St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-03-15
Position Of Col. Fcrney.

1OSAtAOA VI OOA. 4 XSAACy.
Col. Forncy, the Clerk of the House,
addressed his friends in this city on the
evening Of the day Of his election, in tie
course Of which he defined his position
upon the slavery question, and his relation
to parties. He declares that the s.Den,o-
cratic party to which Mr.. Buchanan has
bound himself is dcvo'cd solely to the ex-
tension and pcrpctuation Of slavery" He
processes to lie as much the friend Of
the South as ever, and iii favor Of enfor .
ing the, fugitive slave law, but he is .rc-
solved for one TO protest against"
the extension Of slavery. lie: declares
that "this country has higher, noblcr,
lofticr destiny before it than TIE cxtcn-
sion and pcrpetuation of slavery.''
lie dtends the Republican party as fol.
lows: 49,.
Snow, let me say, without protracting these
most desultory remarks-let me say, with re-
gard TO the Republican members, that they
have been most atrociously slandcred, that the
whole Republican party of the North have
been slandercd, in having been held RESPONSE
bic for tile unfortunate outrage at IIarper's
Ferry. There have been expressions, and
opinions, and sentiments, uttered against the
leaders of the Republican party, against which
! all honest instincts, and even party rre;udiccs
revolt. What is the actual truth Why, the
very moment that the news Of that invasion
reached the North, they were struck with hor-
ror, and there was not a man who d d not
denounce and who did not deplore it.
"Hence protest against the assumption
that the people Of my region are in favor of or
| would support any set OF men who approve of
the doctrines of the Helper book, or who put
themselves forward as the champions of those
who would attempt to invade the State Of Vir-
ginia. and crimson her soil with the blood of
her people. Loud CLeers.]
Mr.. Forney refers with pride to his
quitting the Clerksl,ip four years ago,
with the unanimous applause of both
Houses, for the manner in which he prcsi
dcd, during the long struggle for the
election of Speaker; to his sincere deyo-
tion to the political fortunes of Mr.. Bu.
chanan, under the belief that he stood
honestly upon the Cincinnati platform
to the desertion Of his Northern friends
by the President, and the hatred with
"AlCu Hea puloueu MI. L. IOr refusing &c
support his pro-slavery policy. lie con.
cludes as follows:
'.But, gentlemen, to bring, as said before,
these desultory remarks to a close, let me, in
conclusion, repeat my thanks for this demon
stra'ion. You may remember this passage in
Maze 2pa'-my friend Mr.. Jackson, Of Zen
tuck, will also remember-when Mazeppa q
cannot repeat the exact words) is bound to a
wild steed, which is turned off, and which few
with him over mountains, through valleys and
forests, and across rivers, pursued by wolves,
shouts back to his tyrant and prosecutor, that
some day he would return to repay him -
Loud cheers
Some day will RETURN said Mazeppa:
TO thank you, Count, for this uncourtceus
ride Gentlemen, have had the ride for the
last two or three years loud cheers but
have also, Mazeppa-likc, come back to settle
with the respectable and venerable gentleman
at the other end Of the avenue for that ride
am returned to pay him my respects. [Chee's
a voice. Give lin; he has no friends. ]
l have returned to settle accounts with him.
IA voice-'Don't spare him; he has shot us
down like dogs with marines.'] If he is now
sitting in his easy chair at LONE tonight, he
must hear your loud and hearty cheers, and
they will remind him that his old friend For
ncy has come back to settle the old debt with
him. Loud cheers and laughter. I'-Na'ion-
al Era