183]

With my kind regards to Mrs. Flinn, I remain always your friend,

JAMES BUCHANAN.

Footnote 183:

His correspondent had urged him to “write a few lines on the death
of Mr. Lincoln, which will soothe the bitter prejudices of the
extremists of his party against you and your friends.”

[MR. BUCHANAN TO THE HON. J. W. WALL.]

WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, April 27, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

Upon a reperusal of your letter of the 30th ultimo, I consider it
my duty to furnish a specific denial of the statement, by
whomsoever made, that I refused you the mission to Rome, “because
of a doubt as to the genuineness of your Democracy.” Any such
statement is without the least foundation. Indeed, according to my
best recollection, those who professed to be the best friends both
of yourself and of Mr. Stockton, never intimated a suspicion
either of your Democracy or your ability. On the contrary, they
expressed much anxiety that you should be the Democratic candidate
for Congress in your district.

Permit me to observe, as your father’s friend, and as your own (if
you will allow me so to be), that I regretted very much the tone
and manner in which you say that “the Republicans will sweep the
State of New Jersey next fall.” You ought to recollect that the
life of a public man under this, and indeed under all popular
governments, is exposed to many vicissitudes. For this, whilst
ever keeping steadily in view a sacred regard for principle, he
ought to be prepared. His true policy is to “bide his time,” and
if injustice has been done him, it is morally certain that the
people will, in the long run, repair it. Indeed, this very
injustice, if borne with discreet moderation and firmness, often
proves the cause of his eventual benefit. Do not mar your future
prospects by hasty actions or expressions which may be employed to
your injury. Still believe “there is a better day coming,” and
prepare the way for it.

I was seventy-four on Sunday last, and, considering my advanced
age, I enjoy good health as well as a buoyant spirit.

From your friend, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. KING.]

WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, April 27, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

Rest assured that I was much gratified to receive your favor of
the 22d. If I was indebted a letter to you, I am sorry for it,
because I entertain no other feeling towards you but that of
kindness and friendship.

In common with you, I feel the assassination of President Lincoln
to be a terrible misfortune to our country. May God, in his mercy,
ward from us the evils which it portends, and bring good out of
this fearful calamity. My intercourse with our deceased President,
both on his visit to me, after his arrival in Washington, and on
the day of his first inauguration, convinced me that he was a man
of a kindly and benevolent heart, and of plain, sincere and frank
manners. I have never since changed my opinion of his character.
Indeed, I felt for him much personal regard. Throughout the years
of the war, I never faltered in my conviction that it would
eventually terminate in the crushing of the rebellion, and was
ever opposed to the recognition of the Confederate government by
any act which even looked in that direction. Believing, always,
secession to be a palpable violation of the Constitution, I
considered the acts of secession to be absolutely void; and that
the States were, therefore, still members, though rebellious
members, of the Union......

Yours very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO REV. P. COOMBE.]

WASHINGTON, May 2, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received your favor of the 29th ultimo, proposing that I
should endow a Professorship in Dickinson College for the
education of poor students who do not possess the means of
educating themselves. The object is highly praiseworthy, but I
regret to say I do not feel myself at liberty to advance $25,000
for this purpose. Under existing circumstances my charities,
including those to relatives who require assistance, are
extensive, and the world is greatly mistaken as to the amount of
my fortune. Besides, if I should hereafter conclude to endow a
Professorship, whilst I highly approve the theological doctrines
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, I could not prefer a college
under its direction to a college of the Presbyterian Church, in
which I was born and educated, or to the German Reformed College,
in my immediate vicinity, in which I have taken a deep interest
ever since its origin at Mercersburg, near the place of my
nativity.

I might add that Dickinson College, when I was a student, was not
conducted in such a manner as to inspire me with any high degree
of gratitude for the education I received from my “_Alma Mater_.”
This was after the death of Dr. Nesbit and before a new President
had been elected. I am truly happy to believe that it is now well
and ably conducted under the auspices of a Christian Church
founded by John Wesley, whose character I have ever held in
highest veneration, and whose sermons I have read over and over
again with great interest.

Yours very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK EVENING POST.]

WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, May 11, 1865.

