|
Although some of the country's greatest statesmen and historical events happened in Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth produced only one president, James Buchanan of Lancaster.
Born when George Washington was president, Buchanan entered Dickinson College at age 16, as a junior and at age 18 began studying law. His political career began with a run for the state House of Representatives under the Federalist Party banner. He only served one term, however, before "retiring" to a newly lucrative law practice, having made many influential contacts while in Harrisburg.
Buchanan might have been content to remain a lawyer, except for an incident that happened when he was in his late twenties. He became engaged to Anne Coleman, daughter of one of Lancaster's wealthiest families. The record remains unclear about what happened between them, but Anne called off the engagement and the Coleman family forbade Buchanan any further contact with the young woman. Shortly after the broken engagement, she died, and Buchanan was denied access to her funeral. The one legend handed through generations is that Buchanan's broken heart kept him a confirmed bachelor (others believe the reason for the broken engagement was the discovery of his homosexuality, although this theory, also, has never been confirmed or denied).
To leave the painful memories of Lancaster behind, Buchanan ran to Washington to serve as a Congressman, which he did for three terms. While in Congress, he changed his alliance from the Federalists to the Democratic Party under Andrew Jackson.
In 1832, Jackson named Buchanan Minister to Russia. Although Buchanan did not have the personal wealth to properly entertain in the standard of what was then the most formal court in the world, his likeable personality and his ability to learn French quickly and well enough to not need an interpreter, Buchanan was held in high-esteem by Czar Nicholas I and by the rest of the diplomatic community. Due to his success in Russia, Buchanan was named Senator from Pennsylvania when a seat became open (in those days, Senators were picked by state leaders, rather than elected as they are today).
His bid for the presidency began in 1844. He was defeated, but was named Secretary of State by the new president, James Polk. He was a major contender for the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 1848 and 1852 but was unsuccessful in both attempts.
Buchanan was finally elected president in 1856. It was a sectionally divided election with the slave states voting for the Democrats and the northern states voting Republican. Buchanan was the last in the line of what was known as "Southern Presidents." Like the others, he was not from the South, but he identified and sympathized with Southern traditions throughout his political career.
However, Buchanan did not advocate slavery. He was against it. Yet, living just miles north of the Mason-Dixon line, he was familiar with farmers in Maryland who did own slaves. Buchanan believed that the Northerners should not dictate to their Southern counterparts how to run their lives. On the other hand, he viewd abolitionists as extremists. This was a dangerous view for a Pennsylvania politician, as the Commonwealth was home to some of the most ardent abolistionists.
As president, Buchanan hoped for the end of slavery. He firmly believed that the Constitution support states' rights. Slavery was a Southern problem, he argued, and should be solved by each individual Southern state. Buchanan remained steadfast in his belief that the law of the land would eventually be upheld and the controversy would end.
It is doubtful that Buchanan would have been re-elected had he chosen to run in 1860. He believed that no president should serve more than one term. On March 4, 1861, Buchanan handed the keys to the White House to Abraham Lincoln and gladly retired to his estate, Wheatland.
In retirement, Buchanan served as President of the Board of Trustees for Franklin and Marshall College, leaving the political life behind. After a short illness, Buchanan died in June, 1868, and is buried in Woodward Cemetery, Lancaster. His estate is now a museum open to the public.
|
| |
