Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-09-22
Col. Forney on LeOOmptOnism

Tauytown, N. Y, on the political issu es
Of the day; BIS speech is reported at length
10 bis own psper Of Saturday. His course
in the coming election bhs been matter Of
some speculation. We give few extracts
to enable our readers to see how the land
lies. Here is the way the Colonel speaks
Of matters in the summer Of 1860, when
he vss Mr. BuchansnS right band man,
he says:
''Why did the Presidential election Of
1856 become doubtful? Because the pub
lie opinion of the North bad been stirred
70 It's deepest depths BY ths'excessss Ofthe
PrO-Slsvsry minority backed by the Fed
eral power in the Territory of Kansas. -
That wss the only question. Il was not
the Q slsud Conference, It was not the Pa.
rc6e Railrosd it was nothing but the sin.
gle issue e--Shsll the people OF Kansas BE-
permitted to dispose Of their own affairs in
their own way? Shall they vote upon
their domestic institutions, not slavery
slone, but upon all their institutions, un.
molesled by the bayouets Of the Admins.
tration on the one hand. and the Onslaughts
of bands of foreign msrauders on the 9th.
ter3 phis was the question, the whole
question, and nothing but the question -
No man felt more deeply 10 reference to
Kansas than Mr. Buchanan. No man
talked more eely about it. 10 his letter
Of acceptance Of the nomination aud in the
speech be delivered to the committee upon
It in bis parlor at Lancaster, (at which |
happened to be prSsent,) he laid stress
upon the great principle that the will Of
the msjority should prevail, Why be said
TO me thousand times, ''Che South must
vote for me, aud the North must be secured;
and the only way to secure the orth is to
convince our voters that when | get into
the Presidential chair / will do right with
abe people Of Kansas. | am now sixty
elk years of age. have reached that time
OF life whenI cannot have any ambition
for a reelection, and il have, the only
way to secure it is to be strong with my
own people at home. I watched this
struggle from my retirement in London
/ have seen what conceive to be the
mistakes Of others. am not responsible
for the Administration ofPresident Pierce;
therefore, will iuaugursts new system
Twill show The country that Peunsylva-
mia President will stand firm to the pledges
of Pennsylvania gentleman and Penn.
syIvania Democrat Nov, fellow citizens
III that letter of acceptance, il you refer tC
it--it is not necessary for me to produce il
here--you will fiud that he stated distinct
Iy that the people Of the Territory of Kan
sas should be projected iu the sacred right
Of suffrage, unawed by any influence what
aver, aud that the will Of the ma Pity
should prevail"
Here is James Buchanaa in the spring
Of 1857 insugursted President, and pied
ged in bis inaugural 10 administer honest
popular sovereignty in Kansas.
aAs il for the purpose OF accumulating
pledge upon pledge--as If FOR the purpose
ofpiling up myriad Of promises upon
1his question, what did he do nexta he
locked around to see whom be should gel
10 90 TO Kansas, for the purpose Of set
tling the vexed question which had render
ed Kansas, what it had been graphically
termed, tie graveyard Of Governors. :
He sought no inferior man; be would mol
be tempted to take an ordinary man. HI
selected man, a statesman, who had beer
presented by a:large portion of the leading
and prominent men Of the South for q
seat III his Cabinet; who had for 12 year
represented his State in the Congressiona
Senate. and sat with Mr.. Buchanan in tht
Cabinet of Col. Polk. He selected Robt
J. Walker; and when he called upor
Walker and asked him to proceed to th,
Territory, NJ. Walker said to him, Why
Mr.. Buchanan, that would finish me for
ever; it has ruined every man who ba
gone there: It viii ruin me. Ihaye reach
ed thai time Of life when / cannot affor,
to risk all my prospects and probably tn
peace and happiness Of my family An,
Re intimated as II gifted with knowledg
oftbe future, i cannot runthe risk Of be
ing most, probably betrayed and desertsC
by the Adminbtration that appoints me.
Mr. Buchanan said to him, 'Mr. Wake
If you will 60 there you viii settle thi
question 10 q few weeks Everything i
ready; here are your instructions.
pledge you my, word that everything vol
desire tosmooth your way you shall hlay
have Mr.. Walker, as il inspired by
sublime suspicion, said: 'Mr. Buchanan
IwlN not 20 70 Kansas until you allow M
10 meet yonr Cabinet face 10 face. and ss
certain from that Cabinet, in person
whether they will agree that I shall o,
there and carry out the pledges Of th,
campalguof 1866, allowing the peopl
Of Kansas to decide upon their own insti
tutionsin their own way Accordingly
meeting of the Cabinet Of Mr. Bcchsnal
was called. Attic meeting every mem
ber Of the Cabinet was present. Mr.. Bu
chanan and Mr. Walker were present.
Buchanan in fhe chair. Governor Wake
said: Ilhase desired this meeting becaus
have determined not to go to Kansas uu
less I have full instructions to carry ou
my wishes as expressed to the President
II there is any opposing voice / will no
goI do not want to 60; it IS by no
means an enviable position; but if hav
the permission and consent Of you, gentle
meu, Llwiil go. The Cabinet was Polled
but ene member of the 0sbinet objecte,
to The programme laid down by GoVerno
Walker 1 need not mentlon his nams.--