SIR:—

In the New York _Tribune_ of yesterday I read, with no little
surprise, an extract from the _Evening Post_ (which I do not see),
stating in substance that the Cincinnati Democratic convention of
June, 1856 (not “May”), had come to “a dead lock” on the evening
before Mr. Buchanan’s nomination, and had adjourned until the next
morning, with a fair prospect that it would meet only to adjourn
_sine die_; but that in the meantime, arrangements were made to
secure his nomination as soon as the convention should reassemble,
in consequence of pledges given by his friends. The nature of
these pledges, according to the article in the _Post_, was openly
avowed by Judge Black on the floor of the convention immediately
after nomination had been made. According to it: “A silence ensued
for a few moments, as if the convention was anticipating something
prepared, when Judge Black, of Pennsylvania (afterwards Attorney
General under Buchanan), rose in his place and made a set speech,
in which he proceded to denounce ‘Abolitionism’ and ‘Black
Republicanism’ very freely, and to argue that the States
possessed, under the Constitution, the right of secession. He went
further, and told the convention that if the nominee was elected,
and a Black Republican should be elected as his successor, he [Mr.
Buchanan] would do nothing to interfere with the exercise of it.
This pledge was ample, and was accepted by the Southern leaders.”

You will doubtless be astonished to learn that Judge Black,
afterwards Mr. Buchanan’s Attorney General, by whom this pledge is
alleged to have been made, and through whom the evident purpose
now is to fasten it upon Mr. Buchanan, _was not a delegate to the
Cincinnati convention, nor was he within five hundred miles of
Cincinnati during its session_. _Instead of this, he was at_ _the
very time performing his high official duties as a Judge of the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania._

It may be added, that from the date of General Jackson’s message
of January, 1833, against South Carolina nullification and
secession, until that of his own message of December, 1860, and
indeed since, no public man has more steadfastly and uniformly
opposed these dangerous and suicidal heresies than Mr. Buchanan.
Had any person, in or out of the convention, dared to make a
pledge in his behalf on this or any other subject, such an act
would have been condemned a few days thereafter by the terms of
his letter accepting the nomination. In this, after expressing his
thanks for the honor conferred, he says that: “Deeply sensible of
the vast and varied responsibility attached to the station,
especially at the present crisis in our affairs, _I have carefully
refrained from seeking the nomination, either by word or deed_;”
and this statement is emphatically true.

A few words in regard to the alleged “dead lock” in the Cincinnati
convention, at the time of its adjournment on the evening of the
5th June, after fourteen ballots had been taken for a candidate.
It appears from its proceedings, as officially published, that on
each of these ballotings Mr. Buchanan received a plurality, and on
the sixth, attained a majority of all the votes of the convention,
but not the required two-thirds. On the fourteenth and last ballot
on that evening, the vote stood 152½ for Mr. Buchanan, 75 for
Pierce, 63 for Douglas, and 5½ for Cass. This being the state of
the case, when the convention assembled the next morning the New
Hampshire delegation withdrew the name of General Pierce, and the
Illinois delegation withdrew that of Judge Douglas, in obedience
to instructions from him by telegraph, on the day before the
ballotings had commenced. After this, the nomination of Mr.
Buchanan seemed to be a matter of course. He had never heard of “a
dead lock” in the convention, or anything like it, until he read
the article in the _Post_.

It may be proper to state that Colonel Samuel W. Black, of
Pittsburg, was a delegate to the Cincinnati convention from
Pennsylvania, and being well known as a ready and eloquent
speaker, “shouts were raised” in the convention for a speech from
him immediately after the nomination was announced. To these he
briefly responded in an able and enthusiastic manner. From the
identity of their surnames, had this response, reported with the
proceedings, contained the infamous pledge attributed to Judge
Black, or anything like it, we might in charity have inferred that
the author of the article had merely mistaken the one name for the
other. But there is nothing in what Colonel Black said which
affords the least color for any such mistake.

Colonel Black afterwards sealed his hostility to secession with
his blood. At an early stage of the war, he fell mortally wounded
on the field of battle, whilst gallantly leading on his regiment
against the rebels.

I doubt not you will cheerfully do me justice by publishing this
letter, and I would thank you for a copy of the paper.

