James+Buchanan

Name: James Buchanan, Jr. Age: 59 Gender: Male Occupation: 17th United States Secretary of State If in politics, what was your occupation prior to that: United States Senator of Pennsylvania, United States Minister to Russia, Member of House of Represantatives on various occasions, Chairman of House Committee of the Judiciary, military service in the war of 1812 Social Class: Relatively High. Financial Situation: Well-off. Appearance: "Doughface" - nice, round face that looks very kind Location: Pennsylvania Daily Routine: Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Flirtatious, but never able to marry or settle down Past/Individual and family history: Buchanan was the second oldest of 11 children. He was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, to James Buchanan Sr. and Elizabeth Buchanan. The family claims to have descended from King James I of Scotland. Family: Married Ann Caroline Coleman in 1819, but she later died and he never married again. They had no children. Social relations with others: Has some powerful friends but not completely affluent. Best friend - Rufus King Religion: Presbyterian Education: Dickinson College (Pennsylvania) Conflicts/Enemies: Stephen A. Douglas



//**Journal #1** - The time frame is sometime during the year 1850. Consider all of the things that have taken place during the previous five years (Mexican-American War, Mexican Cession, Wilmot Proviso, Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Act). You are free to write about any one (or more) of these things in your journal entry. Be sure to include your actions in response to one (or more) of these events.// And I am not the least ashamed to admit – indeed, I would stand high upon my desk and call out to the whole of America – my hearty approval of the Fugitive Slave Act. I just cannot comprehend the minds of some of my fellow American citizens, my fellow Northerners. ‘Tis impossible to sympathize with the abolitionists. How I despise them!

A slave is a slave and was born to be a slave. God did not craft them to be on par with fellow white men of America – the slave and master relationship is as natural as the American land itself. Of course, by no means do I wish to bring abuse down unto slaves; God would most highly disapprove of such rash and brutal treatment. But slavery itself does not have direct implications of cruelty. In a healthy slave and master relationship, the master protects, feeds, and provides shelter for the slave – much more than any slave on his own could do. These slaves were born with a significantly lower mental capacity and henceforth require some sort of overseer to monitor their work, lest they wander off or forget their tasks. And in turn for this attentive care, the slaves provide physical labor for their masters.

And thus, I cannot condone the actions of the abolitionists a single bit. They threaten to break the delicate and necessary relationship between slave and master. Needy and needed. What will free slaves ever do? As I have states before, they are less developed both physically and mentally than white men. Look at their black-as-the-Devil skin, their strange talk and bumbling words. They are incapable of functioning in normal society because that is not what slaves were made for.

Hence, I viewed the Fugitive Slave Act as a commendable one, an act that finally makes sense. Already, in our Constitution, it states quite clearly that all runaway slaves must be returned. Right there! And so any abolitionist could technically be accused of acting unconstitutionally! Anyway, all of those illegal “free slaves” must now be returned to their rightful master, even if they have escaped to the north, for all police officers and watchmen have been given the right by the federal government to kidnap these “free slaves”.

But lo, the time! I did not realize how much the sun had fallen until I realized that I could barely see the outlines of my writing. Of course, I could just light another candle, but I have spent far too much time here and so I bid you adieu. //Sources: Textbook//



//Journal #2 - **The year is now 1852. Continue your story as you began in Journal #1. For this journal entry and all subsequent entries, you must interact with at least two other characters in each journal entry. When you interact with another character, provide a hyperlink to that character's page in your journal entry.**//
 * O Diary!

My suspicions about some of the men in this country cannot be quelled.

Do you recall how I went on whole tirade about slaves and free Negroes and abolitionists, and commended the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1850? Well, it seems as though those commendable acts have done nothing to reduce the number of Negroes running away from their masters and escaping – this time, their destination is Canada! But that is not what irks me, o Diary! No! It is the fact that the good men of our good nation of the United States of America are actually assisting these slaves in escaping past our country’s borderlines. I could call these man traitors! Violators of the Constitution of the United States of America!

I have heard various accounts of men and women alike providing temporary refuge for slaves who have abandoned their masters. There are rumors floating about that even factory workers are using factories themselves to hide large groups of slaves from slave catchers and police! On my last trip to Boston, one night when I was out in somewhat late hours smoking a cigar after enjoying a round of drinks with a friend, I met one fellow – a Northern factory owner. He was an off-putting fellow; perhaps it was the strangely placid tone of his voice, or the stony expressionless stare he have whilst I spoke to him, but there was something about that man that was just edgy. As if he had something to hide. Sadly, I was much too intoxicated to have any good reason to be suspicious and accuse him for anything; the details of the night still remain a bit hazy to me.

