$8.00 to the proprietors & asked them to send it by mail after the 1st July with a receipt. It came. Discovering that they had very properly raised their subscription to $10, I sent them the two additional dollars & requested them to send the paper to the Bedford Springs. I never received a number there, nor have I heard from them. I confess I do not understand such conduct. Will you inquire into it? This is strange conduct towards myself, especially as I had violated my rule in their favor & contributed $250 to the fund. But about this you need say nothing. Yours affectionately

JAMES BUCHANAN HENRY, ESQUIRE.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

TO MR. LEIPER.'

WHEATLAND 23 August 1864.

MY DEAR SIR/

I have received your favor & it affords me great pleasure to learn that Mrs. Leiper & yourself propose to pay us a visit some time after the 1st September. The sooner the better. I need not promise both a cordial welcome. before so that the carriage may meet you at the Cars.

Please write a day or two

It did not occur to me that your former letter might have referred to that one which I wrote in favor of Forney's election to the Senate. If it had, I should have spared you some trouble.

Miss Lane returned from the Springs on Friday last, & desires to be kindly remembered to Mrs. Leiper & yourself.

The address of Mr. Lincoln "To whom it may concern. has given a great impulse to the reaction already commenced before its date. I have no doubt he is anxious to correct the blunder; but cannot believe, as the New York Herald's cor

1

Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 624.

VOL. XI-24

respondent states that he has employed Judge Black to visit

Canada for this purpose.

I have received your favors of the 1st and 17th inst., together with a copy of your letter to Mr. Van Dyke as Chairman, all of which I have read with much interest. The meeting of the Chicago Convention is so near at hand that it would be vain to enter into political speculations. The proceedings of this body, whatever they may be, will constitute a new and important era in the history of the Democratic party. From all appearances McClellan will be nominated. Whether for good or for evil time must determine. The platform will present the greatest difficulty. Whilst we are all in favor of peace, it may be too pacific. We ought to commence negotiations with the South and offer them every reasonable guarantee for the security of their rights within the Union. If they will accept this and engage to meet us in a general convention of all the States, then I should be in favor of an armistice. A general proposition for peace, and an armistice without reference to the restoration of the Union, would be in fact a recognition of their independence. For this I confess I am far from being prepared.

It is my impression that the South have no idea of making peace without recognition. In this I trust I may be mistaken. Your article on "swapping horses" is both witty and true, and has afforded us much amusement.

In regard to Miss Lane's coal lands: I think it would be impossible, scattered as the heirs are, and some of them needy,

1 Curtis's Buchanan, II. 624.

to obtain the consent of all to lease them. It is in the power of any one of them to force a sale by legal proceedings. This was threatened; but has not yet been attempted. In that event, which is highly probable, we ought to be prepared to purchase; and from the nature of law proceedings we shall have sufficient time to be ready. Your services and influence may then become very beneficial. . . . Miss Lane will write to you whenever anything shall occur respecting the lands.

I shall decide when and how I shall publish after seeing the proceedings at Chicago. I cannot think the work deserves to be stereotyped.

Miss Lane desires to be most kindly remembered to you. My health is as usual. We passed our time very agreeably at the Springs.

From your friend, very respectfully,

NAHUM CAPEN, ESQ.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

MY DEAR JAMES/

TO MR. HENRY.1

WHEATLAND 22 Sep: 1864.

I was very much gratified with your last letter, as I always am to hear good tidings of yourself & your little boy. May God have you both under His holy keeping! I should have written to you more than ten days ago, but for an accident which has caused me much pain & confined me to my room & a great part of the time to bed since last Sunday week. On that evening, whilst taking a walk on the Turnpike, I fell with great force, & the concussion was so violent that on the next day I found myself unable to walk, & for several days I could not stand. I can now walk across the floor, & my strength is gradually returning. In other respects I am well. The Doctor thought that the severe

1

1 Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 625.

fall might bring back the rheumatism; but it has not done so, except in a slight degree. .

1

No man except General McClellan could have been nominated at Chicago. The Convention was neither more nor less than a ratification meeting of the decree of the people. He would not have been my first choice; but I am satisfied. God grant he may succeed! Peace would be a great, a very great blessing; but it would be purchased at too high a price at the expense of the Union. I have never yet been able to tolerate the idea of Southern recognition.

We

Mr. Schell will, I think & earnestly hope, accept my invitation to pay us a visit during the present or next month. should all be glad if you would accompany him; but not at the expense of your important business. 1 Miss Hetty has made apple butter for you, which, in the estimate of those who use such an article, is pronounced excellent. She says, however, that you have forgotten her, as you never write to her as you did formerly. . .

1

Miss Harriet & Miss Hetty desire me to present their kindest love to you, & I remain

Yours affectionately,

JAMES BUCHANAN.

J. BUCHANAN HENRY, ESQ.

TO MR. CAPEN."

WHEATLAND, October 5, 1864.

MY DEAR SIR:

I have just received your favor of the 3d instant.

Whilst

I do not concur in opinion with our valued friend, Mr. Sparks, that there is no difference between the Chicago platform and General McClellan's letter of acceptance, I am cordially willing to give him my vote.

'The brief passages here omitted relate to purely private matters.

2 Curtis's Buchanan, II. 626.

On retiring from the Presidential office, I expressed the determination to follow the example of my Democratic predecessors, and refrain from taking an active part in party politics. Still, I am as much of a Democrat, and as devoted to Democratic principles as I ever have been. Peace, although a great blessing and greatly to be desired, would be too dearly purchased at the. expense of the Union, and I, therefore, like the letter of General McClellan.

In answer to your inquiry, I am but slightly, if at all, acquainted with General McClellan. I must certainly have seen him, but have no recollection of his person.

As to the result of the election in this State, I can express no opinion. I hear, from those who visit me, of great changes everywhere in our favor; but it cannot be denied that, since the victories of Farragut, Sherman, and the prospects of General Grant, an impression has been made, more or less extensively, that the Southern States will speedily submit. I wish to God this were true. It is certain, however, that the expectation has gone far to embolden the Republicans. But why speculate? Tuesday next will decide the vote of Pennsylvania at the Presidential election, unless it should be very close.

My record is all ready, but I do not intend to publish until after the Presidential election. The truth which it contains would not make it a very acceptable document, especially to the friends of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, of Squatter Sovereignty, and of those Douglas supporters who broke up the Charleston Convention. It would not be very acceptable to nor to, and that class of politicians.

Miss Lane desires to be most kindly remembered to you, and I remain always,

Very respectfully your friend,

JAMES BUCHANAN.

NAHUM CAPEN, ESQ.