Yours very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. NAHUM CAPEN.]

WHEATLAND, May 13, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received your note of the 11th, with the slip from the
Boston paper not named. The astounding answer to it is, that Judge
Black was not a delegate to the Cincinnati Convention, was not
within five hundred miles of Cincinnati during its session, but
was at the time performing his duties on the Bench, as Judge of
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Although convinced that he was
not present, in order to make assurance doubly sure, I sent him a
telegram on the subject. His answer is as follows: “I was _not_ at
Cincinnati in 1856, or at any other time in my life. I was not a
member of, or an attendant upon the Democratic Convention.” This
is a clincher.

When I saw the article from the New York _Evening Post_ in the New
York _Tribune_, I addressed a letter to the editor, and fearing he
might be unwilling to publish such a damning condemnation of his
article, _a la mode_ —— of Boston, I sent a duplicate to the
_Tribune_.

I forwarded your note with the enclosure to Judge Black, but, like
Gallio, he cares for none of these matters.

From your friend, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[TO HORACE GREELEY, ESQ., EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK “TRIBUNE.”]

WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, May 23, 1865.

SIR:—

In courtesy I ought to thank you, as I do sincerely, for your
offered use of the _Tribune_ for “any explanation, comment or
disclaimer” of the acts of my administration during the last six
months of its existence. This kind offer should be cordially
accepted, but, admonished by advancing years, of which you give me
warning, I some time since compiled a history of it during this
period, chiefly from the proceedings of Congress and other
official and reliable documents, too long for publication in the
_Tribune_. This has not been published hitherto, because of my
reluctance, for several reasons, to obtrude myself upon public
attention during the prosecution of the war, now happily
terminated, in the suppression of the rebellion.

Though we have been “life-long” political opponents, as you truly
observe, I have for many years been a constant reader of the
_Tribune_. This I have done to obtain a knowledge of the
principles and policy of the Republican party, from their ablest
and most influential expounder; and one who, whilst contending
against political opponents, has had the courage and candor to
present to the public the Democratic propositions and principles
he assailed. I would, therefore, put it to yourself, whether it
was quite compatible with this character to assume that my
contradiction of an article in another journal, relating to
matters of fact, dating as far back as the Cincinnati Convention
of June, 1856, had been intended as a defence of the acts of an
administration which did not come into existence until nine months
afterward; and thereupon to pronounce the conclusion “that Mr.
Buchanan’s letter has not vindicated Mr. Buchanan’s career.” Mr.
Buchanan has carefully refrained, for four long years, from any
attempt to vindicate his “career” as President, except so far as
this was forced upon him in his controversy with General Scott,
and this course he shall still continue to pursue, until the
publication of his historical sketch.

Indeed, his recent letter to the editor of the New York _Post_
would never have been written had the editor republished from his
files the old article, as published nearly nine years before
(though never known to Mr. B. until a few days ago), with any
comments he might have thought proper. That of which Mr. Buchanan
now complains is that the new article, though ostensibly based
upon the old, presents a statement of facts essentially different,
in a most important particular, from the original; and this, too,
with the evident object of injuring his character. This change
consists in substituting for the name of Colonel Black, who _was_
a delegate to the Cincinnati Convention, that of Judge Black, who
_was not_; and, at the same time, referring to the fact that “the
Judge was afterward Attorney General under Mr. Buchanan.” Whence
this radical change, if not to bring home to Mr. Buchanan a
complicity in the infamous pledge which the last article falsely,
but in express terms, attributes to Judge Black? Had the facts
stated in this article, on the authority of the editor of the
_Post_, remained without contradiction, they would have been taken
for granted by the public, to the lasting and serious injury to
the reputation both of Judge Black and Mr. Buchanan.

It is but justice to the reputation of a brave and lamented
officer to repeat that, in his ardent and impassioned remarks
before the convention, evidently without previous preparation,
there is not the least color for attributing to Colonel Black a
pledge which would have been a serious imputation upon the fair
fame of a man who was without fear and without reproach.

Yours very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[SECRETARY STANTON TO MR. BUCHANAN.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, June 16, 1865.

