The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-06-28
TESTIMONY OF JOHN W. FORNEY,
Before the Conmittee. June IL, 1860.

IkSIlMON1 OF JOHN w. FOHNE1
Before the Commi,tee. June IL, 1860.
John W. Forney called ard examined
Question by the Chairmar. Colonel, it is IN
necessary 10 ask you were you reside,
Auswer. ! reside 10 the city of Philadel
rhis?
Q. Your occupation?
A. ! sm editor of the Press, Philadeiphia.
Q, Your position here!
A. Clerk OF the House Of Representatives.
Q. What your position during the can
vass in Pennsylvania in 1856,
A. I Was Chairman Of the Democratic State
Central Committee.
O. Have you any remarks to make which
would be preliminary or explanatory Of your
connection with political affairs in that year?
| A. would like to say. if you would permit
! me, that my appearance before this committee
| though not entsrely unexpected. on account of
discussions in the public journals puts me in the
attitude, almost, Of desiring to know what am
| to say. l know you will d. me the justice to
admit that have not taken any part whatever
in the Investigations of the committee outside Of
my journal. in which have very freely discussed
its doings as any other journal can do. My re-
lations with Mr.. Buchanan have been a subject
of newspaper comment; and I presume l have
been summoned by you on that account to be
here this morning. / have carefully ebstaiued
from making any exposure Of those relations
Ny connection With him has been long. intimate,
And Of . confidential character, and the separa.
tion il Of the most painful nature; but most
of it concerned myself have not forced the
matter upon the attention of the public. unless
in self defense. and therefore, in reference the
Witnesses that have been examined here, have
been cautious to let them take their course.-
The testimony Of Mr.. Webster given here had
been fully known to Inc, and, indeed after be had
volunteered once before to give the evidence
which be did give
The Chairman It is due here should cav
that you never did give me any Information with
regard to Mr.. Webster or anybody else to sub
Psna had to get oil my Information fton 9TH
ers and not from you. that will not need any
further explanation.
The Witness. Ooly this, if the committee will
permit M: did not feel thu, needed vndica
tion against the charge made against me by Mr..
Baker. the Collector Of the port Of Philadelphia q
befo,e the special committee of the Senate, of
which Mr. King was chairman felt that, in
the course l had taken against the ai,ninistra-
ton. had the approval Of my own judy nent;'
and although l an deeply graceful to Mr.. Web
ster for What be said. and also for what the Hon.
Charles Brown AID the other day, inasnuch as
it has done good deal 10 dispel unjust preju.
dices ia the public mind. yet. if had had my
own course to take. cer' ainly should not have
solicited cit her of tho.e gentlemen TO come here.
l would also cay that my coming before this
committee was not of my own seeking. l had
ped that might be spared | will not say the
trOub 2, OF coming here at oil; but as | am here
nov. inasmnch as my name has been used before
another committee
Mr.. WinsoS. do not think any reference to
what has been doue 10 the other committee il
proper here. nn'ess we rake their records.
The Witness ! undsrstood that you allowed
Mr. Baker to appear here. and repeat his tesLi-
mony before the other committee.
Nj. Winslow read to the witness 30 much of
the testimony OF Colouel Baker ~ referred 10
him.
Mr.. Robinson thought i. was due to Colonel
Fosney that ne should be allowed to go on and
state bis connection with the President inasmach
- the testimony of Col. Baker says that the
cause OF their difference was on account of his
failure TO ge. the Post Oice blank printing.
Mr.. Winslow requested the witness to retire
while the committee consulted upon taat sub
ject.
The Witness. If the committee will permit
me- desire to say that the testimony of Col.
Baker was 80 unj1st and, must adj SO untrue,
that for my own vindcstion must go back and
state my relations with tas President from the
time wss elected chairman Of the Democratic
State Central COMMITTEES of Pennsylvanis down
to the time when our difference took place
The witness then retired. After some time
he was recalled, and informed that it had beeo
agreed that his statement on that point might
be taken subject to the striking out of every
thing Waich the committee might deem lfrcve-
liant.
The Chairman Just commence at tho com
meucemept, and GO aud state the historv OF
the whole matter. explaining yeor relations
With the President
Answer. After the nomination OF Mr. Buchan-
an, RI was al Cineinnati helping with Others. to
secure that resat,) ! vas taken very ILL., and re
sided At Lancaster with my mother, my wife be-
ing With me at the time. 1t was some time be-
fire recovered Sufficiently 30 go TO Philsdephis
aud resume my Connection with the campaign
Oas afternoon drove up 10 Wheatland and
found Mr.. Buchanan sitting in front OF his house.
on the lawn in company with my wife. who had
preceded me; and he said to me 10 his usual kidd
msuner, {for we had formed very close and init
mate relations to each other,) Il an very CRATE
tal to you for what you have done 1T Cincinnati.
and jariny oil yo0r life. for ne will be elected
easy 1t VAS then believed taas be could be
elected easily; be wss regsrdsd rs q conservative
man, aud he wss cor6a=at himself Of his elec
ton And now" said be. 'in order to make
your mind easy upon the subject. I want to tell
yoa what nv purpeses are in reference To your
se.f design that you should go to Wsshing-
ton and TO take charge o. the organ Of my aj-
minisfsAton, should be elected, and 30 take
possession Of the public printing. This otfsr 10
voluntarily made. in the fallness of my heart, and
1 intend to stand by it I wss of course,
xrstiied and surprised. I did nos expect that
be would make zach ~ offer. ss least as that
time aud we parted. We freqoently met after
wa-dA The campaign began with . good deal
Of excitement and in q short tine the contest
assumed IN aspect which made il exceediosly