History does repeat itself. When Pennsylvanian James Buchanan was inaugurated as the 15th president in 1857, the slave lobby was gleeful. They knew Buchanan was weak and meek, a man for no seasons.  So, their vile industry was likely to continue.

Four years later, the United States had pretty much fallen apart; seven southern states had seceded from the Union, federal forts and arms depots had been overrun, and almost no one respected Jimmy, who did absolutely nothing to protect his country.