Buchanan, James (1791-1868) to William Stiles
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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. Order a Copy
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.
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.
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