Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-11
Buchanan and Forney.

nuCustldu anu
The controversy as to whether OF ho' MI
Buchanan recommended his friend Forney 10 'ie
Legislature of Pennsylvania fer the office OF UNI
ted States Senator, has been decided by the pup
LEGATION of the letter written by the former 10 H.
S. Mott, a member of the Legislature. The De-
mocratic papers of Virginia stoutiy denieo 'n"'
Mr. Buchanan had written such letter, or III
anv way interfered in behalf of Forney. In
spite of the positive affirmation OF the 1act' 1hey
argued that it could not be-that MIR. buohanan
was too cautious politician TO espouse the cause
of any man, and especially man IN such oad
odour as Forney, whom they had unanimously
denounced as personally and politically unwor-
thy of confidence and respect. But here is Mr..
Buchanan's letter:
WHEArLAND, January Z, 1857.
Mn Dear Sir:-Although | have always re-
Trained from interfering in the choice OF Senators
by the Legislature, yet the highly connaehtlal
relations which Pennsylvania President ought
to sustain toward Pennsylvania Senator, at
the present moment, induces me to say lew
words to YOU as q valued friend on the pending
Senatorial election. / learn that doubts have
been expressed as to my preference among the
candidates, and although my opinion may be en-
titled to little weight, do not desire to be
placed in any equivoeal position on this or any
other subject. When asked have always said
| preferred Col. Forney, and should esteem 1t q
friendly act towards myself for any person IN OF
out of the Legislature to support him. AT the
same time, desire to express my warm person
al and political regard for Messrs. Robbins, Eos
ter Buckalew and Wright. From the course
pursed by Mr.. Brodhead for some years past
confidential relations between him and mysel
have ceased
have thus presented you my views, so thai
if YOU should deem it necessary, you may SPEAK
my sentiments to such persons as may conslde!
them of any value. From your friend, very re
spectfully, JAMES BUCHANAN
Observe how Mr.. Buchanan Identifies Forne!
with himself-he would esteem it friendly &C
towards himself for any person to support him
What a dilemma for the Virginia Democracy
As things now stand they cannot continue to
buse Forney without falling out with the Presi
dent elect Will they retract all they have salt
against Forney, and so keep the peace with Mr.
Buchanan9 or will they venture to censure tn
Presidents These are interesting questions. 81
far there are no indications of what course vii
be taken, and we presume the same discreet 81
lence will be maintained at least until tn
'sspoils" are distributed.
There is, however, more serious aspect 0
the matter. Mr. Buchanan's interference wit
the election of Senator is highly censurable.-
Upon this point we have the sentiments of sever
Democratic members of the Pennsylvania Legis
lature, who are endorsed by the Pittsburg. Post
a Democratic paper, as "strictly honorable men
possessing the fullest confidence of the peopl
whom they represent" But whatever may b
the personal character of these members, tn
sentiments expressed in their Protest" are jus
and proper. After declaring their preference
: for Fl. D. Foster, one of the candidates mention
ed by Mr.. Buchanan, they proceed
/ Rumors that the weight of Executive author
ity would be thrown into the scale, were, it /
true, in circulation, but they were unreasonable
and apparently inconsistent with the characte
of the President elect, and were therefore dlsre
earded. But on the eve of the assembling OF tn
caucus these rumors were unexpectedly ant
strangely corroborated by the authoritative ant
positive announcement that premature vot
had been interposed by Mr. Buchanan against al
the candidates in the field except the one upol
whom the smiles of the coming national admin
istration were already dawning. 1t is at TIL
time altogether unnecessary for us to expose Tn
manner in which this interference with the judg
ments and feelings of members of the Legislature
was made. 1t is enough to declare that we hat
satisfactory and overwhelming proof that it wa
made, and regarding it as an unwarrantable as
sumption of authority-as contrary to the spirl
of our constitution--as tending to concentrate
the power in the hands of the Executive, and en-
danger the independence, not only of our Stat
legislature, but of the Senate of the United States
we have by our action entered our solemn pro
test against it, and have resolved that we will
not become parties in establishing preceden
so liable to abuse and so dangerous to liberty.