DEAR SIR:—

Your note of the 14th inst., enclosing Mr. Tate’s letter, has just
reached me, and I have ordered the immediate release of Lieutenant
Tate and his three friends, with transportation from Johnson’s
Island to Alabama. I hope that you are in the enjoyment of good
health, and beg you to present my compliments to Miss Lane.

Yours truly,
EDWIN M. STANTON.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO A FRIEND.]

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received yours of the 10th instant, and annex a receipt. I
had not thought of charging interest.

Should you need one or two thousand dollars in the fall, I shall
be happy to accommodate you. Please to give me notice as long in
advance as may be convenient.

My health is as usual.

I begin to doubt seriously whether President Johnson will do, but
still hope for the best.

Your friend,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. LEIPER.]

WHEATLAND, June 19, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I was glad to perceive, from the _Jeffersonian_, that you were
well enough to preside and to speak at your late Democratic county
meeting. From the tenor of your last letter, I was fearful you
would not be able to perform this duty. I am truly thankful that I
was mistaken. Our thread of life is already so long that the Fates
cannot have much of it in reserve. May God grant that we shall
both be ready to welcome our Saviour at His coming, whensoever He
may arrive.

Thank Heaven! we have lived to witness the return of peace. I do
not pretend to speculate on the future course of President
Johnson. Of the past there can be no doubt. Until the close of my
administration, no man had a better Democratic record, unless we
may except his effort to give away the public lands to actual
settlers. With this exception, I received his uniform support.

My health is wonderfully good, considering my age. It has been so
for the last six months, but I make no calculation for the future.

I am happy to perceive that you are living over your life in your
grandchildren. This is a source of enjoyment which I do not
possess, yet I congratulate you upon it with all my heart. May
they all be as prosperous and happy as your heart can desire!

Miss Lane desires me to present her affectionate regards to you.

From your friend, as ever,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. TOUCEY.]

WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, August 3, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received your favor of the 29th ultimo, with the
accompanying communication. It is too late to make use of them in
my book, the manuscript of which is now in the hands of the
Appletons, and I am from week to week receiving the proofs, but
not in such quantities as I could desire. They publish it at their
own risk, and are stereotyping it. From present appearances, it
will not be published for a month or six weeks. Still, when I
wrote it, your testimony before the committee was in my
possession, and I think you will say I have made good use of it.

I have heard that the legislature of Connecticut have restored
your portrait, and that of Governor Seymour, to their appropriate
places among the Governors. Is this true? It was a shameful act to
have removed them.

Judge Black was here a few days ago. He informs me that Mr. and
Mrs. [Jacob] Thompson left Halifax for France on the steamer some
weeks ago, and that the money deposited by him in Canada belonged
to himself. It is well for him he has made his escape......

My health is very good, considering my age. I lead a tranquil and
contented life, free from self-reproach for any of the acts of my
administration. How much I wish to see Mrs. Toucey and yourself!
Miss Lane desires to be most kindly remembered to both. Please to
present my warmest regards to her, and remember me kindly to
Governor Seymour.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. TOUCEY TO MR. BUCHANAN.]

HARTFORD, September 18, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received your letter inquiring who persuaded General Scott
to take the “Star of the West” instead of the “Brooklyn,” to send
reinforcements and provisions to Fort Sumter in 1861. I am not
able to answer the question, except by saying that I did not. Who
did persuade him to make the change is entirely unknown to me. I
always supposed that he was induced to send the “Star of the West”
by advisers outside of the administration. Of course I cannot
answer for Mr. Holt, but I never suspected that he was the author
of that measure.

If you can do it without any inconvenience, I should be glad to
receive from you a copy of the joint order of Mr. Holt and myself
to the Military and Naval Forces at Pensacola, which we issued
during the session of the Peace Convention. You may remember that
I applied for a copy to Mr. Welles, and he declined to give it. I
may have occasion to make some use of it.

Mrs. Toucey unites with me in most respectful and kindest regards
to yourself and Miss Lane.

Very truly yours, with the highest respect,
ISAAC TOUCEY.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO THE HON. C. J. FAULKNER.]

WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, October 21, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have this moment received your favor of the 19th inst. Whilst
attributing to me patriotic motives for my official acts when
President, you express the opinion that I had erred in some of my
recommendations and measures of policy. To this, as a reasonable
man, I can have no objection, for I may have committed many
errors. But when you add that I would probably myself admit such
to be the fact, I must say that you are mistaken. I pursued a
settled consistent line of policy from the beginning to the end,
and, on reviewing my past conduct, I do not recollect a single
important measure which I should desire to recall, even if this
were in my power. Under this conviction I have enjoyed a tranquil
and cheerful mind, notwithstanding the abuse I have received, in
full confidence that my countrymen would eventually do justice. I
am happy to know that you still continue to be my friend, and I
cordially reciprocate your kindly sentiments, wishing that you may
long live in health and prosperity.

I thank you for the slip from the _National Intelligencer_, which
I have no doubt contains a correct representation of your conduct
whilst Minister in France. I learned from Mr. Magraw the cause of
your arrest soon after you had been discharged. I am happy to say
that through God’s mercy I enjoy unusual health for a man now in
his seventy-fifth year.

Miss Lane is not at home or she would certainly return you her
kind remembrances.

Very respectfully your friend,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MANTON MARBLE.]

WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, November 4, 1865.

DEAR SIR:—

I have received, through your favor of the 29th ultimo, the
invitation of the Managing Committee to become an honorary member
of the Manhattan Club, and I cheerfully and gratefully accept this
token of their regard.

It is proper I should thank the Committee for their kind
recognition of my long services in the cause of Democracy.
Convinced that its principles spring from the very essence of the
Constitution, I know they can never die whilst this shall survive.
All that is required to render them again triumphant, as they were
in the days of Jefferson and Jackson, is that the party, without
concealment or reserve, shall, as then, with unity of spirit,
persistently present and uphold them before the American people in
their native truth, simplicity and grandeur. I am too old to take
part in this glorious task, but, were I twenty years younger, I
should once more devote myself to its accomplishment, firmly
believing that this would be the triumph of law, liberty and
order, and would best secure every interest—material, social and
political—of all classes of my countrymen.

Yours very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. CAPEN.]

WHEATLAND, November 25, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

You will have seen ere this that my little book has been launched
on a stormy ocean. I thank God that I have lived to perform this
duty. It will be severely criticised, but the facts and
authorities cited cannot be demolished.

. . . . . . .

Miss Lane desires to be most kindly remembered to you.

From your friend, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[REV. DR. NEVIN TO MR. BUCHANAN.]

November 30, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

Please accept my sincere thanks for the copy of your new work just
placed in my hands. I shall hold it in high value for what I
conceive to be its intrinsic historical importance, and also as a
cherished monument of your personal friendship and favor. It gives
me pleasure to find that it is in the way of gaining wide
attention in the country, and I look upon it as a significant
tribute to its power that so little effort has been made thus far
(so far as I know), in quarters where it might have been expected,
to meet it in the way of earnest controversy and contradiction.
For the case is not one in which people of sense can persuade
themselves that the argument is to be disposed of finally, either
by blind general abuse, or by any affectation of silent
indifference and contempt. That your last days may be your best
days, and that they may be followed by a brighter happiness in
heaven, is the prayer of

Your affectionate friend,
J. W. NEVIN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. BAKER.]

WHEATLAND, December 25, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received your kind favor of the 21st, and also the grand
Christmas turkey, of which I entertain the warmest anticipations.
Although we Presbyterians make no fuss over Christmas, yet we do
not altogether despise the good things which it brings in its
train as kept by the outside barbarians......

I heartily rejoice with you that you have completed the barn.

With my warmest wishes that you and yours may enjoy many a merry
Christmas and many a happy New Year, I remain as ever your friend,

JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO A FRIEND.]

WHEATLAND, December 30, 1865.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received your favor of yesterday, and cannot consent that
you shall be put to any inconvenience, or be obliged to sell your
railroad shares at so low a price for the want of $1,000. I shall,
therefore, send you a check for that amount on the 2d January, and
send a check to our friend for $800, with a positive promise to
send him the remaining $1,000 on the 1st February.

