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Buchanan (JAMES an American statesman th)

JAMES, an American statesman, 15th President of the United States, born near Mercersburg, Pa., April 23, 1791; graduated at Dickinson College in 1809, admitted to the bar in 1812. He supported the War of 1812, although affiliated with the Federalist party. In 1820 he was elected to Congress, serving successive terms by reelection for 10 years, where he made some reputation in the advocacy of bills for reorganizing the courts and judiciary.

In 1828 he supported Andrew Jackson 1 BUCHANAN for the Presidency, who, in turn, ap- pointed him Minister to Russia, where an important commercial treaty. In an important commercial treaty.

In 1834, he entered the United States Sen- ate, serving there 12 years, where he defended the spoils system instituted by Jackson, and declared against the right or power of the Government to interfere with slavery in the States. He was appointed Secretary of State by President Polk, after which service he was in retirement for four years. Under President Pierce he was sent in 1853 as Min- JAMES BUCHANAN ister to England, where his advocacy of the annexation of Cuba by the United States led to his nomination to the Presthe annexation of Cuba by the United men who supported the secession of South Carolina, and eventually joined the Confederacy. While holding that the men who supported the secession of nounced in 1860 that the President had neither the right nor the constitutional power to prevent a State from seceding. nounced in 1860 that the President had neither the right nor the constitutional and prepare for war before the Government did anything to prevent. After he retired, however, he supported the Union He died in Lancaster, Pa., June 1, 1868. cause.

BUCHAREST