Excerpt from a letter from President Buchanan to Robert Tyler, son of former President John Tyler
Washington, June 13, 1860.
…I have hardly time now to say my prayers. Should they succeed at Baltimore in rejecting the regular delegates from the seceding States, and admitting those who are bogus, then Douglas will or may be nominated. In that event the unity and strength of the Democratic party is annihilated and Lincoln elected. This is not the worst. The Democratic party will be divided—sectionalized—and that, too, on the slavery issue.
Everything looks bad, not only for the party, but for the country.
JAMES BUCHANAN.