Non-fiction: Annual Message to Congress, 1860

Context and Purpose
James Buchanan's 1860 Annual Message to Congress is delivered at the end of a turbulent presidency and on the eve of national rupture. The address presents the administration's account of domestic and foreign affairs while confronting an escalating sectional crisis centered on slavery and the growing talk of secession. Buchanan frames the message as a legal and constitutional exposition intended to calm fears, justify past decisions, and propose remedies that, in his view, remain within the bounds of the Constitution.
The tone is defensive and judicial. Buchanan recounts events and policies from his term, reiterates his conviction that the Constitution must govern all controversies, and appeals to Congress and the courts to resolve disputes that political agitation has intensified.

Domestic and Sectional Issues
The president places the national crisis over slavery at the heart of his message, portraying sectional agitation and abolitionist rhetoric as the principal causes of discord. He emphasizes that the peace and prosperity of the country have been undermined by persistent assaults on the rights and institutions of Southern states, while criticizing radical measures by both extremists and demagogues who, he argues, have stoked alarm and provoked recrimination.
Buchanan insists that the preservation of the Union requires strict adherence to the Constitution and lawful processes. He underscores the importance of upholding federal laws and public order, but he also contends that the federal government lacks a clear constitutional mandate to coerce states back into the Union by force, advocating instead for judicial settlement and congressional remedies where appropriate.

Constitutional and Legal Arguments
A central thrust of the message is Buchanan's legal interpretation of the issues dividing the nation. He invokes the Dred Scott decision as settling the status of slavery in the territories, asserting that the Constitution protects property rights and limits congressional power to exclude slavery from federal territories. From this standpoint, he views much of the controversy as rooted in misconceptions about constitutional authority and thus amenable to legal clarification.
At the same time, Buchanan affirms that secession is not sanctioned by the Constitution and views the Union as perpetual; his argument rests on a narrow reading of executive power regarding coercion. He urges Congress and the judiciary to take the lead in resolving disputed points of law, reflecting his belief that constitutional solutions and restraint, rather than radical action, must guide the nation's response to rebellion or disunionist threats.

Administration, Finance, and Foreign Affairs
Beyond the sectional conflict, the message reviews routine matters of governance, reporting general prosperity, balanced finances, and satisfactory progress in public improvements and revenue. Buchanan addresses military and naval preparedness in measured terms, recommending prudent maintenance of forces and fortifications suited to the nation's needs without advocating sweeping increases that might seem provocatory.
In foreign affairs, the address describes peaceful relations with European powers and ongoing attention to commercial and territorial interests in the Americas. Buchanan touches on claims, treaties, and diplomatic negotiations, portraying the administration as competent in sustaining international good will even as domestic divisions complicate policy and national focus.

Appeal and Historical Consequences
Buchanan closes with an appeal to law, order, and the constitutional framework as the surest means to avert catastrophe. He calls on Congress to consider measures consistent with the Constitution that might allay fears, secure property and person, and preserve public peace, while warning against measures he views as unconstitutional or incendiary. Implicit throughout is a prescriptive conservatism: reliance on courts and Congress rather than executive innovation or coercion.
The message registers both the limits of legalism in the face of popular and political tumult and the president's conviction that institutional restraint is the proper posture of the federal government. Its careful, juristic tone and reluctance to endorse forceful remedies would shape perceptions of Buchanan's handling of the crisis and influence how contemporaries and later readers assess the failure to prevent secession and civil war.