Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-06-02
Political Pandcrfng.

| Political EandcrfnS.
We owe new debt TO the Covode Commit
tee. Thanks TO their Investigations, the
| world at last possesses Mr.. Buchanan's idea
ofa good Democrat 1t will be RENE mbcred
| that Hon. 4. J. Walker seut to Kansas
| in 1851 a. Governor, by our venerable
| President, TO do Justice, in mercy-the ''Old
| public functionary Invoking tue Divine bless
| ing on bis own head he dispatched his
| representative to the scene of his duties
| An election occurred shortly after in Kansas.
! and returns from two coun les Oxford and
| McGee-notOriOusly false and fraudulent.
| were presented. the voters names having
| been taken bv Wholesale from the Cincinnati
| Directory Gov. Walker, like good citizen
| and an honorable man. refused TO receive
| these returns. and thereupon followed DIFF
/ fcuIiy between himself and his Chief. Mr..
( Buchanan did moi care how the returns were
made up, so that The majority was on his
| own side. and accol dinghy sent Gov. Walker
| bis letters of leave.
I About this time. one of the Presidents old
friends, Col. Forney, was editing newly
| started Journal, the Press. in Philadelphia.
With a perspic acity somew hat unsual. it must
be confessed, in party organ the Press saw
this matter of illegal returns in Kansas in
the same light in which ii had been viewed
by Gov. Walker, and denounced the fraud
accordingly. This reckless honesty excited
great alarm" at Washington. 1t was thought
that if Col. Forncy persevered in speaking
well of Governors who did their duty, and
in denouncing frauds favorable to the Adj
ministration, this conduct of his might lead
to a breach" between himself aud The Pres-
dent. In December 1857 one Mr.. Webster.
Of philadelphia. wishing we'll ut once to Col.
Forney and the President, fiattered himself
that be had hit upon capital plan for recon-
CLING this little difference. 1t occurred tn
this worthy gentleman that the printing Of
III. Post-ofice blauks-a lob" estimated at
some $50. 900 year-had not yet been Civ
en- out, and that if the governmenment could
be induced to offer, and Col. FOrney to ac-
cept. this little token If esteem and re-
gard, better stale of feeling might be es
tabIished between the President and the Press.
Fired with the thought, Mr.. Webster sat
down at once and wrOte-tO whom! Not to
the Postmaster General; nor yet 10 the
President: but to the first law-ofiicer of he
Union-tO MIR. Attorney General Black. To
persons IMMERSED in the practice of politi-
cians it may appear even disagreeably as
tonishing that the Attorney General OF the
United States should be selected rs the agent
in a commercial transaction of this kind;
and few superannuated bigets may even
expect 10 be told that Mr.. Black rel cted
with scathing scOrn the proposition of this
peace-mukiug Pbiindelphian. that he should
negotiate the purchase of Col. F0rney's opin
ions. in exchange for $50 600 of the public
money then under The charge OF q perfectly
indepeudet department OF the Government.
Readers of Mr.. BIchanans famous Pitts
burgh letter on official corruption may pos
sibly share this expectation. The general
public hOweV er we fear. will be very mod
eratrly surprised 10 find Ihat Mr.. Black
agreed with Mr.. Webster in thinking thai
there was nothing "derogaory" IN the afore-
said proposition; and that he replied to IL In
The following tnnlh'ng "pisilp:
My DEAR SIR: There is 70 definite (nor
indeliuite.) aIrangrmet made of the affair
to which you refer. If yon desire to do our
highly valued aud gifted friend great ser
vice, Won should come here immediately. l
have Ioug desired to see you. Please TO
come. If you won't come, say SO by tele-
graph. Yours ever,
ID. WEBSTER, ESQ.
OfCourse. ID. Webster. Esq, left home at
once for Washington. without so much as
consulting the highly valued and gifted
friend" whom he desired greatly TO serve,
and about whose welfare the Attorney Geu-
eral of the United States confessed himself
to be so deeply concerned. An interview
took place Immediately on Mr. Websters
arrival, between these devoted diplomotists;
and at this interview Mr. Webster--speaking,
be il remembered, under oaih--avers that the
Attorney General delivered himself of tue
following plain aud busines%like talk:
"ne expressed great regret at the course
Col. Forney was pursuing on the subJeci oil
the then state oi affairs IN Kansas lie said
il was evident that if he persisted in II a
breach would follow between him aud the
Administration, and predicted that 10 that
event Col. Forney's bones wonld whlten,
along with MilmoI's, on the shore oil Black
Rep. bicani<m; b. wanted Col. Forney 10
give a pledge through the columns oil HE
newspaper that, whist the peuding question
was tair subject OF difference as between
Democrats, il was, nevertheless, question
TO be settled within the organization OF the
party, and that uil good Dttnocrats would
abide b. the decision of the party on that
subject IL. wanted hun also 10 say that
under no circumstances did he (Col. Forney)
intend TO become Black Republican,"
This WAS explicit. The fearful prospect 20
impr,~sively presented BY the eloquent Al
/ torney General OF Col. Forney's I" bones
whitening along with those of WtInot on
th.. shores OF Black Republicani-m, whea
his character might have been comfortably
bLgck-sniHg under tue sunslines oil PRESIDED
tisl patronage, struck Mr. Webster with dls-
may or course this eatasi rophe must he
sserted. You merely wished Forney TO
sell YOU the key OF his lips" says Nebster IN
effect. .WelI, that Is satisfactory, only bow
much will YOU gives The whole ss0uoo, OF
oniy a part OF ii!'' The Attorney General
replied, uabesitasingly, "Ihe whole OF it,
Now mark the sequel, and lament with Us
afresh, bow of the hest laid schemes OF mice
ssd men do gang aglee." Mr.. Webster con
tinued:
Il telegraphed over to Col. Forncy that ]
had a proposition which ! tnou gal nc could
kouerably accept, and returning immediately
90 Philadslphis- As Judge Blacks and my
views agreed, advised Col. Forney TO ae-
eept the proposition. He Indignantly re-
fused to do 80, aud directed me 10 write 10
Judge Black that II lifetime spent ia the
Democratic Party, aud in the advocacy OF It's
principles, MAS not sufficient guaranty OF
his continued sdeFeney 20 Is, hs bad lived
In xain-a
Sach elstiaacy. comparable oaiy to the
wrong-headelasss With which Lstslff. IN
Shakspeare,s Measure for Measure defeat
ed the highly advantageous arrangements
Of Aagslo. discouraged bat did not absolute
iy oEershsin tue bsnesoient asbsief. de
sent b.ek CO.. Feraey's scognlal refusal. % !
tells u.s.
Il adisd o. my o~n seeoalf thai notvit1-
sasnding tsls was Col 70. neys = answer, i
shcaghl IA ussld he eop<l y iics b. give aim
zfae plla1Isg ol tsss Pet dee blanks. "a the