New-York tribune., 1872-02-12
To His E1celency President Grant.


fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBCNBI
WAsuISGToN Feb. 1l.-An Washington has been ex-
cited, to-day, Col. Forney's letter resignng the
Office of Collector of the Port of Philadelphia The inde-
pendent course of The Philadelha Press previous to
col Forncvs appointment. ten months ago. was ap-
plaudpd and its sudden conversion to the unconditional
support of the Administration surprised many OF Coi'
Fornev's political friends here, and could only be eX-
lanrd by the fact tnat there personal reasons
which induced him TO accept the position, ana impair
for the time lis independence as journalist "ha' MS
future course is TO be is not publicly KNOWN
,bouph from his conversation during his re-
cent visit 10 Washington il il lmerrod
that he has come the conclusion that Gen Grant Is
not the man who unite the Republican party, ana
that be prefers be in position 10 support any one
else whom he may desire This belief is strengthened
bv the tone Of COL Forney's letter II contains not
word OF comfort the President and his friends not
bOoe Is ypressed that Gen Grant will he renomnated
po propise Of support is in it; he VIII devote
all his efforts To the energetic support OF
tbe priucples OF the great Republican party; ana
te inference here this evening is that hc no longer re-
calds Gen Grant and the Republican party as Identical
1t also given that many ~ the rog's IN the re
publican party in Pennsylvania have been ShleidlhS
themselves behind Grant, and as Forney desires 10 gh
them he has resigned that he may do So Many com
opt are made on the fact that COL Forneys letter OF
RESIGNATION ia not accompanied by any gushing letter
from the President like that with which he accepted
Tom Murphy's resignation No whisper OF COM
nlaiut has been heard against Col Forney :
administration IN Philadelphia No suspicion OF
dishonesty or Improper use OF patronage has eHS'e'
and vet the President writes him letter Of regret nor
ass1res him OF his continued confidence. There are
various opinions as to the effect OF Col FOrneys resig
nation Pennsylvania politics One Senator remarked
tonight that lost to the President
but explain by saying that he was not led 10 tha con
cuson 80 much by any exalted idea that he had OF the
influence of The PhHadclLip IJtss by his confidence
n Forney'- shrcw,iuc,s politician. The friends Gf
GEN Grant are positively alarmed and private con-
versa.iOn say that this resignation i The hardest Do"
the Administration has yet received
The following is part of dispatch which VII appear
in The PhilGdephid Press tomorrow. ANA is known To-
embody the views Of Col. FO~ney j
.WhIle ne was Collector Of the Port ot Philadelphia,
~ he wrote AN article In favor Of President Grant al
rninistraton. some superserviceable knave would
hasten to eXcaim that the Colonel was PAID Tor Ms
local pocian or refused join the scandal against
statesman like Col Mcclure older and better Repub
lican than who have DCth huhtine
him down, he would he characterized as an III
crate TO that same power. mus ne htu 10
choos btw cen the shame Of being slave or parasite
He has decided "a be neither HIS great desire Is I,
unite the Republican party Of Pennsylvania ana 70 t'
end he will work steadily on his return to ms eutOra
duties. He feels that il is time 10 cry HAT" once
more TO the desperate who try nE 10 use the
name OF cen Grant to keep them in help them {,
Offices. He believes IN the cOnciliHhOn or the o,d
dissatisfied antiSlayery leaders OF the country ht
pleads for good relations between Grant ana Sumner
between Grant and Greeley between Grant ana FentOn
and insists that what Nj. Lincoln did with the mer
issati with his administration, Gru. Grant ough
10 do with the dissatisfied with his