Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-06-29

dishoaorsble OF degrading the under
Sgas FL to Eo1.s. 4
|nstil be - hing S. Up %
that p6e = loeexhi1 led e.ol J
feeling against the President Nay, u
the fall he had, in commenting 90 the
Presideot's letter to the forty parsons,
INDUCED 10 sxcessiye lsudstiou Of him
through the columns OF the Press. Mr..
foruey declares that he never applied
to the Admin stration for the printing Of
the Post O6lcs blanks and that the
charge that he ever asked tor it or took
any step to secnrs it, j. moss aaaoasasd.
Hc bad intimated TO his friends that
he would accept tho printing Of the Post
Office blanks, but he says that was pri-
or 70 September or October, 1857. He,
however, knew the errand Webster was
running, aud con6ded to him full pow crs,
since he says che committed bis honor
to bis keeping" But the evidence
shows that Col. Forney is mistaken.
Mr.. Cobb says Mr.. Forucy was extreme
~ anxious TO get the printing Of the
Post Office blanks. He frequently
pressed it npon Mr.. Cobb, and Nj.
Cobb pressed it upon the President.
Every time he met him it was talked
over, aud this was frequently. 1t was
the subject Of very earnest conversation.
Judge Black says Mr.. Forney's t,iends
aud be himself urged hi. claims very
strongly. lie wrote and spoke to the
Attorney General very often. During
the summer he spoke impatien,ly aud
bitterly Of the delay. His appeals to
Judge Black to get the printing we're
coupled with strong asst rtions that he
meant to be true to the President. Mr..
Forney, by his own admission, came to
Washington very anxious to be on good
terms with Mr.. Buchanan after the Post
Office blanks had been disposed Of,
Testimony, Lecompton Constitution,
page 2O4,) and that was the 3lst De
cember, 1857. Nothing occurred. so
tar as has been proved before this com.
mittee, after this time, to induce q
change OF feeling towards the President
Both the President and Forney had tn.
ken their ground on the Kansas question
Forncy had refused the former offers Of
patronage, and bis new political attitude
did not warrant the just expectation o.
any other offer, or, indeed, = repetition
OF those which had been made. Forncy
was aware OF the value of the post of:
fee blanks. Under the Administration
of General Pierce he had shared in thi,
patronage. Nicholson, then editor o.
the Union, held the patronage, and For
aey shared one-third or onv-fifth Of it
Again: Mr.. Forney says that at no time
did he ever express willingness to taks
the Liverpool consulate when coupled
with the pecunia,y offer. That he wa
DESTROYS Of accepting it appears FROM
Mr.. Cobb's testimony, who says tina
Mr.. Forney appealed to him to use hi,
influence to persuade bis family to con
sent to this arrangement.
It is difficult to see why the PROPOSE
ton to connect the consulate with thu
honorable post offoreign correspondent,
of the Union, for generous oompeusa
ton should have been considered dis
honorable. Mr.. Forney says be con
sidered it d,shonorsble proposition, ane
degradation to him-the offer Of til.
cousuIate-because, be says, he looked
upon it as sending him out of the coun
try, away from his friends and he say
it vas so regarded by all his friends
Yet, with these views, he was unwi linz
to submit to the dishonor and the deg
radiation. Wendell says he did not re
gard it As dishonorable proposition
nor did Forney, IS appesrs from tn
following extract from the testimony:
Question. And you say that Mr.. For
rey, among other reasons, declined Of
account Of his financial difficulties
which would prevent his leaving tb'
country!
Answer. Yes, SIR"
Question. Did Mr.. Forney ever maxi
any objection to this offer OF money ~
dishonorable proposition Did he trea
your proposal as q dishonoral le one!
-Answer. No, cir.
Question. Did he get indignant, ant
say II consider your proposition dis
honorable one?"
Answer. No, sir; he treated it as ,
business negotiation.
| Question. He eaid he could not q
on account Of bis financial affairs!
Answer. Yes, sir and l agreed vol
unfairly to advance $4,000 to meet tina
objection.
Question. What did he say then!
Answer. He in measure agreed
and for some ten or twelve days though
he would 60.
Question. But at the end Of nine
teen days you say he declined going!
Answer. Yes, sir.
Further, Wendell saws: He re
ne~ed the proposals, and after several
conversations it was agreed that tht
compensation should be raised in tn,
mode alluded to. Among other otjec
,ions, Mr. Forney stated bis inability il
. financial point OF view to leave, and i
was finally sgreed that Wendell shoule
advance $4,000; and be raised it, ant
bad it ia possession for nineteen days
when Foroey totally declined. There
is . remarkable discrepancy in the testi.
mony of these witnesses which the IN
dersigoed will not attempt to reconciIe,
but will only add, except their conflict
l = - ~