Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-01-30

We publish below the protest of the
Locofoco members of the Legislature who
refused to 90 into the caucus which nomina-
ted John w. Forney for United States SEN
ator 1t is very strong document, and
very ably written, and places their defence
upon the grounds of the interference of Mr..
Buchanan, in favor of Forney
PROTEST.
The undersigned, Democratic members of
the Senate and House of Representatives Of
Pennsylvania, having declined TO take part
in the proceedings of the Democrats caucus
which met on Friday evening, January 9.
1857, to place in nomination a candidate
for the Office of United States Senator, re-
spectfully submit to their respective con-
stituents, and to the Democracy of the
State, the causes which have constrained
them to adopt course which, if unwarrant-
ed by sufficient reasons, would subject them
to legitimate censHre. The undersigned
have been, and still are, with many others,
the frieads of the Hon. H. D. Foster, of
WestmoreIand county, and have been the
earnest advocates of his nomination for the
office of U. S. Senator. In endeayoring to
effect thus object, they never for moment
entertained the thought of pursuing pol
icy at Variance with the usages of the dem
ocratic party, OF inconsistent with the die
tates of justice. They we're proud of the
man of their choice They believed that
his merits and past services would sustain
him in fair contest, and they wished to
engage in none other. At the outset it
seemed that such would be its character
Rumors that the weight of Executive au-
thority would be thrown into the scale were
il is true. in circulation, but they ere un-
reasonable, aad apparently inconsistent
with tae character of the Presideat elect,
and were therefore disregarded
But on the very eve of the assembling of
the caucus, those runners we're unexpected
ly and strangely corrcborated by the au-
thoritative, and positive announcement that
premature veto had been interposed BY
Mr.. Buchanan against the claims of all the
candidates in tho field, except the one up
on whom the smiles Of the coming nationa,
administration were already dawning. II
Is at this time altogether unnecessary
for us to expose the manner in which
this Interference with the judgments and
feelings of members of the Legisla-
ture was made. It's enough to declare
that we had satisfactory and overwhelming
proof that it was made, and that regarding
1t as an unwarrantable assumption Of au-
thority-as contrary to the spirit of our
constitutions tending to concentrate
power in the hands of the Executive, and
endanger the independence, not only of our
State Legislature but of the Senate of the
United States, We have by our action en-
tered our solemn. protest against it, and
have resolved, that we will not become par
ties in establishing a precedent so liable to
abuse, and SO dangerous to liberty. Had
the different candidates been permitted to
enter the caucus, standing npon their own
merits, unsupported alike by Executive die
tation and Federal patronage, then-ha the
choice of the caucus, on fair expression
of opinion, upon the part of men. whose du-
ty it has been, and still is, by the law to
elect Senator, fallen upon Col. Forney, OF
ahy other man whose name was brought be-
i fore the caucus, we should have been the
5&st to complain. But this was not permit
ned, and because of this, and not from any
factions or personal spirit, we remained
idway from, and took no part in the caucus.