And on that very same trip, o Diary, you would never have guessed – I met a free Negro. Despicable! Unfortunately, as I am a mere politician, I did not officially have any legal authority to detain that cursed black man, but o Diary, I would have tackled him on the spot had I any! It was a few nights after I talked to the North factory owner. Again, I had been drinking with my friend. Whilst stumbling back to the inn I was staying at, I suddenly came across a frightened black man. Admittedly, I am not sure what happen, but I do believe that I lunged for his coat pockets to check for any papers. I also recall then yelling at the top of my lungs the invalidity of these “papers”, for he would never be free under federal law. But somehow and at some point that Negro disappeared, and I woke up on the floor of my inn room.

And alas, Diary, I have once again spent too much of my time recounting experiences that bring me pain. I have large plans for the future – but I shan’t divulge them yet! God speed!



**//Journal #3 - **It's 1854... the Kansas-Nebraska Act has passed. Squatters are now moving into Kansas in an attempt to sway the vote. Continue your story...**//


 * Greetings Diary!

I seem to have this horrible habit of only recording my daily events one every two years…this is a horrible habit for a man of such prestige like me! Men like me need to record their lives…their thoughts to preserve them throughout the sands of time.

Sadly enough, I am still horribly, horribly busy. As I said two years ago, I am still working on an immense long-term project for my future…for the future of the nation, if you are able to comprehend the nuances of my words…

Anyways, Diary, do you remember how I lamented about the state of our nation? Well it is happening again! My archenemy, Stephen A. Douglas, the fool, has created an act called the Kansas-Nebraska Act. What stupidity! And yet again, Douglas proves his worthlessness as a leader for the Democratic Party. Popular sovereignty – what goes through this man’s head! Everything was fine when the act was established as state’s rights – although I am a Northerner, I have Southern sympathies – but popular sovereignty is just too much. What if everyone in the state votes against slavery then? What shall we do, when the Southern economy depends so much on slaves? Douglas is no different from when I first talked to him. I remember the first time we met…the man is miniscule! And he acts like he is a king. I despise how his motions are so violent and aggressive. And those blasted Squatters. Ruining the the vote like the whiskey-tangoers they are.

And now on a more personal level…dear Diary, I believe I have found inspiration. I read a work of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and I must say I was impressed. I am not particularly the literary type, nor the artistic type, but what Emerson wrote rings true within me. I especially enjoyed Walden Pond and his discourse on nature…The one thing I disapprove about the man, however, is his pro-abolitionist views. The idiot. He does not realize how necessary slavery is to our economy. His writing is spectacular, yes, but alas these artists are cretins in the realm of politics.

And now I bid you adieu Diary, because I am a busy man!



**Journal #4 -** It's now 1856. Bleeding Kansas has just taken place and John Brown emerged on to the scene. Buchanan was just elected as the US President. Dred Scott is arrested and is about to be brought to trial. Continue your story.

And now Diary, I can reveal what I have been planning for the past several years. I have finally done it. I HAVE FINALLY ACHIEVED MY DREAM. Dear Diary, I am now officially the 15th President of the United States of America. I have worked so hard for the moment, to have the honor of entering the same realm as the very forefathers of our country – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and so on…And I am sure that I will be able to continue leading this country into the glory and greatness it is destined for. I hope Stephen A. Douglas is crying sweet, sweet tears.

And so, Diary, this abolition business irks me to no extent. There is a certain man by the name of John Brown and he is – forgive my harsh words – but a son of the devil. When any good man mentions his name, I cannot help but utter a few curses. He disrupts good civilian life with his horribly violent and unnecessary tactics! Although I am against abolition and abolitionists, I could at least remain civil to them, albeit disdainful of their thoughts, for they were usually polite to some extent with me. Those abolitionists tended to stay on the quiet side and tried to spread their cause through writing and rallying (of course, it would never work, Diary – the South burns any paper of such sort), like Frederick Douglass. I’ve skimmed over something of his before; the memory of the name of the blasted document fails me. That is no matter; it was a piece of worthless gibberish anyway.

But this John Brown man – now he is an issue. He is one of the most violent I have seen so far, and he has caused much grievances against slave holders in the South. He not only threatens our economy, but also the stability of the Union as a whole! This is unacceptable! In August, this blasted man killed 70 men of Major General John W. Reid. How could he spill the blood of so many fellow Americans over a few Negros who are not even human?

Anyways Diary, the President of the Unites States of America has some important business to do...After all, with my new position, I have so many new responsibilities...my head could burst!