Buchanan, James, 1791-1868 to L. Harper
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04508 Author/Creator: Buchanan, James, 1791-1868 Place Written: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 August 1851 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 25.7 cm, Width: 20.4 cm Order a Copy
Written from Buchanan's estate, Wheatland. Discusses a recent trip to a General Bowman's home in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, where he and other guests held "meetings... which were not confined to Democrats." Referring to an upcoming judicial election, expresses his hope in the election of James Campbell, noting Campbell was the first Catholic to hold a state office. Discusses the Presidential election of 1852, seeing the Democrats/Free Soil alliance in Ohio as a bad omen, alienating Southern Democrats. Writes, "No Democrat can be elected President who shall not receive the Democratic vote of the South. Thus will be necessary to defeat General Scott. And no candidate can receive the vote of the Southern States who voted for the Compromise." Discusses division resulting from the Compromise (of 1850), the Fugitive Slave Act (part of the Compromise), and politicians in the South. Writes, "If we desire to perpetuate the Union we must let the slave holding states alone & suffer them to manage their domestic situations according to their own discretion." Asks Harper to exert his influence in Allegheny County regarding Buchanan's Presidential campaign.
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