Trescot Narrative and Letter on Negotiations with President Buchanan

What it is

This is a printed narrative and letter by William Henry Trescot, a South Carolina diplomat, describing his negotiations with President James Buchanan during the secession crisis of December 1860. It was contributed by Gaillard Hunt and published in 1908 in the American Historical Review.

Why it matters

Trescot was directly involved in talks between South Carolina and Buchanan as the Union began to break apart. His account is a key source historians use to understand how Buchanan responded to secession and the pressures he faced from southern states in his final months as president.

Look closer

• Why might Trescot have written this account, and who was his intended audience?
• How might a participant's memory of events differ from an official record made at the time?
• What does this document suggest about Buchanan's options during the secession crisis?