Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-08
FORNEY AND BUCHANAN.
"reminiscences OF Wheatland and 1856.
Nasi MI Eolras1,0ndamlQ of RiffSlNry


state was considered close. Mr. Buchanan
had not the benefit of military glory to stir
the people into high pitch of Enthusiasm;
he had nothing but the cold civil record of
one who in high places had stood up with
out reprOach in the fearless discharge OF
his duty. He had been in the Senate, in
the cabinet, minister to Russia and to
England. His growth had been gradual.
As he stood the candidate of the Demo-
cratic party for president, he was mag
nificent specimen of the American citizen,
whose morals, education and experience
fitted him for the high place to which he
aspired-the peaceful executive over forty
millions of people, and at the same time
the humble and law abiding citizen, with
out hereditary rank or title, owing no alle-
glance to any prince or pOtentate on earth,
except the sovereign people.
The October election over, then came the
settling down for distribution Of the Offices
Everybody thought much was due to For
ney for his exertions in carrying Pennsyl-
vania. November brought the official an
nOuncement that Buchanan was to be the
President, and then the struggle COM
menced. Maj. David Lynch of Pittsburgh,
an old friend of Buchanan's went to Lam
caster and stayed with Buchanan for sew
eral weeks 1t was during Lynch's visit
to Buchanan that the FOrney trouble
began. Lynch related the circumstances
to a friend in Washington shortly before
he died.
When FOrney went up to Lancaster the
first time after the November election, MIR.
Buchanan said to him: "Wcll, now, MIR.
FOrney, the election is over. and suppose
you have settled in your own mind what
can do for yOu.'
"Sir," said Forney, "there is just one
thing want, and that is to be the editor
of the organ (then the Ndtio"at htelt'-
gencer).
Buchanan seemed embarrassed for few
seconds, and replied: 'Forney, l cannot
give YOU that I have already made up
my mind to give it to Mr.. Appleton y
Appleton had been Mr.. Buchanan's secre-
tary whilst abroad, and the naming Of him
as the editor of the organ Of the admins
tratiou, which up to that time had been a
very important thing, but which from that
time out became as nothing, was thought
to be a cover to satisfy the demands OF a
number of southern men who insisted that
Forney should not have the place. The
refusal of buchanan to let him have the
paper, of course. struck FOrney with as
tonishment. 'Well, then, MIR. President" ="
said Forney, 81 don't want anything
"Mr. FOrney," said Buchanan, 81 had
and have my mind made up. to offer you
the best paying position within my gift.
viz. Consul to Liverpool"
81 do not want it," said FOrney. 81 do
not want to be buried alive" Ncverthe-
less the offer had tlattercd him somewhat.
The salary of the Liverpool cOnsulship
was made up by the fees of the Office,
amounting to some $25, 900 per annum, and
it had generally been given by the presi-
dents to their closest friends. Nathaniel
Hawthorne, the author, was then the
consul, President Pierce having appointed
him.
| "Go," said Mr.. Buchanan and consider
the matter and come back in a week and
tell me what you think of it,
Forney went back to Philadelphia and
at the appointed time again appeared in
Lancaster.
BY this time Buchanan was getting a
little uneasy at the situation. He honestly
wanted to serve FOrney, bat found from
the moment of his election great difficulty
in reconciling other friends to his proposed
advancement of FOrney. The South had
sent up protest after protest against him.
Toombs and Howell Cobb were bitter Oh
| OTHcy, duu CHcy Adu PClSu"uCu oiu L.ssA'
Bennett to open the columns of the New
York Herald on him.
Major Lynch was still at Wheatland
when FOrney came out and at the request
of Mr.. Buchanan stayed to witness the in.
terview, "for" said the president g am
afraid we will have trouble with him.
Forney came, and said he wanted either
the organ or in the cabinet as postmaster
general. Mr.. Buchanan said he could moi
appoint him in his cabinet nor give him
the organ, and Forney returned to Phila,
delplia. By this time the trouble had got
noised about and friends began to inter
fere.
The Legislature was Democratic by one
or two majority, and it was proposed that
the whole force of the new administration
should be exerted on behalf of Forney to
succeed Cameron. About Christmas
time Forney again went to Lancaster and
it was arranged that Mr.. Buchanan was
to write strong letter favOring the elec-
ton of Forney to the United States Senate.
The letter was written and put in the
hands of Maj. Lynch, who went to Harris
burg to work the matter up. 1t failed.
Cameron retained his seat in the Senate
through the votes of three Democrats
whom it was declared he had purchased,
and Forney was still in a bad shape. As
he looked at the Inauguration Of Buchanan
and read the announcement of his cabinet,
who can describe his feelings. Tho work
and devotion of so many years blasted.
Compelled to cry content to that which
grieved him most. But FOrney kept quiet.
A purse was raised to start the Philadel-
phia Press, and promises were made that
it should outrival the Washington organ.
The organ business about this time
burst. Washington city swarmed with
newspaper men who interviewed every
prominent man on almost every subject,
and telegraphed these views East and
West. The great New York dailies were
delivered in Washington city at noon on
the day of their publication, and it was to
them that the people looked for news. The
diplomatic slowness of the Offic ial organ
did not suit. Whilst it was blowing soft,
low feeling whistle to the country to test
the popularity of any measure, the New
York and other papers were pounding
right and left, utterly regardless of what
the official organ said under the quiet Mr..
Appleton. Forney did his best to assist
this feeling and in few months the organ
was dead. Buchanan was surprised at the
turn affairs had taken. He began to real
ize for the first time that his fixed notions
of some things were not received as law.
The organ business, however, was not
alone in his opinion, but up to that time it
had been one of the institutions. Who
ever controlled the organ was considered
the head of the kitchen cabinet, and they
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