Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-22
A REMINIsCENcE OF LANCASTER.

What Occurred Mere Twenty Years Ago.
Col. Forney in his Progress.
1t is exactly twenty-fOur years ago, al
most TO day, since James Buchanan re-
ceived the committee apprising him Of his
nomination as the Democratic candidate
for president by the Cincinnati convention,
and, as l was one Of the fortunate persons
present, have distinct remembrance Of
the individuals and incidents, all keenly
recalled by similar demonstration which
took place at Governors Island on Tues
day last, July 18th. At the time James
Buchanan was notified that he had been
chosen as the nominee Of great party,
Winfield Scott Hancock was a young Off
Ger in the quartermaster's department at
st. Augustine, Fla, in the thirty third
year of his age. IIe is now in his fifty.
seventh, placed in the same position Occu-
pied by James Buchanan Of Pennsy ylvania
in July Of 1856.
When We were all assembled at Wheat
land to do honor to our nominee, he had
just passed his sixty fifth year, and never
had any statesman q brighter future.
Among those present were the committee
itself, headed by John f. Ward, of Geor-
gia, now lawyer in high practice ut the
New York bar, and Hon. Alexander Gal
latin Brown, Of Mississippi, recently dead,
Mr.. Forsyth, Of Missouri, Mr.. Preston, Of
Kentucky, Henry Hibbartl, of New Hamp-
shire (since dead), Governor Manning. Of
South CarOlina( since dead), Colonel Rich
arisOn, Of Illinois (since dead). and Gov
ernOr Lawrence, Of Rhode Island, who is,
l believe, still living. Among others pres
ent 1T the same time were Governor Porter
of Harrisburg, dead Hon. Ii. s. McGraw.
state treasurer, dead; Colonel William
Rice, Of Pennsylvania, dead James l..
Reynolds, of Lancaster, dead; George
SandersOn, esq.,, Of the Lancaster INrELLI-
GENCER, dead William 3. Fordney, still
living at Lancaster, and the writer Of this
| alternate letter.
After the presentation of the nonlina-
ton fifteen persons sat down to sumptu-
GUS dinner, specially prepared by the cele-
brated Augustine, Of Philadelphia. Mr..
Buchanan was gracious and graceful
host, and the occasion was made auspi-
cious not simply by the aattering signs OF
the times, but by the bright and brilliant
men who surrounded him. was too i'll to
partake Of the festivities, but shall never
forget the beauty OF the season, the wit of
these accomplished statesmen, and the
deep interest they excited throughout
the whole region by their admirable
speeches in support Of the favored
son Of Pennsylvania in the evening, in the
old markct-hOuse in my native town.
Never was there a more suspicious Occa-
sion, never was i great party more thor
oughly organized, and never was their
candidate more at ease and more cOnsci-
entious in the pur pose to discharge his
duties to the country.
+ \
There is something more than cOinci-
dence in these two presentations, the one
in Wheatland, Lancaster county. Pennsyl-
vania, and the other at Governors Island,
New York. General Hancock is not only
Pennsylvania, but his friends and his
fathers friends were also very strong sup
pOrters OF James Buchanan. He was born
not more than three hours distant from
the place where James Buchanan died, and
he was made cadet at West Point while
Buchanan was q senator in Congress