Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-10

MR. FoRNEY on HIS PERSONAL EXPERIEyCE-
CONVERSATIONS AND DISAGREEMENT WITH
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DEVELOPMENTS
NV ambition was to assist and build up my
good old State, TO push forward her great M
terests, and assist iii the development OF her
industry-to do that which we must all do,
at least if We desire success-for the older
you grow you should be stronger at your own
home-to brild yourselves up in your own
counties and States, and when you do that
you will be respected and strong at the seat
of Federal power. Therefore it was that IN
the year 1857 L started the newspaper wnlcn
now bears my name at its mast head did
this for the purpose of advocating Mr.. Blu
chanan's policy throughout. Ihad abundant
pledges as to his course, but before publish
ing that paper l took care to write to MI.
Buchanan's Cabinet, and to himself. and toid
them on what ground l intended TO stand on
this question of Kansas. They were 30 good
as to send me sufficient written testimony
tightening me in the position had assum-
ed. went on with Walker and Stanton. I'M
til the Oxford and MCGEE frauds took place,
when there was burst of execration through
out the country.
The whole Democratic press had argued
constantly the policy of the Administration
up to that time; but when Gov. Walker re-
j-ctcd these frauds, there was silence. A pail
Union. Nothing was said upon the subject
of the Oxford and MCGEE frauds. No voice
was heard in Washington against it: but l
supposed some malign influences for the mo-
ment, had surrounded that journal; that it
had had an attack of some peculiar insanity,
which had lately become chronic with it, and
/ allowed Il to pass by. But when the dark.
damning deed of Lecompton wss perpetrated,
en- saw for the first time that those gallant
in tha Tarritnrv Walker and Stanton.
and those who acted with them, had been de-
serted. | saw that Democratic principles had
been carried out by them, and we We're now
called upon 20 turn our backs upon our
pledges and betray our manhood Applause
Gentlemen. there was something too much OF
this; and when the cup was presented TO my
lips l refused it. lCheers. Administrations
may change, Presidents may change, but
had been too fully committed on this subject
to go back TO Pennsylvania and turn my
back upon pledges which l had both spoken
and written to thousands of men.
/ did not for a moment believe that the Ad-
ministration had concluded to abandon the
principles which had put them into power;
that they were resolved to make their policy
a test; so when went to Washington and
called upon my old friend, | said to him.
"Mr Buchanan, for the first time in our lives
we are at variance; L find myself standing by
one pfllClple, yOuI
you have deserted it," "Well," said he.
;can't you change too? [Laughter.] If
can afford TO change, why can't you afford to
change? [Renewed laughter.1 If you and
Douglas and Walker will unite in support of
my policy, there will not be a whimper of
this thing: it will pass by like a Summer
breeze" | told him that it was very we'll
with an Administration surrounded by office
helders and living all the time in the atmos-
phere of fiattery, that was followed by thou
sands of gentlemen who expected place; that
they could come to him and say, You are
right, Mr.. Buchanan; we are down on our
bellies; please to walk over us-please
trample upon us and we will be happy and
content and hope you will believe your poll
cy is right"
But | tell you'' said /, s'there is q still
small voice in the people that instinctively
rejects frauds, and this is not only fraud
but "A dishonor. do not claim to be more
honest than any other man. | have done as
all politicians have-some things which may
not square exactly with the rules of religion
and right. and which, il have, regret them
but this thing will not do. Loud cheers.l |
have reached the stature and years of man
hood. and l cannot go back to Pennsylvania
to cat my own words aud become the slave
Of power [Renewed cheers.1 l cannot
But then Mr.. Buchanan, you must tolerate
this difference of opinion. Gen. Jackson to-
lerated differences of opinion in his friends
Col. Polk tolerated differences of opinion, and
you differed with him in his views on the
tariff, and yet you remained in his Cabinet
Mr.. Pierce tolerated differences of opinion
But here you are. Men who put you where
you are-who ask nothing at your hands
who have refused your favors-have trampled
all the patronage that has been offered them
under feet; here they are, asking to be tole-
rated in the indulgence of an honest opinion"
The reply to that was, ''Sir, | intend to make
my Kanzas policy test" well, Sir" said
l Il regret it; but if you make it a test with
your officers, we will make it test at the
ballot-box." Loud cheers.]
Repeat, d efforts were made to heal the diff
ference. But it seems to me, gentlemen, that
when the Presidency is conferred upon poor
mortal, it transforms him into a god, in his
own estimation, or lunatic. Laughter.
Nobody is permitted to approach power to tell
the truth. Power never hears the thunder
voice of the people, sitting as it does in its
cushioned chairs, between its marble walls.
The independent man. loud and bold, with
clear eye, who comes to tell the truth is way
ed from the Presidential presence as rude
intruder.-Then we went home. As | said,
repeated efforts were made. and made in vain
to heal the differences. The comforting of this
Presidential patronage-of vast millions
more than the monarch of Great Britain en-
joys, and nearly as much as the French Des-
pot wields-this patronage induced Mr.. Buch-
anan to believe that he could make his test
successful. How was it made? Gentlemen,
when the chapter which shall detail the man.
ner in which the Administration has used its
patronage is written. it will be II black one.
When our children and Our children's child
rem come to read it, they will not believe that
an American citizen, elevated to the Presiden-
tial chair, in the face of such people, cover
ed with such an armOr OF pledges, would
have gone into that chair to have used bis
army-ay, his army and the treasure--your
money and mne-your officers and mine
for the purpose of putting down a gallant
band of men Tor standing by the plain Gods
truth; and | wish that when the historian
comes to write. he would not be compelled to
write that that President was born in Penn
sylvania. APPLAUSE.
Now, gentlemen, there has not been an ele-
ment lacking to relieve this unredeemed in
famy-not one. There has not been single
circumstance lacking. They have gone on
step by step, with IA tread of fate and destiny,
trying TO crush out the brave and gallant
spirits who have stood forth asking for moth
ing but to be allowed to do right Look at
the South, in whose name this deed, Lecomp-
tonism, has been perpetrated after its repre-
srntatives in the Senate and the House have
assisted in bounding down Stephen A. Douglas,
and David C.. Broderick and their gallant
compatriots in the House. the South begins
to say, as they see the Administration hell
hounds pursuing and attacking Douglas and
his friends in Illinois: "This is too much. We
are willing to accept Lecompton as gilded
poison which has been extended TO Us, aud
which Is to help us, though the only thing it
has done has been To commit our Representa-
tive to u gross wrong toward the North. But
we cannot bear this persecution"
Read the letter published the other day in
the New York papers from Reverdy Johnson
of Maryland. Read the statement of Alex.
Ii. Stephens and Henry A. Wise. They are
clamorous against these attacks on Mr.. Doug
las. Public men in this country forget Ia
their trucking 10 the Snnih ihnt Snnihnrn