The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-03-18
Col. Forney's Letter.
WASHINGTON, March 18th, 1905.

WAsHINGToN, March 18th, looo.
/ left Philadelphia on Wednesday on a
hurried visit to some friends here, and
will return. God willing, by this evenings
rain, carrying with me this hurried let
er which must take the place of my usu.
al word in the Press of tomorrow. What
a difference between March 1851 and
March 1858! l dwell upon it with sur
prise and grief. One year ago the coun-
try was full of content, and at peace with
itself. The hearts of all our people beat
responsively to noble inaugural, and the
hands of men OF all parties were upliited
to support aud strengthen our venerable
President. The Democrats were united
and joyous, and gazed hopefully into
Tranquil aud victorious future. The Re-
publicans we're dismaycd, and new po!it-
zeal coz. binations were abandoned before
The prospect OF wise and patriotic poll
cy. Mr.. Seward, in the Senate; Mr..
Stanton in the House; Mr.. Greeley, in
the Tribune, instead of preparing new
weapons Of attack upon the Admini,tra-
ton; were turning their thoughts to those
substantial questions upon which all men
agree in this happy country. Even the
Americans, few in number, could see no
profit in faction, and were reconsiderlng
their plans. The extreme South so apt to
chafe into passion, was as calm as a
summers morning. Conservatism, IN It's
very best sense, had taken possession OF
the Government. An experienced Presl
dent, sure and sasacious Cabinet, . rea-
dy Senate in session, and still more
willing House preparing for its new term
these constituted the sterling superStruc-
turc of an enduring condition Of natloDal
prosperity. t-s
And what a change has one year pro-
duccd can hardly believe my senses
tLa, am writing from the capital of my
country, and that MY old friend-hc, to
whom have borne almost f!ial relations
from my boyhood-he to whom | have
conGded M few hopes and fears-he for
whom I have dared tie frowus of foes,
and for whom, during four long years in
the lower house o: Congress the patronage
in my gift was fearlcrsly bestowed, and
be kuows how gladly and how spOntaDe-
ously. too; | can hardly believe my SEN
scs, that this is the city of Washington,
and that James Buchanan is President.
What is the aspect now! One wild
reign of Terror. y test is erected here,
like some horrid instrument Of torture,
upon which Democrats are tried and exc
cuted for their opinions. The work OF
decapitation has ceased against lifetime
foes, and is now wagcd upon old aud
cherished friends. Men are removed and
calumniatcd not for being opposed to
Democratic principles, but for being too
much in favor OF them. The humblest
Clerk, with his little family, who stiug-
gles along on his thousand dollars a year
mast hide bis sentiments or leave his
place. For the bold and upright Demo-
crat who dares to think aloud, there Is
short shrift If he has an Office he must
be ready for the oniHous cartel Of dismis-
sal on the Instant. II he is an inde-
pendent citizen, be is excluded from the
Departments and from the White H9u~e
like comon leper. An army of spies arc
Oh the alert, hunting for victims. Wo to
the uDgusrdcd gentleman who, in the
presence of one OF these eager caves drop
pers, may let fall free opinion! Il is at
once caught up and carried, with no lasl,
of exaggeratiou, to the ear OF poaer. l;
there is ou this round globe race nore
despiscd in civilized society than aGy 9TH
er, it is tie race of iat0ruerS. The no.
blcst inyective of the noblest Of I!ish ora
tors has made them im IN ortally infamous.
These mercenaries now hold high service
in Washington. l could name several o.
them from our own State, but | forbea'
for the honor of Pcnnsy ylrauia. Tbey
glory in their shameless trade. Broken
in fortune, and reckless of their own fame,
laughing at conscience in others and re-
jecting il for themselves, they swarm here
anxious to earn their guilty wages. The
most Of these creatures, happily, are the
men who have pursued aud persccuted
the President with the same venom which
they now display towards those who diff
fer from his Kansas policy.
1t is their vocation to make public O.
pinion here against the intrepid senii
meut OF the people; to bully in the hotels,
TO intestine rooms Of we mbers, to "pump
the new arrivals, to coax the doubtful, to
intimidate the weak, to supply false mo-
tivcs for honest differences, TO Gil the town
with rumors of detection among the
friends of the Right, todatter power, and
TO applaud to the echo everything that
falls from tbelips of greatness. "Sir,"
said wise aud good man to me on one
occasion, several years ago, "tte President
rarelyheafS tue truth. He is surrounded
With syeopbants, who say only what plea
ses him. How often this profound truth
is illustrated 1t is said that Frederick
the GIeat-I tlink Lord Broug gbam 5
shOrt sketch Of bin contains the statement
would sometimes demand of his tni mis-
ters to talk to bin boldly; aud when they
did be woud lose bis temper, and beat