If the punishment could have fallen only upon those who raised the cry, perfect justice would have been done.

But the entire country suffered, and probably endured a serious and permanent loss, from the false step taken by men who claimed what they could not defend and did not mean to defend.
The Secretary of State, Mr.Buchanan, gained much credit for his conduct of the Oregon question, both diplomatically and politically.
His correspondence with Mr.Pakenham, the British minister at Washington, was conspicuously able.

It strengthened Mr.Buchanan at home, and gave him an enviable reputation in Europe.

His political management of the question was especially adroit.

His party was in sore trouble over the issue, and naturally looked to him for relief and escape.