Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-03
.,ALLY EVENING STAR.

.saILY EVENING STAR.
From the Lancaster intelIigencer
LETTER FROM COL. JOHN ". FoRNKY
:. WASHINGTON, July 20, 1854.
| Nj DEAR SIR: I am greatly your
debtor for the paragraph in a recent
number OF the Lancaster Intelliecncer.
referring to an article in the Harrisburg
Union, in which am charged with me-.
lecting my mother and sister. You NAV
readily conceive how I recoil from an ac-
cusatlon at once so cruel and so false: !:
and this chiefly because the malignant
torturer who fabricated it, has done his
utmost to agonize two pure and devoted
ladies'. have been subjected to much
OF abuse in my day. At times I have
been surprised at the violence of nv enc.
mics, but the sequel has always furnish.
cd my triumphant and complete yindica-
ton. Heretofore these ISLANDERS have been
leveled ut myself alone; and one after
another they have been left to die unno.
tlced IN their own poison. Now, how.
ever, those who have conducted this cru.
sade, have turned their calumnies upon
Others, upon those nearest and dearest
to me-upon weak and inoffending, and
as against such assaults) helpless women.
am assured that this accusation oriei.
mated IN Lancaster-in the town of NV
nativity-and that it was coined and cir.
culated with the aroaced purpose of doing
me an injury. Of course the cowardly
and clamorous knave who invented it.
knew how thoroughly lie it was, and
hence refused to start it ut home. where
crowds OF voluntary witnesses could At
test the infamy alike of the counterfeit.
and the counterfeiter. But that in his
anxiety to wound me, he should SO far
forget tho little manhood remaining in
his nature, as to attempt to lacerate the
feelings OF two ladies who are incapable
of injuring human being, is what even
those who know his profane and pestilent
character would hardly have believed.
The charge is that while am rioting
in wealth at Washington, have left INV
sister to work in factory at Lancaster.
and my mother unvisited and neglected
and this Infamous statement is sought to
be made plausible by the addition of de.
tails equally without the color of truth.
do not plead in reply my own charac.
ter, or the acLs of life well known to
you and to my friends at home; because
every circumstance stamps the assertion
as an ineitable lie. For fifteen wears it
has been source of unbOunded salts.
faction to me, to be able to contribute 10
the support Of both my mother and nv
sister. | have had long struggle in the
busy battle of the world, and until within
six years past. my ability has been far
below my earnest desire to serve them.
Left fatherless when eight years of age,
and dependent alone upon q noble moth
er for support, was thrown among the
contentious and trials of life without edu-
cation, without means, and, for q period,
without influential friends. From this
obscure position, if have been able to
advance at all, it has been solely by con.
slant application, unremitting toll, and
sincere devotion to what [ believe to be
right. If [ needed testimonials to this
statement, 1 could appeal to even my Do
lltical enemies in Philadelphia and in
Lancaster; but the fact requires no evi.
dencc to strengthenit it. During my hum.
bic career, up to the present moment,
the constant prayers of my mother and
sister have accompanied and sustained
Inc. How eagerly L sought the first oc-
casion which presented itself to place
both IN position of comparative indie
pendence, their own hearts have often
borne witness. True gratitude dischar-
ges its obligations as so many religious
duties but the devotion which q SON
feels for his aged mother. and only sister,
is holier than any other that stirs the
depths OF human passion. Can it be
possible that this emotion is ever extin.
guished in the heart of man2
1t is true, my sister few years ago,
resolved to take her place in a cotton fac
tory at Lancaster. She was accompanied
by the daughters of some of your best
known and most respectable citizens. As
soon as was informed of it, / objected,
not because Labor is not always honor.
able, but because felt myself equal and
able to maintain her. / wrote to her.
and appealed to her in person, to yield
to my counsels and am now reminded
by her that one Of the reasons, which l |
then mentioned, was that some low and
lying Caitiif, in his desire to strike at me,
would seize upon her position in the fac
tory as an evidence of my heartlessness
and ingratitude. She preferred to follow
her own inclinations for independence,
pointing to her associates as an evidence
that she was right, and expressing her dis
belief that any one could be base enough
to take advantage of such fact to wound
a brother she loved and loves SO well. 1
have not been disappointed that my pre-
diction has been fllfi..ed, and that, too,
by the very person, who, with one breath,
seeks to hatter the voters connected with |
your foulisling factories, and with the |
other tries to blast the reputation of q |
fellow. citizen because he has q female |
relative connected with one Of those es.
tablishmenss! If his abuse OF me is
correct for this reason, what brother who
has sister, what father who has daugh. |
ter, among those engaged in either of |