Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-15
A LEAF FROM HISTORY.
origin OF the Cameron and Forney
Feud.

| Feud.
| One sharp and sleety day In January,
| 1857, the writer of this sat with ex Senator
Weller, of California, and George P. Buell.,
Of the National Democratic ReUieso, at q
| table in the comfortable restaurant adjoin-
ing the Senate chamber, in Washington,
eating oysters and drinking ale, and await
ing the reception of momentarily expected
news. The Legislature of Pennsylvania
was in session that day in Harrisburg, and
in joint convention the two houses were to
elect John W, Forney to succeed Mr.
Broadhead in the United States Senate.
As we were pleasantly enjoying ourselves in
the warm room, suddenly Senator Broad
head came in upon US with the exclama-
ton, "Cameron's elected p' We took it, as
a matter Of course, 8 jocular ebullition of
the longfsced and usually sedate Senator;
and laughing, invited him to sit with US and
psrtake of refreshments.
With eolemnity that we all felt was
not mockery, he repeated, "Cameron's
electedp | hastened to the Chamber Ct
the House of Representatives, at the other
end Of the Capitol, to see "Tom" Florence,
the leader of the Pennsylvania Democracy
in that body. On my way | met in the ro-
tunda, Marshall of Illinois, who stopped me
and excitedly whispered, "Cameron's elect
edW Reaching the chamber Of the House
| saw Mr.. Florence standing beside the
Speaker, who, with visible amazement,
was staring fxedly at a dispatch. Descend
ing to the floor, Ar. Florence was imme-
diately surrounded by anxious members of
both the political parties of the day, and
then the astounding intelligence spread
through the hall, and out through the lob
by, and went up into and spread through
The galleries, and was everywhere repeated
with exclamations of the most bewildered
astOnishment-"Cameron's elected! Cam
eron's electedw
The business of the hour was interrupt
ed, and a recess was moved and carried.
The excitement was such as only an unex-
pected ovens, combined with an important
one, could create. Confusion was in COM
motion on all sides. Everybody who had
a political turn Of mind asked bis neigbbor,
"Do you believe it?" or shrugged his should
ers and said, 81 don't believe it." Exas-
peration, elation, distrust, disgust and hope
were mixed up, as in an inharmonious
kaleidoscope, together. lost no time in
harrying through the drifting sleet to the
Washington Union Office, with which jour-
nal was then connected, to carry the in-
formation; but Mr.. Nicholson, the pro-
prietOr, had already received it, with the ad-
ditional intelligence that three Democrats
in the Pennsylvania Legislature had sold
themselves to the enemy. l well remember
the Indignation with which wrote my edi-
torial on the subject that afternoon.
John w. Forney had been a foremost
leader of the Buchanan forces In the Presi-
Dental campaign of 1856. His services in
the Cincinnati Convention; in the columns
of his Philadelphia newspaper Of great in
fuence; on the stump and in secret conVen-
tions. had been of most eminent conse-
quence. As q suitable reward for them,
and in accordance with the desire of Mr..
Buchanan, the Democracy of the PenIsyl-
vania Legislature, who had majority of
four on joint ballot, made him their candi-
date for United States Senator. The nom.
ination was, Of course, considered equiva-
lent TO an election. The two houses met
in joint convention on given day, to go
through the form Of choosing him. The
roll was called; but when the name Lebo
was reached, to the astonishment of every
one not in the secret, that gentleman voted |
for Simon CameEon; further down the list |
another Democratic member, MINER, voted |
for the same gentleman. And still further |
down ano! her, named Wagenseller. all |
three had supported Mr.. Forney in caucus. |
One of them subsequently, acknowledged |
that he bad received 5000 for his vote. |
Mr.. Cameron's majority was two.
The evaporation of Mr.. Forney was |
depicted day after day and month after |
month in his Philadelphia Press, with all |
md oh f,f HE hritlf0n%
and excited brai1. 1t seemed as though he |
would never cease hurting his savage in |
vectives against the three miserable trait |
ora. He kept their names constantly, and |
for very long time, in flaming letters at |
the head of his editorial columns. He |
placed them where every grown Pennsyl- |
vanian, of either party, could point at them
with the finger of derision. As to Mr..
Cameron, who had thus Unexpectedly
snatched the coveted p-izs from what he
considered his sure grasp, Mr.. Forney con-
ceived hatred for him IS lasting as it was
profound, though | will not use the word
Many time since, at long
periods Of time and at different
places, have l heard him let loose the full
strength of his tongue on the subject that
abides continually in his memory as in
secure and lif long dwelling place.
Mr.. Forney was special faVOrite OF Mr..
Buchanan, during the early part of the
latter's administration, possessing an in
fuence with the President exceeding, per-
haps, that of any other adherent whatever.
Office seekers, swarming into Washington
from every part Of the country, after regis
teriDg their names at the various hotels,
would inquire, "How had best proceed to
get an audience of the President" And
the reply would invariably be, sect an in
PRODUCTION to Forney;;" for it must be re-
membered that Congress had adjourned
and most of the members had returned to
their homes. But as time passed bis anti
IIecompton views alien&ted him from his
friend, and at the breaking out of the war
be drifted into the Republican ranks to hold
political c1mp4nionship with his inveterate
enemy. Here the feud has been continued,
and will, in all probability, continue until
one or the other shall expire. 1t was in
pain dI1-inr the recent canvass in PenDglV-