Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
US Senator James Buchanan writes to South Carolina politician Francis Wilkinson Pickens about political issues related to the 1844 Presidential election. Buchanan also discusses the likely candidates at the time (Martin Van Buren as Democrat and Henry Clay as Whig) as well as alludes to both...
Location: I-Friends-2003-2
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan responds to a Democratic party Committee's request for information on Buchanan's opinion on whether the United States should annex Texas. "I should refrain from any public or extended discussion of the subject, whilst the Treaty of annexation is actually pending before the...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F7
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of War William Wilkins (Class of 1802) responds William Biddle's questions about bids for harbor improvements in Erie, Pennsylvania. Wilkins explains that this project is “under the care of the Topographical Bureau” and “many applications” had been submitted. As for who would win the...
Location: I-Friends-1983-22
Subject: Land and Real Estate, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan writes to General William N. Irvine discussing recent political events, including the Presidential election of 1844. Buchanan states that he "feared that the Whigs might make a serious impression against Polk in Pennsylvania on the Tariff question...." and that he agrees "...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F7
Subject: Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
US Senator James Buchanan writes to Arnold Plumer about his Texas speech, a "Judge Cahon Nashville," and a letter that James K. Polk wrote to John K. Kane in June 1844. Buchanan also discuses the Tariff of 1842 and the Whigs in Pennsylvania.
Location: I-Friends-2005-1
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes two letters to Daniel Sturgeon regarding political maters at the state and national level. The first letter focuses on whether or not Jesse Miller will be a candidate in Pennsylvania for the U.S. Senate. Buchanan does not believe he will be. Both Buchanan and Sturgeon...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan writes to General James Tallmadge regarding the Oregon border negotiations. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F9
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan writes to George Guier and explains why he cannot help Guier's son secure an appointment as a notary public in California. "The President has no power to appoint a Notary Public in California or to make any other civil appointment in that territory," as Buchanan explains....
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F21
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes former Representative Caleb Cushing and offers him an appointment as "the chief clerkship in the Department of State." "Your services in this position, in the present state of our foreign relations might be of much advantage to your country," as Buchanan...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F9
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to Charles Breuil, who wishes to be relieved of his current government duties. Buchanan advises Breuil to "get a few of [his] best known friends to write strong letters to" President James K. Polk.
Location: I-AsbellY-2004-4
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Francis W. Pickens, a member of the South Carolina Senate, regarding the new James K. Polk administration, Buchanan's adjustment to life as a cabinet appointee, and Pickens' decision to not accept the position of United States Minister to the United...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Charles Ward regarding Ward's appointment as the new "Consul of the U. States for the Island of Zanzibar." Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F10
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan to diplomat J. Randolph Clay regarding future diplomatic appointments, the annexation of Texas, and the possibility of a war with Mexico. "I think, from present appearances we shall have no war with Mexico; but this is yet uncertain," as Buchanan explains....
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F11
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney responds to Garret Dorset Wall's recommendation of former New Jersey Governor Peter Dumont Vroom for the vacancy at the United States Supreme Court. While he may hold Governor Vroom in high regard, Taney explains that he will not interfere in the...
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-16
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Jacob B. Weidman regarding appointments of midshipmen to the United States Navy as well as Judge Woodward's confirmation. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F11
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to Massachusetts Senator John Davis regarding the burglary of Mrs. Sally Blake's house in Boston. The burglar, William Baird, has fled the United States for Britain, and it is Buchanan's opinion that "the expense attending the apprehension...
Location: I-AsbellY-2002-45
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Knox Polk informs Judge Robert Cooper Grier (Class of 1812) that he has nominated Grier as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Grier will "fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge [Henry] Baldwin," as President Polk explains. Transcript included.
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-24
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Marcus Junius Parrott records his thoughts and activities as a college student in Ohio, then in Pennsylvania at Dickinson College (graduating in 1849), as a law student thereafter at Cambridge Law School, and a few entries from 1857 when Parrott serves as delegate to Congress from the Kansas...
Location: I-Friends-2004-3
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Diaries and Journals
Time Period: 1840-1859
A description of this document is not currently available.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F13
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan informs Moses Y. Beach that President James K. Polk has appointed him as a Confidential Agent to the Republic of Mexico. "You ought never to give the slightest intimation to any person, either directly or indirectly, that you are an agent of this Government," as...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F14
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Sarah Maury and asks her to not publish two of his private letters. "If in their publication, you should state that this was done by my permission," Buchanan explains that "it would look like a preconcerted effort to bring my name before the Public...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, asks Benjamin B. French when the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution adjourned and if French has heard about a pair of spectacles Rush lost. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and serves on the Smithsonian's board of...
Location: I-Friends-1991-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, thanks Benjamin B. French for finding his glasses and discusses the recent meeting of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and serves on the Smithsonian's board of regents.
Location: I-Friends-1991-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to W. P. Preston, responding to his request "to have an authenticated copy taken of documents relating to the debt due by the late Republic of Columbia to Lalung Montrop, recently of Baltimore, deceased." Buchanan claims that this request cannot be...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: Business and Industry, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Nathaniel Chapman, a former student of Benjamin Rush, expressing his regret that he cannot attend a dinner in honor of Benjamin's son Richard Rush in Philadelphia. Partial transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-2009-1
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
