Mr. Buchanan returns Home—Greeting from General 227 Jackson—Elected to the Senate of the United States—State of Parties—The great Whig Leaders in the Senate—Peril of a War with France
Removal of Executive Officers—Benton’s “Expunging” 281 Resolution
First Introduction of the Subject of Slavery in the Senate, 315 during the Administration of Jackson—Petitions for its Abolition in the District of Columbia—The Right of Petition vindicated by Buchanan—Incendiary Publications—Admission of Michigan into the Union—Statuary for the Capitol—Affairs of Texas
Bill to prevent the Interference of Federal Officers with 378 Elections—Devotion of the Followers of Jackson—The Whig Party less compact in consequence of the Rivalry between Mr. Clay and Mr. Webster—Retrospective Review of the Bank Question—The Specie Circular—Great Financial Disasters
Mr. Van Buren’s Presidency—The Financial Troubles 418 accumulating—Remedy of the Independent Treasury—Buchanan on the Causes of Specie Suspension, and the Pennsylvania Bank of the United States—Great Political Revolution of 1840—Buchanan declines a Seat in Mr. Van Buren’s Cabinet
Death of President Harrison—Breach between President Tyler 458 and the Whigs—Tyler’s Vetoes—Buchanan’s Reply to Clay on the Veto Power—His Opposition to the Bankrupt Act of 1841
Buchanan elected to the Senate for a Third Term—Efforts of 515 his Pennsylvania Friends to have him nominated for the Presidency—Motives of his Withdrawal from the Canvass—The Baltimore Democratic Convention of 1844 nominates Mr. Polk—The Old Story of “Bargain and Corruption”—Private Correspondence
Annexation of Texas—Election of President Polk—The 543 Department of State accepted by Mr. Buchanan
The Oregon Controversy—Danger of a War with 551 England—Negotiation for a Settlement of a Boundary—Private Correspondence
Origin of the War with Mexico—Efforts of Mr. Polk’s 579 Administration to prevent it
Central America—The Monroe Doctrine, and the Clayton-Bulwer 619 Treaty
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE—EARLY EDUCATION AND COLLEGE LIFE—STUDY OF THE LAW—ADMISSION TO THE BAR—SETTLES IN LANCASTER—A VOLUNTEER IN THE WAR OF 1812—ENTERS THE LEGISLATURE OF PENNSYLVANIA—EARLY DISTINCTION—PROFESSIONAL INCOME—RETIRES FROM PUBLIC LIFE—DISAPPOINTMENT IN LOVE—RE-ENTERS PUBLIC LIFE—ELECTED TO CONGRESS.