Missed my stop...

One or two centuries too far...
Feb 20 '12
Months before the first shot of the Civil War, lame duck President James Buchanan vacillated daily as to how to deal with the secession crisis.  His tepid manner was never more in evidence than on February 22, 1861, when he prohibited the U.S. Army Regulars from participating in the annual Washington’s Birthday parade, for fear it would incite secessionists to arms.  Militia units, many with Southern sympathies, did march in the parade, with many U.S. Army veterans in their ranks, a precursor of things to come.  This was undoubtedly a morale boost to the pro-secession movement, who loudly claimed that President Washington would have stood side by side with them in the cause of State’s Rights. As for President Buchanan, Ex-President Polk summed him up concisely: “Mr. Buchanan is an able man, but is in small matter without judgment and sometimes acts like an old maid.”

Months before the first shot of the Civil War, lame duck President James Buchanan vacillated daily as to how to deal with the secession crisis.  His tepid manner was never more in evidence than on February 22, 1861, when he prohibited the U.S. Army Regulars from participating in the annual Washington’s Birthday parade, for fear it would incite secessionists to arms.  Militia units, many with Southern sympathies, did march in the parade, with many U.S. Army veterans in their ranks, a precursor of things to come.  This was undoubtedly a morale boost to the pro-secession movement, who loudly claimed that President Washington would have stood side by side with them in the cause of State’s Rights.

As for President Buchanan, Ex-President Polk summed him up concisely:

“Mr. Buchanan is an able man, but is in small matter without judgment and sometimes acts like an old maid.”

Tags: washington president's day history civil war history teacher Buchanan George Washington