Letter from James Buchanan to Henry Carey

James Buchanan thanks Henry C. Carey for sending two pamphlets with information about "the Tariff question." While "they are written with much ability," Buchanan observes that it seems "somewhat paradoxical to contend that the road to free trade is by the way of a protective Tariff." Buchanan also explains that he could not review the pamphlets until he left Washington DC. "It was impossible for me whilst there to bestow upon [the pamphlets] any attention, - as no subject was spoken of or thought of, morning noon or night except the Slavery question," as Buchanan notes. Transcript included.