Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-04
Colonel Forney's Begging Letter
10 nhe PRECEDENT

u,ercidl that John w. Forney had, within
six months, written begging letter 10 the
President, indorsing his policy, &c. For
ney promptly denied this. The matter mas
excited some Interest here, and the fresl-
dent has finally consented to the puDllca-
tion of the following, which Will appear IN
TO- morrow's Republican. At the request OF
the President the name OF the gentleman
alluded 10 in the letter is suppressed.
1t is not bad guess, however, TO say IL Is |
Henry S. StebbiDs, formerly member OF
Congress from New York. rms Is onIy
the first of series of letters, which strong
pressure is brought to bear upon the Pres
ident to permit to be published:
NEW YORK, January 2, 1866.
"My Dear Mr.. President: tath |
II have been in this city for two days, |
and now write under an impulse when
can not restrain, and because i feel 1t to be
for your own good and that of the country:
take it for granted that you are resolved
not to be unmindful of your fame, and that
you will not allow your friends who heart
lily sustain your policy, to feel that they
are without your aid and encouragement,
whether you are candidate for President
or nor, and if you are not, shall be greatly
surprised. With the wonderful favor that
HAS CTOWutu YOUR ICobOl0bAOh POAASJ -
should not allow the great office to go to
Indifferent men, or those clearly in the In
terest of your foes. need not repeat to
you that I am now, as ever for twenty years,
as shown in my writings, and since your
great act of patriotism in 1860 especially,
Your open and ayowed friend. Where |
am to-day my two newspapers both daily
show to the world. Hence, In what now
saw speak no idle words, but mean all
saw. The Collectors office at New York
CITY is a post that you should dispose OF
outside of all the politicians; not that
mean to defy them, but to select your own
man, who should be free only to help you
and serve the Government; one whom they
could neither attack nor use. Such man
is -, of this city.
He was elected to Congress in 49, as a
Democrat, but like you refused to follow
the party into treason. He served short
time with great distinction, and resigned
on account of i'll health. lie was a member
of the committee of Ways and Means and
won great applause. He Is very able man,
educated to finance, intensely national,
honest and independent, and could furnish
millions of security. He has an organizing
mind, would make you a party, or would
fight your battles single-handed. He is an
Andrew johnson Democrat, in short.
write in the knowledge that he would ac-
cepf, and that his appointment would be
received with joy by this whole commu-
nifty.
ITO the President, &C."
Beyend the fact that u Is somei0ha en-
thusidstic and ungtdrded Endorsement Of an IN
diuidudl tollo has since shoton himself anioorthy
the confidence Teposed In him, we see nothing
Objectionable, or in any way remarkable,
in the above letter. 1--WE find 1t In the
Washington special OF the Cincinnati Com
naerctdl.) The letter was written at time
when all good men were still hoping that
the President would in the end feel con-
strained to shape his policy In accordance
with his vigorous utterances at the outset
of his career. That these just expectations
have since been wofully disappointed we
are free to admit. But Mr.. Forney is no
more to blame for the misplaced confidence
he reposed in the political faith OF the Pres
ident, than for the confidence (as sadly mis-
placed) which led him to place a private
and confidential letter in the hands of the
President, with the expectation that the
ordinary rules in vogue amongst gentlemen
wonld prevent him from making any pub
lie use of the letter. There is nothing in
the letter that Mr.. Forney might not
properly have said from the house-tops.
He simply urges the appointment
of some gentleman (whose name is dis
creetly Withheld by the President), for a
position which he seems to have been
eminently fitted for by peculiar qualiti-
cations, on the ground that it would be
for the good of the President and that Of
the country. All the affected virtuous in
dignation Of the Presidential toadies fails
to give the letter any other character than
that OF strict propriety, in bringing to the
notice of the appointing power a man Of
suitable character for appointment to an
office then vacant. --... -.-t..
The one disgraceful thing about the whole
business is. that the President OF the United
states, in the publication of the letter,
should be guilty Of allowing a feeling Of
personal malice to move him tO conspic-
uous breach of faith, In his private relations
as q man of honor and gentleman. The
nature of the dirty instrument he has made
use CT or which has made use of him, In
the person of the Commercials correspond
ent, shows an appreciation of the fitness OF
things which may lead to something, under
due cultivation.-C0lui1b Morning Journal,
Jub2.
We reproduce the foregoing, because the
Columbus Morning Journal, so far as the pub
lication of the Laws of the United States
in Ohio is concerned, is the organ of the
Administration. 1t is the recognized CEN
trail organ of the Republican party of Ohio.
1t is the organ of the Federal officials in
this city and District. This organ, which
derives much of its sustenance through Of
ficials who are indebted to the President
for their existence, declares that President
JOHNSON is unworthy of confidence and is
totally wanting in each and every one Of
those high qualities that constitute the gen
tleman. According to this stipendiary of
the Federal Treasury, and the echo of the
Federal officials hereaways, the President
has "shown himself unworthy the conf
dence reposed in him;" has been guilty Of
" conspicuous breach Of faiths" is devoid
Of "honor," and is no gentleman" As
long as the President keeps in pay crea-
lures who thus revile him on every imagin-
able pretext, how can he hope to carry for
ward to successful conclusion his pOlicyp
The Great Speech of Hon. Hugh
-r IA a. JeWetf.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer prints the
able and effective speech Of Hon. HuGH J.
JEwErr, whichhe delivered In this city, on
Tuesday evening, June 26th, and speaks of
1t in the following terms: iq
Mr.. JEwETT's GREAT TSPEECH.-The speech
Of Hon. Hugh j. Jewett, of GAINESVILLE, at
the Columbus meeting on Tuesday, is to be
found In this days paper. Like all of Mr..
Jewett's productions, It's clear and logical,