James Buchanan

C

United States Senator

After returning to the United States in 1833, Buchanan was elected to the U.S. Senate (the upper chamber of the Congress of the United States) by the Pennsylvania legislature. He told the legislators that it was “the only public position I desire to occupy.” He became a leading spokesman for the Democratic Party in the Senate and consistently supported the policies of Jackson and, later, of President Martin Van Buren. Van Buren offered him an appointment as U.S. attorney general in 1839, but Buchanan refused. Instead he remained in the Senate where, after 1841, he opposed the Whig Party administrations of William Henry Harrison and John Tyler.

At this time, Buchanan took his stand on slavery, the most controversial issue of the day. He maintained that slavery was morally wrong, but he also believed that the federal government had an obligation to protect it in the Southern states where it already existed. In this view he differed from the abolitionists, who demanded an end to slavery and whom he despised as fanatics. Buchanan tolerated the existence of slavery on the grounds that the Constitution of the United States permitted it. Therefore, he argued, it was the duty of the federal government to protect the institution of slavery wherever it existed in the country.

D

Secretary of State

In the election year of 1844, Buchanan hoped to receive the Democratic nomination for president. He was disappointed when James Knox Polk was nominated instead, but he supported Polk in his successful campaign. After taking office, Polk appointed Buchanan as secretary of state. Buchanan had been reelected to the Senate, but he resigned to accept the new post in 1845. Buchanan made significant contributions to U.S. foreign affairs, particularly with regard to two major problems facing the country: the Oregon boundary claim and the dispute with Mexico over Texas.

D

1

Oregon Boundary Claim

An agreement between the United States and Britain, the Convention of 1818, had provided for joint occupation of the Oregon country. Within a few years, however, many Americans began to demand that the U.S. government claim all of the territory north to the latitude of 54º40', even if it meant war with Britain. One of Polk's most effective campaign slogans had been “54-40 or fight!” Buchanan showed diplomatic skill in negotiating a compromise treaty that gave the United States most of the territory south of 49º north latitude.

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D

2

Texas Question

In the dispute with Mexico, Buchanan carried out the president's orders that the U.S. envoy to Mexico take a firm stand. Buchanan wrote the instructions for the envoy, John Slidell. Slidell was instructed to insist that Mexico recognize the annexation of its former province, Texas, and that it pay certain long-standing claims of United States citizens. As payment for the claims, Slidell was told to press for the Mexican territory lying between Texas and the Pacific Ocean. The American demands were not met, and soon afterward the Mexican War broke out in 1846.

D

3

Cuba

While secretary of state, Buchanan also tried to further one of his favorite projects, the purchase of Cuba from Spain. Spain turned down his offer of $120 million. However, for the remainder of his public career, Buchanan continued to urge that the United States acquire Cuba.

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