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ENVISIONING HIS CABINET BEFORE LOSING
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONTO PIERCE
96
●
BUCHANAN, JAMES. Autograph Letter Signed, to editor of the Harrisburg
Democratic Union,
Isaac G. McKinley, describing his preferences for possible presidential
cabinet and other appointments. 2 pages, 4to, with integral blank, written on recto and verso
of first conjugate leaf; folds. (TFC)
Wheatland, 17 November 1851
[1,000/1,500]
“
I am not sufficiently well acquainted
with Mr. Wallace to say whether he
would be the proper person to succeed
John P.Anderson. Certain it is that if he
has ever been an active friend of mine, I
do not know it. A new appointment, I
presume, will not be made until January,
although Anderson ought to be removed
immediately; & in the mean time, our
friends can consider of the matter.
“
I should be entirely content with any of
the persons whom you have named as
Secretary of State, & I would add to the
list William Hopkins of Washington
[John] Cessna & Mathis[?]. I fear the
appointment of Judge [George W.]
Woodward. This would be to give the
administration an anti-Buchanan ten-
dency at the commencement & would so
be heralded throughout the Country. I
have never known a man of his talents
& acquirements so deficient in political
judgment. Whenever an alternative has
been presented to him he has always
chosen the wrong course. He proclaimed himself a [Lewis] Cass man just about the time every saga-
cious man in the Country knew that Cass was out of the question.When he left my house after the
Senatorial election I believed him to be my friend. He well knows that I did not oppose his confirma-
tion in the Senate. Neither did I oppose Horn nor Beaumont. For the latter I excused myself on the
President’s request, & he would have been confirmed but for his own violence & folly. It would have
been a violation both of propriety & official duty for me as Secretary of State to have opposed any
nomination of the President in the Senate.
“
[James H.] Campbell has rare merits as a man & a politician. Should [Gov.William] Bigler not
provide for him, we shall perhaps be beaten at the October election. He would be satisfied with the
appointment of Attorney General & for this appointment I have recommended him strongly. Frank
Hughes is out for this office.Two of his friends have written to me & I have replied that if I had a
brother who was a competitor for it against Campbell, under existing circumstances I should go for
[James H.] Campbell.
“
Campbell would make an excellent Secretary of State; & if I know the man, he would be the most
influential & popular Secretary before the end of the Session we have had in Pennsylvania for many
years.
“
. . . I had a highly satisfactory letter from Governor [Isaac] Toucey yesterday as to Connecticut & the
Eastern States. Indeed every appearance is now favorable [for nomination at the National Democratic
Convention]. . . .”