Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/263

JAMES BUCHANAN 207 York, and Dauphin, taking his seat in December, 1821. He was called a federalist, but the party distinctions of that time were not very clearly de fined, and Mr. Buchanan s political principles, as a national statesman, were yet to be formed. Mr. Monroe had become president in 1817, and held that office during two terms, his administration being called "the era of good feeling." The excite ment and animosities of the war of 1812 had sub sided, and when Mr. Buchanan entered congress there was no sectionalism to disturb the repose of the country. Questions of internal policy soon arose, however, and he took an able part in many important debates. Mr. Monroe s veto of a bill imposing tolls for the support of the Cumberland road, for which Mr. Buchanan had voted, pro duced a strong effect upon the latter s consti tutional views. It was the first time that his mind had been brought sharply to the consideration of the question in what mode "internal improvements" can be effected by the general government, and consequently he began to perceive the dividing line between the federal and the state powers. Mr. Buchanan remained in the house of repre sentatives ten years during Mr. Monroe s second term, through the administration of John Quincy Adams, and during the first two years of Jackson s administration. In December, 1829, he became chairman of the judiciary committee of the house,