New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-19
we shau rsvtr bear Of jus. because Congress hiss
determined, Ike the man who went INTO the
French Convention. "to arrest al the rascsls.

That Hr. Buchanan is q cod, timid. cunning,
selfish persOo, Is believed by very considerable
and intelligent portion Of the American People
bow Justly, let History determine. If he be only
IS fbrewd az his friends believe him. he has now
an opportunity to manifest at least the semblsncs
Of better qualities than either his a1yersaries or bis
rivals have hitherto given him credit for, aad at no
personal cost.
For twenty years past. John W. Forney has
been known in political circles as the devoted and
untring advocate of Mr. Buchanans elevation to the
Presidency. To that end, be has zeslOusly sup
ported Jackson, Van Bdren, Polk, Cas-, Pierce;
but has Lever concealed nor compromised his devo-
ton to the friend and patron of his bOyhOOd aud
youth. Other politicians of his grade and party
predictions have worshiped at various shrines
during these eventfu years of change; but FOrneys
devotion has had one unchanging object, aud b.
been constant to that object under every aspect Of
cheer or encouragement
CA, the arr flower turns on bis god when he set.
The same look that lie turned when be rose"
At last, the devo.ee has achieved the great end of
bis long endeavor--acheyed it through what
violence 10 convictions or wear and tear Of con-
Sc ence, if any, we do not here inquire-nOr can
Mr.. Buchanan. Suffice it that Foruey is now in
the prime of rfe-a man Of undoubted ability I'm.
tagging industry, wide knowledge of men, aud ripe
political experience. His past career is ended: he
il now to begin new one What that cNeer
may be must depend, in good degree, on the Pre'-
deIt elect for it is settled BY his recent canvass
for the Senate that he is not yet tired OF political
4 That ha hic fbar nr ha
purposes Of his patron we do not even guess; but
we do not refrain from saying that bold, saga
cious, generous man in Mr.. Buchsnan's position
would Just defy all the combinations aud partitions
of the party magnates of the Federal City, aud
make John W. Forney Postmaster. General.
Whether such designation would be an adyan-
taee to its object, We cannot predict. II he IS
nothing more than party hack-f he should de-
vote himself in the Post Office to the reelection of
his patron, or the election of some one else-he
would derive no honor, and hardly more permanent
satisfaction from that exalted and most re,ponsi-
bic post But il be could go into the Post Office
saying TO himself" Here is the cad of my per-
"sOnal aspirations; have carried my President,
',and he has given me apositon which transcendsmy
highest hopes here then, rest satisfied, and de-
"vote ali my energies regardless of party necessities
"or personal ambition, to making the Post-Off,e
"the greatest blessing possible to the cOuntry"-his
appointment would be most fortunate for all con-
cerned. There is greater need to-day of man of
rare energy, eage-eyed perception, quick decision
and untirng industry at the head Of the POst-Ofce
than in any other position under the Government
IL - - bo afa o.; h;o
or so to the selection Of capable and upright assist
ants in the Department and in the great Post
Offices, should be able to say thereafter firmly TO
every applicant" Sir, l cannot attend to these
"squabbles for the petty Post Offces-You must
$50 to the Chief of the Bureau of Appointment
and if he wants any advice or direction from me-
II will give t-otherwise, Ishall not interfere with
his duties, having enough of my own" The
proper business of the Postmaste General is the
deyisipg Of the ways and means of improving ex
peditiDg or cheapening the Mail Service OF the
country. Let him give up bis time mainly
to making twO-penny appointments, hearing
petitions for extra allowances or the remission of
fnes, the establishment of petty mailroutes, or
anything of the sort, and bis adminstra ion must
partisan,hip But the right man in the General
Post. Office first securing proper subOrdinates, and
then leaving them undisturbed to their several
duties, while he gives days Of study and nights of
thought to the radical improvement of the Mail
Service, would prove a greater public benefactOr
than any President we have had since Washington.
We do not say that FOrney could or would
transform himself into this kind of functOnary-
if he could not or would not, the post would do
him no honor, any more than to the mob Of Post
master Generals who have ingloriousy succeeded
John Mclean. But this we do say, that-as be.
tween him and any such mOldering fossil as Cave
johnson or any one else whose name we have heard
suggested as the next Postmaster. General-we
heartily with Mr.. Buchanan were bold enough TO
try the experiment of appointing FOrney to this
important post He might f,l in it-2erhaps
failure is the more probable result-blt with any Of
those hitherto suggested, true success is moral
impossibility.
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