Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-25
Tyler's Time


graph; but We who nave been there know
that too frequently, as in this case. it is the
coinage Of the writer's brain.
The case of the late John W. Forpey in his
! relations with ex-President johnson shows how
little intercourse there is or need be with the
sen atorial official and the President Not very
long after Mr.. johnson had been installed in
| the Executive Mansion the writer OF this was
engaged with him one evening when Col Forney
called with an enrolled bill to be signed by the
President. and being official business had
privileged entrance to him at all times. He
entered on this occasion and I withdrew to
another part Of the room while the President
affixed his name to the ''bill" when the colonel
said: Mr.. President. would like to talk with
you this evening about nv friend. Mr. Steb-
bins, who is so highly recommended for the
collectorship Of New York
Mr.. johnson. in most unmistakable terms of
disDleasure, said: Il am engaged. as you see,
sir, and you must excuse me-
Forney withdrew in anger without word,
and next morning the Chronicle contained an
article OF great bitterness against the President,
who up to that time 1t had supported very ear
nestly. For the illusions to the editor Of the
National IntetligenCer in that article an apology
and retraction was demanded, and it was made
In the most ample manner. From that time up
to the close of Mr.. Johnson's administration
there was no intercourse between the President
and the secretary of the Senate. and yet the
the government was transacted as usual The
idea advanced by the journal in question
that Mr.. Cleveland could not hold any personal
or official intercourse with the representative
OF the United States Senate Is absurd. The
abuse of the President was continued in the
Chronicle. and on the 22d Of February. '65-6, n
meeting Of the democrats Of the city was called
at the National Theater for the purpose Of sus
tanning the President. The theater was crowded
to Its utmost capacity. On that occasion the
late Richard I. Merrick and other distinguished
democrats spoke, and the meeting adjourned to
the Presidents house to present the resolutions
passed at that gathering Of democrats, which
outnumbersd any previous occasion. In the
reply OF the President, which was quite lengthy,
some one in the crowd shouted, ''Whst ABOUT
Forney?" 'Oh!" said the President, HE is q
dead duck" That phrase stuck to Forney for
a long time.
Mr. MERRICKs SPEECH BEFORE THE ELECTORAL
COMMISSION.
The mention of the name Of Richard T. Mer-
rick recalls the speech be delivered before the
lectoral commission. which added SO largely
to his fame as an advocate and orator. Mr..
Chas OConor was to make an argument
before the commission and he was consulted as
to the timehe would select for his speech, but
for some reason he hesitated for day or two
to say when he would speak, and in the mean
while Mr.. Merrick deferred to the aged counsel
and waited the decision, which was withheld for
some unexplained reason until the time had
come when, il a: all, Mr.. Merrick was obliged
to appear before the commission the next day.
1t was long after midnight when Mr. O'Conor's
decision was made and Mr.. Merrick began the
preparation Of that mastery argument which
| secured him national fame. It was the argu-
ment which Gov. Tilden regarded as the
ablest delivered before the commission. Mr..
U Conors age had in great measure
impaired his powers, and his effort was
weak and impotent one. Judge Blacks
great speech was almost impromptu, for it was
at the breakfast table the morning Of its de-
livery, l urged him to appear in the case. He
had refused up to that period to appear before
the commission, as he did not recognize its
legality. He refused at first to go before "ths
- commission" as it was useless, he said,
but l argued if he did not 20 Mr.. Tildsn would
not be represented except by Judge Montgom-
cry Blair, who, in consequence of the illness of
| the gentleman who had undertaken the case
(the case of South Carolina)' had had but
little time to prepare an argument. Finally he
consented IF Blair would call for him he
would talk n=over," but said, 81 don't promise
to go, but if / do you must take the RESPONSE
bility for what l may say" We all know what
he did say-such indignant invective as he
hurled against that commission has no equal in
forensic eloquence.
BURIAL OF THE sUBrREAsURY BILL.
The turbulence which characterize the ad-
ministration Of Mr.. Tyler was not confined to
Congress. An old friend who participated in the
burial OF the subtreasury bill, which created
great sensation at the time it occurred in August,
ls41. The subtreasury bill had been repealed,
and the wing ardor which prevailed here at
that time determined to give it burial Mr..
Seaton was the mayor Of Washington and got
| an inkling OF what was going on, and fearing
some unpleasant result, he presented himself at
the place of meeting Of those engaged in the
demonstration and appealed to them to give 1t
and
were engaged in 1t consented to do SO and left
with the mayor, but the younger element were
not to be baked of their fun. About mid
night they rendezvoused under Q famed tree
near the Van Ness mansion, and organized
| the funeral. With suits and trappings Of woe.
coffin suitably inscribed, pallbearers, mar
shals, orator DC, they marched to the music Of
! a band playing the dead March" up 18th
street to the avenue, past the Executive Man
sion, but with no intention of insulting the
President, as my old friend informs me. and no
| was one Of the mounted marshals, down the
avenue to ~ street and to the bridge over the
| canal, where the coffin was lowered, after an
appropriate funeral grafton. and then the crowd
quickly dispered. The crowd, somewhat un-
ruly when passing the President's house,
had christened his cannon, was fred, but be-
yond that an investigation ordered by Congress
found no design to insult the President.
A CONGRESSIONAL INvEsT1eAr1oN.
The resolution ordering the investigation was
! offered by the Hon. Levi Woodbury., and the
Globe teemed with articles for some days sug-
costing the removal of the capital. public
meeting was held to denounce the outrage at
which the mayor presided. and a committee
was appointed to tender an apology to the
President Messrs. Matthew st. Clair Clarke,
Gen. Towson, the mayor and others waited ON
| the President for that purpose, and Mr.. Tyler
wisely said he could not but regard it as . po-
iitical ebuiiition. Out Of this harmless demon
stration came the Auxiliary Guard" COM
manded BY Capt John II. Goddard, which was
organized by congressional sction and placed,
think, under control Of the Secretary Of the
Interior and the mayor. That was the begin
ming OK the admirable police force we can boast
of now. The resolution offered by Mr. Wood
bury was the loop upon which an amusing
| debate was hung. Mr.. Clay delivered
. speech filled with humor. When
Mr.. Tyler vetoed the bank bills several demo-
cratic Senators and members Of Congress
called on him to thank him, and that visit wa
aid TO have confirmed the faith b had imbibed
hat the democratic party would sustain him.
Mr.. Clay, In his Gravest manner, said hs had
heard Of another invasion OF the Executive
Mansion ON the evsntful night Of August 16 81
Q o'clock. The whole loco foco party, ~ repre-
| sented in this august body, we're there asssaa-
bied- The distinguished senator from South
| Carolina (Mr. Calhoun. with furrowsd brow
and haggard face, intently casing into thu fu-