The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-04-18
Col, John ". F0rneY.

The following complimentary notice from
The Baltimore SIN, Of the 9th itst expresses,
in such just terms, our own IDEAS Of the late
Clerk OF the National House of Representatives,
that we copy the article entire. 1t is we'll
merited tribute TO the worth of an able and pop
nlar public officer. We copy it, not because it
is necessary 10 say word in his praise, to the
thousands who know and delight to honor him
manifest the fact that the independent press
from other States, entertain the same opinion Of
his ability and many noble virtues.
PUBLIc OfFlcERs.-Whi we have too often
had occasion TO record the delalcatiou, nalleas-
ance and negligence of public officers, and to
comment upon the samr with deser, ed severity,
it is highly gratifying to meet with marked
and significant instance Of the striceSt intrgr-
Is, sustained by care, diligence and promptitude
IN large hduclary trust. paragraph IN the
Sun of Monday morning, copied from the
Washington Star, Is the instance in point which
engaged our attention. II relates TO Col For
nry, late Clerk of the House of Representatives,
of whom it is said, that on the Isl inst, within
an honF after receiving an informal report Of adj
iustmeGt from the office of the First Comptrol-
Ter, be finally closed his accounts hy simply
| transferring TO the United States, the talance
standing to his credit on the books Of The Trea-
surv, there being not one cent Of difcrence be-
tween his statement as rendered and that Of The
| Department, though his disbursements covered
transactions running through four years of Off
| cial service, and embraced the expenditure oi
over two millions of dollars.
! Col. Fornty is generally known as poili-
! clan, and has been prominent mark for the ar
! rows of party warfare. Indeed, he seems
10 have had not only his own share, bat that OF
! half dozen of his cotemporaries What ht
may have deserved Of all this we cannot tell
| for We concern ourselves very little about mere
partizan strife. But when we see man whc
| has flied highly responsible financial office
rendering up his accounts with an accuracy
and an exhibition Of strict fidelity, and retiring
gracefully from his position with the respect
which such career OF duty exacts from all par
! ties, we chterfnliy recognize in such an event
an example worthy of note, and entitled to the
consideration especially OF youth, whether in
4 public or private life.
How many there are at this day, who, hav-
| ing fallen unGer the force Of temptation, have
/ fully contrasted with their condition that of a
man retiring from official position so honoraby
as Mr.. Foruey does. How freely would they
take upon then selves ten fold the measure OF par
4 tizan abuse to which Mr.. Forney has been ex-
posed, could they exchange with him the SounC
and diGniied reputation he bears with him from
the sphere Of othce, for the shattered ruin which
the love Of ncre has unhappily entali~d upor
them. There is a useful lesson in this inciden'
tai notice Of Mr.. Forney. 1t presents to tht
mind the impotency Of party abuse, when ii i
encountered by stern.and infrxible integrity.