The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-10-07
ADDRESS OF JOHN W. FORNEY.

In Vindication of the Principle of Popu-
lar Sovereignty, and in reply to the As
saulto of the Lecompton Organs.
The American people have little or no
sympathy with the personal griefs of pub
lie men. When MARTIN VAN buren,
arrayed himself against the Democratic
party, the judgment that consigned him
and his supporters TO obscurity was that
which grew out of the scarcely denied be-
lief that they were animated by purely
selfish motives. There was no great
principle in their contest, as the subse-
1uent and present position, of most of the
leaders in that diversion clearly demon
Strates. But when an Individual or a
party, solemnly pledged to certain we'll
defined doctrines, committed to particu-
lar fundamental principles, formally and
on the sudden repudiates these doctrines
aud deserts these principles, then case
is presented which renders rebuke of
such an example an evidence of the most
exalted patriotism. To illustrate: when
JAMES BUCHANAN was put forward at
Cincinnati as the representative of the
conservative sentiment of the Union, be
accepted the nomination in the spirit in
which it was rendered, and every succee-
ding act up to November and December
of 1857, the more deeply committed him
to the principles laid down in the platform
of the party upon which be stood But
notwithstanding the binding force of his
own volunteered declarations in this be-
half, notwithstanding his written, printed,
and spoken pledges to adhere to and
maintain the leading principles of his par.
ty he soon resolved to turn bis back upon
these covenants and Obligations. Now,
claim that when he formed that resolve.
he, on the instant, released every citizen
FROM obedience to the new and heretical
creed which he set up as the model of
Democratic orthodoxy. 1t was, therefore,
not from thcughtles impulse, but from a
deliberate and heartfelt conviction, that
conceived it to be my duty to maintain
the attitude in which he and the Conveu.
ton had placed mean attitude, which,
With rnore than a million of Democrats
North and South. | gladly assumed, un-
der the earnest and Conscientious belief
from it must fow the most glorious re-
suits for our common country. There
was DO fragrant act of disorga
When We saw that he was prepared to
mould policy at once abhorent to our
feelings and repulsive to our convictions
at once in violation of bis own solemn
pledges and ours, and 10 contempt of the
entire recorj of the Democratic party still
with all the traditions of that party in our
memory, and with all our personal attach
nents 10 hin, We preferred rather to oo-
cupy position OF honest and respectful
difference, than to fly into fretful pas
sion, and indulge 10 wild and unnatural
opposition. In almost any other civilized
Government on the face of the earth. in
tel'igent men in this age would have been
liberated ill so sincere and manly differ
ence with power; aud it was impossible
to conceive that in this country such a
difference would be regarded as an act of
treason to the Administration, and dec
laFation Of war upon party obligations,
by the sery man who bad himself assist
ed 10 erect and to sanetify the altar upon
Which We continued to offer our deyotions
1t vas only when the reality was forced
upon our minds, that such disagreement
with the President and bis Cabinet, was
to be made the prctext for political os-
tracisw, and the pretext for personal
prescription Of the most offensive charac.
ter, that the independent spirit which
lives in the bOsom of every free. born cit
izen, took fire, and those who had thus
kindly and respectfully protested, seized
the opportunity boldly, and everywhere.
to denouuce the arrogance and the inso-
lence which attempted to outrage them
before their country. As one of those
who first sought to maintain those convic-
tons as to principle and duty, and who
had felt, in the worst forms, the malig-
naut intolerance referred to, resolved to
overlook the shiny sycophants and paid
politicians, the pensioned and purchased
adherents of the Administration and
their systematic attacks, and to yindicate
myself as against their masters. An in-
Vitation to speak to the friends of Hon.
John b. Haskin, of New York, furnished
me seasouable and acceptable opportu-
n;ty
Mr.. Ha-kin. like myself, had been a
democrat from his early years. He, too,
bad given to Mr.. Buchanan the ardent
devotion of generous nature. He bad
taken his stand upon the right of the
people to manage their own affairs in their
own way, at Cincinnati and in New York,
aud when Mr.. Buchanan accepted the
trust, and re-as.erted this right as the
great war cry of bis campaign. Mr.. Has
kin vas bound to it by new and more SOL
emn ties. But this adherence to the
principle has separated him from the ad-
ministration. All bis services to the
President, all his years of courage and
consistency in the emocratic ranks, went
for nothing against the exciting spirit,
which sought to disgrace him before tho
country because he would not consent to