I shall be very happy to see Mr. Phillips and yourself on any day
next week; but on the week following a great event is to take
place, at which, I hope, you may be present, though it will be
almost strictly private. If Mr. Phillips cannot come on the week
commencing on New Year’s day, then we must postpone his visit
until the week commencing on the 15th January.

Your friend,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

P.S.—I send a pair of canvas-backs.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. FLINN.]

(Without date.)

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received the book, and am indebted to you for having
procured it for me.

I am glad to learn that you soon propose to write me a longer
letter.

The rebels, when at Wrightsville, were within eleven miles of us.
No Democrat, within my knowledge was, in the least degree, alarmed
for his personal safety. Not one of my personal or political
friends, male or female, thought of leaving Lancaster. Miss Lane
entertained no fears. I doubt not, however, that they have made
sad havoc among the horses of my tenant in Franklin county. I
trust that General Lee may speedily be driven across the Potomac.
He would never have been here had not —— been such a poor devil.

Your friend, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MRS. JOHNSTON.]

WHEATLAND, January 18, 1866.

MY DEAR MRS. JOHNSTON:—

I have received your kind letter, but not until Tuesday, when I
thought it uncertain whether an answer would reach you at Boston.

I am much gratified with its tone, and think you have embarked on
the sea of matrimony with a fair prospect that the voyage may be
happy. This will, in a great measure, as I have often told you,
depend upon yourself. I hope you may perform your domestic duties
with as much dignity and propriety as you have manifested in your
_quasi_ public life. I long to see you an affectionate wife and an
exemplary matron. You are now .... and have experienced enough of
the life of the world to conclude that most of it is vanity and
vexation of spirit. I trust you have heart and sense enough to be
happy in your new condition. You will find it far better, to a
well-balanced mind, than the flash and excitement produced by the
admiration and flattery of the world. I expect great things from
you, and trust I may not be disappointed.

The girls are still here, and render themselves quite agreeable.

I think the wedding went off properly and prosperously. Every
guest was pleased. I almost lost my heart to Emily and Bessy. I
liked them very much, and I think your association with them will
prove highly agreeable. I have but little news to communicate. The
Misses Steenman and Mr. and Mrs. Brinton have been here since you
left, making anxious inquiries concerning you, which I was able to
answer in a manner highly pleasing to myself. Mr. and Mrs. Swarr
are about to attend the funeral of Mr. Mellon, their relative, in
Philadelphia.

I am rejoiced that Mr. Johnston and Mr. Schell get along so well
together. There is not now, and never has been, any reason why
they should not. Mr. Schell is certainly one of the excellent of
the earth, and there is no man living whom I esteem more highly.

I return you Sir Henry Holland’s letter, and I am almost tempted
to send him a copy of my book, on your account, as he desires.
Still, my opinion of his conduct, on his last visit to the United
States, has not changed. Perhaps it was too much to expect from a
London Doctor, that he would forego the honor of reviewing the
army of the Potomac, or the society of Thurlow Weed, Miss Rebecca
Smith and Mr. Everett, for the sake of visiting an old man at
Wheatland, who was proscribed by the grand dignitaries of the
empire.

We have good sleighing here, and have been enjoying it moderately.

With my kindest regards to Mr. Johnston, I remain,

Yours ever affectionately,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO DR. BLAKE.]

WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, January 19, 1866.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I have received your favor of the 16th instant, and am happy to
learn that no “fair one” has come athwart your regard for your old
friends. I know that your heart is so expanded, that love and
friendship will both find suitable quarters in it.

I shall deliver your very kind message to Mrs. Johnston, but do
not expect to see her for a considerable time. She left here with
Mr. Johnston on the day of the wedding, and is now, I believe, in
New York. When they will go to Baltimore I do not know, but
believe that soon after they intend to visit Cuba. I know that
Mrs. Johnston would be delighted to receive your felicitations
under your own hand. Her address will be Mrs. Henry E. Johnston,
No. 79 Monument Street, Baltimore. I thank you for the offer to
send me Mr. De Leon’s review, but I do not wish to have it. If
there is anything disagreeable in it, _as is doubtless the case_,
some person will be sure to send it to me. There is a violent and
brutal attack on the book and on me in Beecher’s _Independent_,
and I know not the number of extracts from the paper containing
it, which I have received anonymously. The book is quietly making
its own way, under the disadvantage of a very high price. Several
thousands have been already sold, and the Appletons inform me the
demand is still increasing.

