The Placer herald., 1858-10-30
The Richmond Whig on ]. w. Forney


The Richmond Wig in speaking of For
nev, says:
James Buchanan and John w. Fornev
have been friends ever since the latter emerg
ed from the obscurity Of a village printer to
the conspicuous eminence of pimp for play
actor. Mr.. Buchanan took the destitute ap-
prentice under his protection, assisted him
as well by maternal aid as by friendly coun
sci, elevated him to a respectable position in
society, commended him to the confidence Of
the Democracy, rejoiced at his success, ad-
hered to him in adversely, and at last crown
ed the long succession Of generous service
by an act of the most devoted affection.-
On the other hand, Forney appears to have
appreciated the condescension of his patron,
and a credulous public gave him the praise of
fidelity in friendship because of the zeal he
displayed in bis beneactor's service. The
event, however, has shown that Forney's de-
voton to Mr.. Buchanan was merely the in
terested constancy of an adventurer who
hopes to rise with the prosperous fortunes
of successful statesman. For no sooner
did Forney discover that the arm on which
he leaned would not support him in his pre-
sumptuous ambition, than he essaved to
paraIyze it by a treacherous blow lie
is person of ordinary abilities, imperfect
education, and equivocal character. Any
emp ployment Of special trust or responsibility
was quite beyond his merit, but the Presi-
dent would not dismiss him without an eQui-
vaent for his services lie aspired to seat
in the Cabinet. The President gave him an
appointment OF Consul to Liverpool. He
rejected the offer, and straghtway set him
self to oppose and revile the Administration.
At last in the phrenzy of batlled cupidity,
he publicly impeaches bis benetactor of the
most atrocious offences against personal and
politf al morality
Whatever political adversaries may think
Of Mr.. Buchanan as public man, all admit
that his private character is without reproach.
His entire life is an admirable illustration of
virtuous endeavor. We know nothing to
his discredit, except his friendship for For
ney, and that may be excused among the
amiable infrmities of a fallible nature. The
only stain upon Pierce's Administration was
the slime of Forney's support. No generous
spirit will reproach Mr.. Buchanan with the
unworthy alliance at the moment when his
bosom is torn by the fang of the treacherous
beneficiary.
OF Mr.. Forney little is known, and the few
conspicuous incidents of his life are notorious
for no other significance than as eminent
examples Of personal depravity. In the field
of literature, the Forrest letter is his most
memorable production. In the province of
politics, his most signal achievement was a
corrupt Interpolation in the journal of the
House Of epresentatives-an act Of clever
villainy, of which he escaped the punish
ment in expulsion from Office, through de-
feet of legal evidence. Is this the sort of
man upon whose word the President of the
United States must be condemned to per-
petual infamy! The ingenious expedient by
which Mr.. Forney once proposed to blast the
reputation of a helpless woman, suggests the
probability Of like fabrication of false tes-
timony against a generous benefactor. He
is an aspiring individual, and we cannot do
him the injustice to suspect that he will stop
short of the climax Of his career.