James Buchanan: “It is impossible to avoid this catastrophe unless we make provision this very day to meet the lawful demands on the…”

Had I refused to adopt this precautionary measure, and evil consequences, which many good men at the time apprehended, had followed, I should never have forgiven myself.

The safety of the immense amount of public property in this city and that of the archives of the Government, in which all the States, and especially the new States in which the public lands are situated, have a deep interest.

The dispatch of Mr. Dallas being in the original, its return to the Department of State is requested.

There is but one mode left of settling the dispute, and that is by submitting it to the arbitration of some friendly and impartial power.