I am truly happy to learn that my good old friend Dr. Jones is so
well pleased with the book. Please to present him my very kindest
regards.

Thank you for delivering my message to Mrs. Clay. She is charming,
and has behaved beautifully in her trying situation.

When the opportunity offers, please to return my very kindest
regards to Mrs. Dr. Houston. She is, indeed, an excellent woman,
and I owe her many obligations.

I ought to thank you for the reports “of the condition of the
_National_ Metropolitan Bank.” In these I observe you have
blended specie with other lawful money, but the amount of each
you have not designated. These reports have led to a train of
reminiscences. The Democratic party, under the lead of General
Jackson, put down _one_ national bank as both unconstitutional
and inexpedient. There are now more than sixteen hundred such
banks. All over the country, on account of their enormous
profits, these have enlisted great numbers of Democrats as
stockholders, and they will constitute the most formidable
obstacle to the triumph of the Democratic party. But this event
must come sooner or later. I presume our friend Carlisle did not
receive the book I sent him.

——, I perceive, has returned to Washington. Of all the absurd
things I have encountered in my life, the cause of his enmity to
me is the most absurd. I did him the greatest kindness which I
could do to a father or a friend, by causing the lover of his
daughter, to whom I was warmly attached, to be sent away quietly,
instead of making the case a subject of diplomatic correspondence
with the —— government.

I sat down to write you a few lines, and I have now written an
unconscionably long letter.

From your friend, as ever,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MISS HENRIETTA BUCHANAN.]

WHEATLAND, March 20, 1866.

MY DEAR HENRIETTA:—

I have recently had a photograph taken of myself, and as in duty
bound I enclose you one of the first copies. They say it is a good
likeness, and it certainly resembles the original, so far as old
age and wrinkles are concerned.

I hope Annie and Harriet do not persecute you since their return
home. I hope you have as kind a friend to take your part against
them as you found at Wheatland.

We are living along here very quietly, but servants are our great
trouble. We have no boy at present, our chambermaid is about to
get married, and the cook is going to housekeeping with her
husband. On the first of April, for any thing I know at present,
we shall be left in the vocative......

I have not heard from Mrs. Johnston since she left New York, but
the papers inform us that she and Mr. Johnston have arrived at the
Havana.....

I received a letter two or three days ago from your brother James,
who is evidently far behind the time. He expresses the hope that
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are now living comfortably at Baltimore. I
fear that the five Miss Buchanans do not keep their brother well
posted in regard to current events.

Please to give my kind love to all, not excepting Annie and
Harriet, if they have treated you with proper respect, and believe
me to be ever

Yours very affectionately,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MRS. JOHNSTON.]

WHEATLAND, July 18th, 1866.

MY DEAR NIECE:—

I have received yours of the 12th, and desire to express my
sympathy for your sufferings from the extreme heat of the weather.
I have received a letter from Annie giving me an agreeable account
of her visit to you, and stating what good a housekeeper you are,
and how happy you are in your domestic relations. God grant this
may ever continue! She says Mr. Johnston and yourself are looking
forward to your paying me a visit in August, and that he is very
anxious you should go to the country for a while. You know that my
house is ever open to you, and you shall always receive a cordial
welcome. The same, I am certain, will be extended to you whether I
am at home or not. I feared, from your former life, that you might
be inclined to leave home too often, and, therefore, I guarded you
against such an inclination, but whenever you come here, you know
how much pleasure your society would afford me, and this would be
increased by that of Mr. Johnston.

I enclose you the last letter of Mrs. ——, and I confess I am
disappointed that your name is not mentioned in it. Please to
return it to me. I had only thought of going to Saratoga to meet
her, and when informed she would not be there, I determined to go
to Bedford, because I really require the use of the water. I
intend to take Thomas with me, who has behaved very well since his
last escapade. I do not anticipate a pleasant visit. The place
will swarm with Republican intriguers. —— and —— have gone there
in advance of the main column. The latter, though professing
Democracy, will take part in all their intrigues on the Senator
and other questions......

