Buchanan elected to the Senate for a Third Term—Efforts of 515 his Pennsylvania Friends to have him nominated for the Presidency—Motives of his Withdrawal from the Canvass—The Baltimore Democratic Convention of 1844 nominates Mr. Polk—The Old Story of “Bargain and Corruption”—Private Correspondence CHAPTER XVIII. 1842–1849. Harriet Lane 531 CHAPTER XIX. 1844–1845. Annexation of Texas—Election of President Polk—The 543 Department of State accepted by Mr. Buchanan CHAPTER XX. 1845–1846. The Oregon Controversy—Danger of a War with 551 England—Negotiation for a Settlement of a Boundary—Private Correspondence CHAPTER XXI. 1845–1848. Origin of the War with Mexico—Efforts of Mr. Polk’s 579 Administration to prevent it CHAPTER XXII. 1848–1849. Central America—The Monroe Doctrine, and the Clayton-Bulwer 619 Treaty LIFE OF JAMES BUCHANAN. CHAPTER I. 1791–1820. BIRTH AND PARENTAGE—EARLY EDUCATION AND COLLEGE LIFE—STUDY OF THE LAW—ADMISSION TO THE BAR—SETTLES IN LANCASTER—A VOLUNTEER IN THE WAR OF 1812—ENTERS THE LEGISLATURE OF PENNSYLVANIA—EARLY DISTINCTION—PROFESSIONAL INCOME—RETIRES FROM PUBLIC LIFE—DISAPPOINTMENT IN LOVE—RE-ENTERS PUBLIC LIFE—ELECTED TO CONGRESS. Autobiography, when it exists, usually furnishes the most interesting and reliable information of at least the early life of any man. Among the papers of Mr. Buchanan, there remains a fragment of an autobiography, without date, written however, it is supposed, many years before his death. This sketch, for it is only a sketch, ends with the year 1816, when he was at the age of twenty-five. I shall quote from it, in connection with the events of this part of his life, adding such further elucidations of its text as the other materials within my reach enable me to give. The following is the account which Mr. Buchanan gives of his birth and parentage: