Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Back to Collection Search

Buchanan, James (1791-1868) to William Stiles

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06396 Author/Creator: Buchanan, James (1791-1868) Place Written: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 April 1852 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope ; 25.1 x 20.1 cm.

Summary of Content: Thanks him for sending a copy of his work on the political movements in Austria of 1848-1849. Chastises him for not visiting when he was in the area. Warns against the election of Winfield Scott, the Whig party candidate, to the presidency and states that the only way to avoid this is to keep the Democrats united. Scott's election would lead to " ... a triumph of the North over the South. Thus a more dangerous geographical division of parties would be introduced." Remarks on his faith in the democratic candidates to do good instead of evil. Comments on his own role in turning the tide against slavery in Pennsylvania. Congratulates Stiles for being elected a delegate to the Baltimore Convention. Discusses his chances at being nominated for the presidency and mentions other possible candidates Stephen A. Douglas and General Lewis Cass and their prospects. Asks what his prospects are like in Georgia. Marked private. Written from his estate Wheatland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Addressed to Stiles in Savannah, Georgia.

Background Information: Stiles was a lawyer and a Representative from Georgia. Buchanan did not get the democratic nomination for the presidency in 1852. It went instead to Franklin Pierce.

People: Buchanan, James, 1791-1868
Stiles, William H. (William Henry)., 1809-1865
Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866
Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861
Cass, Lewis, 1782-1866

Historical Era: National Expansion and Reform, 1815-1860

Subjects: PresidentGlobal History and CivicsForeign AffairsWhigsPoliticsGovernment and CivicsElectionDemocratic PartyMorality and EthicsSlaveryAfrican American History

Sub Era: Age of Jackson

Order a Copy Citation Guidelines for Online Resources

Copyright Notice: The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.