Wilmington journal., 1860-06-14
Evidence before the CovOde Investigating
(tnmmilaee.

Al practising attorney and latterly have been
gagged as the commissioners of the State OF Pennsy
Vania to revise the penal code of the State.
not to e from ugs he
change his course and support the Administration!
A-No sir; l never received any such letter -
Ain consequence of letter 1 received from Judge
interview with him here In to Col Forney
QWhat took place at that interview, and what was the
A-A conversation took place between us, hut regard
it in the light of confidential communication and would
not Like voluntarily to OF IT, tnss ca6gs
upon him and endeavored to obtain his consent to dis
think there anything that that he would
0To what did the letter refer that you received from
Judge Black before you had that interview with him?
A1Iwrote to Judge Black making enquiries whether
there had any arrangement made for giving the
printing postoce blanks, and suggested that it
highly desirable that Col Forney should receive that pat
! ronsge from the government.
Q-When did you write that letter to the Attorney
can Only tell from ah the cate tho o @ m p
reply mine invited to come to Washington saying
upon that subject have his letter in pocket and have
no objection to reading that at ALL
By the Chairman:
| Dread the letter for information.
| 1he witness read the letter.
Q-You came on after receiving that letter?
! Ayes sir did,
Q-Wh-t conversation had you with Judge Black in
gard to that matter of printing patronage?
Al mutual friend of both parties and regarded
that interview confidential and would not like voluntar
y to disclose that compensation have reflected upon IT.
and thought that would appeal to the Committee not to
press the matter understand that Judge Black IS absent
now in the interior Of Pennsylvania
The Witness expressed desire to Judge Back before
he answered the question.
Mr.. Winsow moved that time be allowed him, which was
not agreed to.
The Chairman then informed witness that the Com
mittee insisted upon an answer to the question
The question repeated to the witness as follows:
| Q-What the result of your interview with Judge
Black? What was your conversation with him
A-As the Committee insist upon it | will answer: Col
FOrney started his paper in August 1851 and sustained the
policy of this Administration down to the time the difficult
ties in Kansas about the Oxford and Mcee Frauds
when he took sides with Gov Walker dpOn that bjeCt
That the occasion of the first difference between him
and the Administration and its supporters in PhlaGe pha
His paper very decided and emphatic upon that sub
ject and occasioned great deal Of aa to the
suit it would produce if per.evered in that it likely to
create difficulty between him and the Administration, and
lead him into the support of opposition measures.
DOwnt to that period Col FOiney had received no patron
from the Government except occasional advertisements
from of the Departments. And myself and others,
being personal friends of Col Forney, exeed
selves to the utmost to put his paper solid and
footing. OF my accord wrote t. Judge Black
making enquiry respecting the distribution of the printing Of
the Post Office bauks and asked that might be given to
Col Forney AS before stated his letter reply to mine
here and we had long conversation the sub
jsct He stated evident that Col Fo
would ultimately land him with the opposition unless
stopped and predicted that his bones would whien
the shore of Black Repubcanism along with the bones
should give pledge in his newspaper that he meant to
remain with the Democr tic party. He said he wanted
|
Col should simply say that while this question had
arisen and serious it nevertheless to be
settled within the Democratic organizations that was
fair subject for difference but for oppOsion and he
would abide by the decision of the Democa party upon
asked him. What then? Well, he said he disposed
then to do whatever his aid of Col Forney
said that Col FOney, with this could have the
printing of them The contract valued by Col. For
portion OF the printing of the Post Office blanks would be
given to him. He said the whole of it, then remarked
WoI fhiC Sho1
to fulfil what you promise p? Twill be disa appont-
ment about it? He gave me TO understand that he of
would not hold such cOrEersation with without
| it was ii his power to fulfil all he did promise.
His views and mine upon the subject agreed exactly
agreed a was just such question as he described to
be, a difference within the party
QThat could hold either side Of the question and
still be a democrat?
A-,Yes sir. photographed from Washington Col. For
he could honestly accept. returned Philadelphia and
communicated to Col Forney the result of my interview
with Judge Black and advised him to ont with such
| pledge.
| Q-State where you and Col. FOrney met.
Ale met me at the depot in Philadelphia, and COM
municated this to him first my up my house my
carriage, and afterwards fully at my residence Mr.
Henry S. Magraw was present at interview Col For
ney Indignantly refused to comply with Judge Black S
wishes, and emphatic in expressing his refusal
cannot remember his precise language now. but know
this that he directed Judge Black that
advocacy of Mr. Buchanan to public office not sufi
pledge of his continued adherence the Democratic
and that the only answer he had to make to him.
wrote to Judge Black accordingly; but added my
Forney refusal that the Admir- saIion should give him
the printing Of the post office blanks believing that pos
such prize would lead to the very result that
the Administration desirous of accomplishing that it
thing that would work out its good. lnever
his opposition to the Lecompon policy of the Adminstra
on, until finally the friends of the Administration in Phil
adelphia withdrew their support from his paper.
Q-Do 5ou know OF any other proposition made to Col
Forney?
A-Co. Forney once read to correspondence be-
tween himself and Mr.. Buchanan.
| Q-Hhat proposition contained it that
A-Mr. Buchanan offered him for the last time the Liver
pool Consulate and mentioned what the salary would be,
and that it would afford him HANDSOME support. if
memory right, added that other of
muneraton would likewise be obtained but what the char
acter OF those means was to have been have forgot
QDd it say that it would be raised up to certain
mount?
Any impression is that there was an estimate made
of what his income would be- if he went out there.
Odd he not say he would make it equal to $4,000 a
year?
A-That do not recollect.
Q stated that there would be other of income
besides the consulate alone?
Ayes sir.
By Mr., Robinson
Q-What the date OF this letter?
Alt Just before COL Forney started his newspaper
QBefore he had any difference with the Administration
Ayes sir regarded it as very aectoaate letter from
By Mr. Winsoeo:
Q-Can you not recolect if there something said
his correspondence with newspapers and that in that
way his income could be made up to large amount?
| A-1 es sir; you are right.
Q-Have you communicated this interview between
Judge Black and yourself to anybody but Mr. Forney
otherwise than in confidence?
Al communicated it to Mr. Forney on my return to
Philadelphia, in the presence of Mr. Henry S. Magraw
and laterly having in the papers that
Baker, the Collector of port had testified before
Senate Committee that Col Forneys opposition the
was because of his not getting the printing
of the Post Office blanks, said that knew that was moi
sc, but that his opposition was in despite of that.
O. mean this interview with Judge Black7
Al did speak of it Col. Forneys friends sup
pose he has spoken of it himself.
SATURDAY, June 2, 1860.
]. S. BLACK, recalled.
By Mr.. WNsLow-
Q-You have been furnished with copy of Mr.. David
Webster testimony?
Ayes.