Richmond, & I felt greatly relieved when I learned that General McClellan & our brave army had escaped destruction. His strategy was admirable, but I am at loss to know why he did not occupy his present position from the beginning. Mystery yet hangs over the whole affair, though I feel very confident that when all is unravelled McClellan will be justified. With my kindest regards to Mrs. Flinn, I remain always WILLIAM FLINN, ESQUIRE. JAMES BUCHANAN. MY DEAR SIR/ TO DR. BLAKE.1 WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, 12 July 1862. I have not answered your letter of the 1st Instant, awaiting the arrival of Stackpole & Pierre; but as they have not yet come to hand, I presume I need not expect them. I shall be right glad to see them, though much obliged to you for your prudent caution. I am glad to learn that Senator Wright talks of paying me a visit on his return to Indiana. You may say to him that if he should, he shall receive a cordial welcome. 2 We felt the deepest anxiety during the fight before Richmond; & I felt a heavy pressure removed from my heart when we learned that McClellan & his brave army were safe. Without doubt his change of position in the face of a superior army evinced great skill in strategy; but why was the wrong position originally selected? I still feel great confidence in McClellan, & with all my heart wish him success. Still, there is a mystery in the whole affair which time alone can unravel. 1Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 591. The passage here omitted relates to a private matter. Please to remember me, most kindly, to Messrs. Carlisle & Riggs. How happy I should be to see both or either of them! Judge Black is, I believe, in York, but does not write to me or visit me. Mr. Shunk was here a few days ago, who came from Judge Black's in company with our C. J. Lowry. The Judge had too bad a headache to leave home, & therefore sent his son-in-law. Miss Lane desires to be most kindly remembered to you. From your friend always, DR. JOHN B. BLAKE. TO MR. LEIPER.' JAMES BUCHANAN. WHEATLAND 25 July 1862. MY DEAR SIR/ I have received your favors of the 10th and 23d Instant. Miss Lane is greatly indebted to you for your photograph, which has been placed in her Book. How long I ought in silence to bear Forney's slanders is now a serious question. I have not seen his late speech at Harrisburg, but understand from a friend that it charges me with being in constant correspondence with foreign Governments, urging the recognition of the Confederacy. This is in substance a charge of treason, without the shadow of a pretext, & ought to be punished by an appeal to our Courts of justice. Miss Lane desires to be kindly remembered to you. Your friend very respectfully HON: GEORge G. Leiper. JAMES BUCHANAN. 1 1 Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 593. MY DEAR SIR/ TO DR. BLAKE.1 WHEATLAND 6 August 1862. I write to thank you for your letter of the 24 ultimo & for Mr. O'Sullivan's letters. He is an able & clear-headed man. I have read them according to your request. Forney is one of those inflictions which give me but little trouble. His malignity without a cause almost amounts to insanity. He cannot avoid abusing me. In this manner base minds relieve themselves from the weight of obligations to their benefactors. I have never read his speech. You speak of it as if it had been a meeting of "the Republican & Douglas parties." You may rest assured that no such thing exists as a Douglas party in this State. The former members of it are now thorough Democrats. The very few exceptions, such as Forney, George Laumax, Knox, & Dougherty, are the blackest of Black Republicans. They had "a war meeting" in Lancaster on Saturday last. It was not large, though many good Democrats came to attend it. The first speaker was Forney, and he led off in abuse of me. Many then left. It is represented as an overwhelming meeting; but it was, in truth, a comparatively small affair. Forney is doing Mr. Lincoln's administration great injury. He is exasperating the Democratic party against it, because he speaks as if he were on confidential terms with the President, and he is Secretary of the Senate. The Democratic party are the support of the war for the Constitution and the Union as they were; & yet they are denounced as traitors by such scamps as Forney. This cannot long endure. But I have spent too much time on such a man as Forney. We have had much company during the last month; but we hear nothing of Carlisle or Riggs. How rejoiced we shall always be to see you! 1 Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 594. My own health continues good. Miss Lane desires to be most kindly remembered to you. From your friend very respectfully DR. JOHN B. BLAKE. JAMES BUCHANAN. P. S. Would it not be well to send the carriage to New York for sale? TO DR. BLAKE.' WHEATLAND, near LANCASTER, 15 August 1862. MY DEAR SIR/ I was much gratified to learn from yours of the 9th Instant the favorable opinions entertained of my administration by Messrs. Saulsbury & Washington. Such opinions begin to be a little more common than they were a year ago; & they will be still more common in another year. . . . 2 We are all alive here with recruiting, & many, very many of our best young men are entering the service. The present is believed to be the crisis of the war; & for this reason they come forward to do their duty. I wish I had some news to communicate which would be agreeable to you. We are proceeding in the same "John Trot style as when you left us. My health is as good as usual, & better than I deserve. Miss Lane desires to be most kindly remembered to you. By the bye, I enclose you a copy of a note addressed by me to Mr. Lincoln on the 21 October last, which neither he nor his private Secretary has ever had the civility to answer. I presume he has been made to believe by Forney, who enjoys & will betray his confidence, that I have opposed him in the war for the restoration of the Union. I would make no appeal to him; but 'Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 594. "The passage here omitted relates to a purely private matter. if you are on terms with the private Secretary, you might inquire after the Books. They came to me from poor Benton, whose name is written in each volume. I I have received yours of the 29th ultimo, & regret that you should have been prevented from paying me your intended visit. I need not say you should have received a cordial welcome. hope you may ere long pay Wheatland a visit, when, without reserve, we can talk over together the sad condition of the Country, & the course which ought to be pursued by the Democratic party in the present dangerous emergency. It has ever been the bulwark of the Constitution & the Union; & its action must now be in unison with its glorious past history. My age & my position admonish me to leave it in the care & guidance of younger men, & I rejoice that you are now at the helm. The next Congress will be by far the most important that has ever assembled under the Constitution; & I deeply regret that any difficulty should have arisen in the selection of a Candidate for the York District. I had hoped that Mr. Glossbrenner might have been the man, because I know he is sufficiently firm & true for the crisis. If my interference should promise any good, I shall interfere. The impression was strong some weeks ago in York County against Mr. Bailey, whom they did not then trust. Yours very respectfully F. W. HUGHES, ESQUIRE. 1 JAMES BUCHANAN. 1 Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 595. |