Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-03
COL. FORNEYO ON THE PRESIDENT.
HIS PAST RECORD EXAMINED.
Every Radical Measure Sustained by
His Previous Policy

Colonel j. W. Forney was serenaded on
Tuesday evening last by the Soldiers and
Sailors National Union League. In re
spouse he said
Soldiers ,gho hare bean IN tie FtcId: Sol
disrs tgh0 hare returned from The Field:
l thank you for this compliment. l
thank You not only because it Is a per
sOnal tribute, but because it comes coucled
in such language and accompanied by
such testimonials as convince me that the
position I held in reference To- great pO-
litical questions is appreciated, understood,
and viii not 20 aforementioned by your
selves. Applause Why, gentlemen,
sometimes l think that we are living in %
state of siege, that this is 81 barrack and
citadel, and that we are about TO be tried
for having committed high crimes against
the powers that reign. Why is 1t that
for the ten days past every returned rebel
who is permitted 10 come back and live
under the shelter Of the Government he
tried to destroy, Is To- filed with eXulta-
ton? Why Is it tauJ all households that
were crowded with spies, praying for the
success of the armies that you, gentlemen
1ilAAIAf tflb w bl Llt hNahf az w
classed with the friends of Andrew John
son, of Tennessee Why isl that the set
who have prosecuted loyal men here du-
ring these four terrible years, and who
-neerCd at You as you passed along these
streets 10 save the capital Of the Republic,
and their own property and Hves-why
are they now claiming this accidental
President and shouting hUzL1s L. bis
nance 1 often feel when l look around
me as if this were ths metropolis Of the
great slave dcspoJi=m, and that we North
eru men We're permitted 10 live here, but
not allowed to>peak our sentiments. APP
plau-e
Gcutlemen-I had il visit tonight
which is curiouslv illustrative Of the polit-
teal situation. 1 viii not mention names,
gentlemen. lest they may be renewed
from office, for already l believe them to
be marked ont for sacrifice, and families
dependent upon them would be deprived
Of support if 1 should do 50. Six gentle
men holding positions in departments,
believing in the principles Of Andrew
johnson, Of Tennessee, surprising that the
pledges he made during and before his
canvass for the National Union ticket
were intended to be fulfilled, organized
themselves inAU little societies here for the
purpose Of advocating the great maXims
and pledges Of Andrew johnson. \ few
days ago it was intimated TO them that
they were in hostility TO Andrew john
sons Administ. alton, and that they We're
marked men. This little incident as l
nave said illustrates the political situation.
and Is explanatory Of the extraordinary
feeling p~ervading the public mind at the
present moment. There Is not a principle
that / have advocated in the daily morn
ing Chronicle here, and in the Press Of
Philadelphia, that has not been taught to
us by Andrew johnson Of Tennessee, who
taught us that treason was Il crime and
should be punished. 1t was Andrew john
son who amancipated the slaves in Ten
nessee by his own will when President
Lincoln proposed to exempt that State
from his proclamation. Il was Andrew
johnson who demanded that the splendid
property Of rebel lords and masters be
cOuiiscated and divided among the brave
men who fought the battles Of the
try. 1t was Andrew johnson who prom
ised the colored men of Tennessee that
he would be their Moses, laughter, and
lead them into the happy land. 1t was a
Johnson who not only said that treason
was made infamous, bat that death WAS too
easy "a punishment for "a traitor. 1t was a
johnson Of Tennessee who, in the Senate
of the United States in 1860 and 1861, IN
the face oftraitors who were then plotting
to secede, declared that if he were Presi-
dent he would hang them rs so many
criminals. 1t was a johnson who led the
radical movement before he was President
who inspired it with courage, who called
upon strong men in the North 10 follow
his example.
In what YOU and 1 are doing we are
simply following his example, Is 1t not
therefore extraordinary that events such
as these transpired, and that he who has
been our leader is about to become our
prosecutor that in fact you who happen
10 hold offices in departments are to be
punished, sacrificed for being true to his
principles. 1 do not wonder that seces-
siouists and returned rebels Of the city
Of Washington are filled with satisfaction
at such prospect, and l would congratu-
late them upon the fact that they have Sc
cured a great prize, and were on the eve
Of a great victory, if l did not look TO
that great Northern country, applause
and there see millions Of people who are
This night agonizing over the crisis of the
Republic, and who have resolved, with
resolution unparalleled even in their
wonderful history, 10 sustain their faithful
representatives who are celebrating, and
thank God with united calmness and fear
less hearts in yonder marble pile. ZAP
plause
Why, gentlemen, sometimes when ]
dwell upon this theme l almost feel rs
though / Was trtnsplanJei to another
planet. It Is as if, like Zip Van Wrinkle,
| had slumbered for many years, ard had
suddealy awakened to find myself in a
new community, as it were, among my
p1stcritv, talking to strangers and locking
Upon strange faces What is it l see ?
Andrew johnson, of Tennessee, idol, organ
and pruttier and protector of men VINO,
during four years, were his prosecutors
and his revilers; Andrew johnson, Of Ten
Hessee, receiving and being introduced TO
a ragged battalion Of returned traitors by
the counsel and ~apologists of the assassins
of Abraham Lincoln, and the miserable
wretch Wiz who was executed a few
months ago; Andrew johnson, Of Ten
uessee, in front of the Presidential man.
sion, speaking of leading patriots as trail
tors. 1t Is indeed a miracle of miracles
l do not desire and did not re-
gard your visit as intended to give me
an opportunity to reply to the President
words unbecominga gentleman l am
not to initiate am that have been set
by tine President ofthe United States lap
pluuse We should not only look to our
Chief Magistrate for elegance Of manners
but for decency Of language. We should
always find in him eminent sobriety
laughter Of department. dignity of cX-
preston, unerring courtesy and graceful
language, for, gentleman, If we look in
vain for such in the head Of the civilized
and Christian nation, where else shall we
look for them. If there is anything that
am~inentlv characterizes this great Aneri- |
can people, it IS that their intelligence
teaches them to respect the right and feel
inGs of others. From this sentiment
springs that noble philanthropy which
saHctiies and strengthens the important
movement in which they are now en-
gagged, for we are on the threshold not
merely ofparty conflicts, we have before us |
mighty labors. We can no more tear our
selves away from our work than lean reach
with this feeble arm and tear out stars
sparkling in the eternal heavens.
He is a most incapable leader who strives
TO eyade and delay eternal truths and du-
Shall four millions Of human beings, |
made free by a great war, and over the