Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-12-21
THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE,

As our readers are aware. John w, For.
ney was elected Clerk Of the House Of Rep
resentatives. The vote Of the Virginia men,
bers was as follows
For John W. Forney--Messrs. Bayly,
Faulkner, Kidwell. McMulleu, Snodgrass,
and Smith--8.
For Richard NJ Young-Messrs Csskie,
Goode, Letcher, Millson. and Powell--5.
Mr. Bocock voted Cor Charles Brown, and
Mr.. Edmundson for George w. Munford
Before the election the Richmond Enqui.
ger, fully aware Of the democracy" Of For
ney, as also of other facts in relation to bis
character promised, 10 the event Of bis cleo
ton, to "denounce il, as an outrage upon the
national character" The reason for this
denunciation is founded upon letter written
by Forney in behalf of Edwin Forrest to a
Mr.. Geo. Roberts. while ths Forrest divorce
case was pending, seeking to obtain admis.
sions from Mr.. Jameson while drunk, to
be used as evidence against Mrs Forrest.
The following is an extract from Forney's
letter:
"What Forrest now desires to clinch the
nail, is to obtain, IN some way, an admission
from Jameson named you to him as
safe. steady and intelligent friend, and be
never will forget whatever you may do for
him in fila IN him Il
He suggests that you might institute in-
innate relations with j.. and then induce him.
either in your presence, or in company, to ad
init as thing to be proud Of. his connection
with Mrs. F. He is fond of glass and
possibly in a convisial mood might be CON-
municative.
He now says, in recent letter to the En-
quirer THE letter for which have been
assailed BY combination Of personal foes
was the result of an ardent attachment to
friend--pothing more" And this man is
spoken of in the last Virginia Republican
IS the able and accomplished clerk" whose
real sin is "his bold and undertaking devo-
ton to the Democratic party" It is little
singular that a majority of the Virginia dele
CATION, all democrats good and true, could
not appreciate the "4erotion" Of Mr.. Forney.
the accomplished.
In relation to this matter the Richmond
Bulletin says:
at must be confessed that the House of
Representatives have jewel of moralist in
the person Of their Clerk He stands con-
yicted Of the crime of seeking toextort testi.
mvny from drunken man for the purpose of
running the character Of lady, and be pleads
In justif ,ation of this disgraceful and nefa-
rious act that he cherished an ardent attach
mept' to the man for whose benefit it was
done! Was such morality as this ever be
fore heard OF among any civilized and chris
tian people? In what school Of ethics could
the ardent friend of Mr. Forrest have i'm.
bibed his early lessons of virtue and Of wis
dom We hardly imagine that any teacher
of social morals, from Socrates down to Pa
ley. ever inculcated any such doctrine az that
now gravely put forward by the second officer
of our national legislature. Friendship NAV
be very excellent thing. but truth. honor,
euu NHtut nave ever been Oeiu IN Stlli hiC her
repute by the enlightened masses Of mankind.
The man who argues that one friend may
rightfuily perform for another such acts Of
service as Mr.. Forney rendered to Forrest,
in conspirng to entrap Jameson into con-
fession prejadica to the character Of Mrs
Forrest evinces his own utter want of moral
principle. Badly az we thought Of Mr.. For
ney before, we cannot help thinking still worse
of him since his letter to tie Enquirer. Had
he expressed any contrition for bis fault or
alleged any palliating circumstance in his own
defence. We should have been disposed to
judge him less harshly. But he has not done
either of these things He openly endeavors
to justify himself on principle, and apparent
" glorics in his shame. We are now ire
sistibly led TO the conclusion that his Forrest
letter was not the result Of sudden and un-
fortunate Impulse not mere lapsus from
virtue, but was the creation of perverted
moral sense. and furnishes fair index of the
author character