Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-03-03
John W. Forney on Mr.. Buchanan,

Mr.. Forney was serenaded the eve
ming after his election as Clerk Of the
House, and OH being called on for a
speech, made some remarks concluding
VITA the following biting illusions to
his own relations with Mr.. BUCHAN-
AM
If you allow me to say-but l think
/ will say it whether You allow me or
not cheers the Democratic party,
solely to the perpetuation and extern
sion of slavery. Cries of CHATS go -
and cheers. But /, as one man who
is resolved to stand by the rights of
the South, who is resolved to see the
fugitive slave law executed in the let
ter and the spirit, l am resolved, for
one, to protest against such an act
Loud cheers. This country has a
higher, nobler and loftier destiny be-
fore it than the extension or perpetual
ton Of slavery. Loud cheers. Isay
it frankly, that | regret it is i'll exis-
tence. | speak as | feel, and when |
see all the power Of this Government
exercised for the protection and per-
petuation of that institution, l
must protest against it. Cheers. =
have seen for the last eight
weeks men, Northern men, and
I was ashamed to see them, lending
themselves TO the depravity, if l may
be permitted to use the term, but GER
tainly to the degradation, of endorsing
such principles as these. But, gentle
men, to bring, as / said before, these
desultory remarks to close, let me, in
conclusion, repeat my thanks for this
demonstration. You may remember
this passage in "Mazeppa'-my friend
Mr.. Jackson, of Kentucky, will also re-
membcr-whcn Mazeppa Ct cannot re-
peat the exact wordS) is bound to a
wild steed, which is turned off, and
which flew 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
'sSome day | will return" said Ma
zeppa, ITO thank you Count, for this
uncourteous ride" Gentlemen / have
had the ride for the last two Or three
years. Loud cheers, but I have also,
Mazeppa-like, ,.come back, to settle with
the respectable and venerable gentle
man at the other end Of the avenue for
that ride. / am returned to pay him
my respects. Cheers. A voice
"Give him HI, he has no friends" |
have returned to settle accounts with
him. A voice-"Don't spare him
he shot us down like dogs, with ma
rines"l If he is now sitting III his ca
sy chair at home, to night, he must
hear our loud and hearty cheers, and
they will remind him that his old friend
Forney, has come back to settle the
old debt with him. Loud cheers and
laughter,
Mr.. Forney, once more thanking the
assemblage, retired from the window,
loudly cheered.
The lines alluded to by Mr. Forney
are as follows:
They little thought, that day of pain,
When launched, as on the lightning's fash
They babe me to destruction dash,
That one day should come again
With twice five thousand horse to thank
The Count for his uncourteous ride
They played ME then bittor prank
When, with the wild horse for guide,
They bound me to his foaming flank.
At length played them one as frank,
For time at last sets all things even
And if we do but watch the hour
There never vet was human power
Which could evade, if unforgiven,
The patient watch and vigil long
Of him who treasures up wrong. >