Yours affectionately,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MRS. JOHNSTON.]

BEDFORD SPRINGS, July 30th, 1866.

MY DEAR NIECE:—

I have received your favor of the 25th, and would answer it at
greater length, but this will be delivered to you by Miss Goughey
Carroll who can tell you all the news. My time passes pleasantly
enough, and everybody is kind. I shall leave here with Mr. North
on Monday, the 6th August, unless some friend should arrive in the
meantime with whom I can travel home at a later period. Thomas is
useless, and worse than useless. I shall send him home to-day or
to-morrow.

You inquire, is there any possibility of Clymer’s election? If I
am to believe the shrewdest calculators in the State—I don’t
pretend to give my own opinion—he will certainly be elected. Such
is Governor Porter’s opinion, though he thinks that on joint
ballot there will be a majority in the legislature against us. If
so, a Republican will be elected Senator, and among the list of
candidates,—_such candidates_, there is very little choice.
Cameron’s chance is, I think, the best. You have doubtless
observed that Thaddeus Stevens has made the _amende honorable_ for
having charged us with spending more than the $20,000
appropriated.[184].....

With my kind regards to Mr. Johnston, I remain

Yours affectionately,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

P.S.—If you so desire, you might come to Wheatland by the 8th
August, whether I am at home or not.

Footnote 184:

For furnishing the White House.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MR. CAPEN.]

WHEATLAND, August 10, 1866.

MY DEAR SIR:—

I returned the day before yesterday from a visit to the Bedford
Springs, from which I derived much benefit. Indeed my health is
now quite as good as I can reasonably expect, considering my age.

You ask my opinion as to the course which the approaching
convention ought to pursue. Whilst I do not feel myself competent
to state in detail what ought to be their proceedings, yet one
thing is certain; they ought, neither directly nor indirectly, to
break up the organization of the old Democratic party by forming
anything like a new party. Leaving this as it is, and must ever
remain, they ought to confine themselves pretty much to the
question of reconstruction, and to the admission of Senators and
Representatives from the Southern States.

Our most prudent and far-seeing politicians, as they inform me,
believe that Mr. Clymer will be elected governor, and this would
be the beginning of the end. But drop the principles and the name
of Democracy, and our case would be hopeless. In regard to what
your history should contain, I have nothing to say. Of this you
are unquestionably the best judge. It possibly might appear to be
an anachronism to introduce the events of the late war. But you
know best.[185]

From your friend very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.

Footnote 185:

This refers to Mr. Capen’s great work, “The History of Democracy;
or, Political Progress Historically Illustrated,” by Nahum Capen,
LL.D. The first volume was published in 1875.

[MR. BUCHANAN TO MISS JANE BUCHANAN.]

WHEATLAND, August 10, 1866.

MY DEAR JANE:—

Your letter of the 19th July was duly received, and would have
been sooner acknowledged, but for my engagements at Bedford. I
returned home on Tuesday afternoon, after a very agreeable visit,
and one, I think, beneficial to my health. As in duty bound, I
called to see the Nevins yesterday, and had the pleasure of
meeting the bishop in embryo, and Cecil, as well as Doctor and
Mrs. Nevin, and Blanche. I find that during my absence, all the
younger branches of the family have been diligently employed in
croquet. They won a match to which they were challenged by the
townspeople, which gives them great satisfaction, and they are
eager to enter the lists with Jennie Roland. Has it never occurred
to a lady of your sedate character, that croquet, like dancing or
any other innocent and healthful amusement, may be carried to
excess?...... Your future uncle, Rev. Dr. Alfred Nevin, has, I
fear, sustained a damaging defeat in his controversy with Judge
Black on the subject of political preaching. Can you not persuade
your father to come to the rescue...... The little house at the
entrance of the park looks rather shabby, but I have promised you
to put it in order, and on this you may rely.

You seem to have suffered much from the heat. Philosophers have
calculated how many thousand years would be required to cool a
ball of iron as large as the earth, but as your body is not very
large, I trust that ere this you have become cool, and been
relieved from the headache. I trust that Lois is also learning to
live like other people.