About this book
LIFE
OF
JAMES BUCHANAN
FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
BY
GEORGE TICKNOR CURTIS
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOL. II.
NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE
1883
Copyright, 1883, by GEORGE TICKNOR CCRTIS.
All rights reserved.
Stereotyped by Smith & McDougal.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
1848–1852.
PAGE
Purchase of Wheatland-Nomination and Election of General Taylor-
His Death and the Accession of President Fillmore-The Compromise
Measures of 1850—Letters to Miss Lane-Public Letters on Political
Topics.....
1
CHAPTER II.
1852.
The Presidential Nominations of 1852—Election of General Franklin
Pierce to the Presidency-Buchanan's Course in regard to the Nomina-
tion and the Election-His Efforts to defeat the Whig Candidate..... 34
CHAPTER III.
1852-1853
Personal and Political Relations with the President-Elect and with Mr.
Marcy, his Secretary of Stato-Buchanan is offered the Mission to
England–His own Account of the Offer, and his Reasons for accept-
ing it-Parting with his Friends and Neighbors in Lancaster—Corres
pondence with his Niece.....
63
CHAPTER IV.
1853–1856.
Arrival in London-Presentation to the Queen at Osborne The Ministry
of Lord Aberdeen-Mr. Marcy's Circular about Court Costumes, and
the Dress Question at the English Court-Letters to Miss Lane.....
99
CHAPTER V.
Negotiations with Lord Clarendon - The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty and
Affairs in Central America—The Crimean War and the new British
Doctrine respecting the Property of Neutrals. ...
126
CHAPTER VI.
British Enlistments in the United States-Recall of the English Minister
at Washington-The Ostend Conference..
134
CHAPTER VII.
1854–1855.
The Social Position of Mr. Buchanan and his Niece in England...
142
CHAPTER VIII.
1856.
Return to America—Nomination and Election to the Presidency-Signifi-
cance of Mr. Buchanan's Election in respect to the Sectional Questions
-Private Correspondence.....
169
CHAPTER IX.
1857-1858.
Inauguration as President-Selection of a Cabinet—The Disturbances in
Kansas-Mr. Buchanan's Construction of the Kansas-Nebraska Act,
and of the “Platform" on which he was elected-Final Admission of
Kansas into the Union....
187
CHAPTER X.
1857-1861.
Foreigo Relations during Mr. Buchanan’s Administration..
211
