The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-15
WHY FORNEY WAS DEFEATED
PRESIDENT ELECT BUCHANdN's At
TEMPT 70 MAKE HIM SENATOR.

PRESIDENT ELECT BUCHANAN,s At
TEMPT TO MAXI HIM SENATOR.
A pcpn.,lvnn,. Episode or 1857 destructive
TO Statesmen OF To-dny-The Presidents
Letter Recommending His Candidate
Caused the Fatal Democratic Detection.
HARRISBURG, Pa. Jan. 14.-In 1867 the term
OF United States Senator Richard Brodhead
OF Pennsylvania expired. and he was DESTROYS
OF n reelection. James buchanan had been
elected President the previous November. and
in his nomination and election no one had
been moro influential than John w. Forney.
In fact. It was through Forney's efforts and
by methods which his enemies did not hest
tate to say we're irregular. that Pennsylvania
wGs carried by the Democrats at the October
election OF 1856. the State election thon
being held in that month. 1t was most
| important to the success OF the Democrats In
November that the party should carry tho
State In October because OF the moral effect OF
such success on the party at large. Consequent
ly the victor- OF October, 1856. browning as 1t
did the previous work OF Col. Forney on be.
halt OF buchanan. strengthened tho bond OF
political and personal friendship between tho
two. and placed the great influence OF tho
President elect at the service Of his devoted
adherent. Formers ambition was the United
States SenRtorship. He was then editor OF
the PrnnsyiranidH. the leading Democratic
newspaper OF the State. Anxious and willing
to reward Forney. and yet bound by circuin-
stances that made 1t impossible to ignore tho
claims Of that coterie OF southern statesmen
who had baked the ambition OF Stophen A.
Douglas as an opponent OF Buchanan, tho
President elect welcomed tho fact that For
ney's demands did not reach toward q place In
the Cabinet or in the diplomatic service. thus
lan,;py hin, fran NJ raSppoaibilitv in tho req
ognition OF Col. Forney's services.
Senator Brodhead had made himself objec-
tionable to buchanan by his persistent oppo-
sition to the Wheatland statesman's efforts to
secure the nomination for the Presidency. an
opposition that was prompted by u strong de-
sire on tho part Of tho Pennsylvania Senator
to DO the nominee OF tho party himself. The
Legislature OF 1857 was extraordinary close.
the Democrats having but three majority on
Joint ballot. To the SURPRISE Of the politicians
n strong opposition to Col. Forney for the can
didacy for United States Senator developed
at Harrisburg. James buchanan had already
made his cabinet selections. and the fact had
been published. There was no place left for
Forney. il he were defeated in his aspirations
before the Legislature. and the complications
that would result in such an event were alarm
i FoSI:ne yH wns sf Henry !f 5. Foster He t OF W SpSGstSreh
county. He announced himself as q candidate
for United states Senator. Thor, Chatles 4.
Wright came into tho contest. md Mr.. broad
heqd bses~ No z VERY 81 Si ntai% n5Sptvl wn isrf the IN 4;
most conspicuous manager OF Democratic
r9,itics in !, r =. p;hIia Wort He w Tas PE resident
ali tho State canals and the psnnsylyania
Railroad. lie. had been elected Canal Com
m InIify of l il 1885 s by the his anV WSis or,sns %a.
George Ssnis ., patsy' ,h Ihe st assis TnsasSr OF |" 4hnso
H., q. ma canal Com NJ lGinnnr Mott whnSn
term Of Office was then expiring. was a candl-
late for the olice OF state Treasurer.
ton or use, some influence ny which tho
Vancsd. Col. Mott was n friend and supportsr
OF Buchanan: having been u delegate TO tho
Demo oeeEratic Sa At o al bsn rti,y for n ut ninslrs
nomination. With the idea. therefore. that
tho personal influence Of q word from the ne
the pending Senatorial contest would hays tho
effect Of %seitlinG It in favor Of the candidate
Mr.. buchanan at Wheatland making the re-
quest for some word OF that, kind, Buchanan
desired effect. and he sent back tho following:
wux,rL.Sp. Jan :. 1881
NY pEnn s = ,, Aith long 4 ! have Ern a,%ayss ,et iss s.t trS,n
inrt. ys ta be ii highly eonldsntisi rslS'ions which !.
rea"syiva"is sen.sSf" a the present m"in,n, induces
I learn That doubts have been expressed as to my
nrinto, may be entitled to little weight, 1 do not desire
10 be placed in an cluirocal position on this or any
When asked have always said that I preferred Col.
Forury. and ! should esteem 1t a friendly Hrt toward
,nunIf f @,m amy e The i sam IN or time 8%e q a Ell l tS xares. mo 10
warm personal aud, pouticni regard for Messrs Rob.
FROM the course prrsued by Sir ~Brotiead for some
years Tast. confidential relations between hIin and
= have thus presented you my Views. so that. II YOU
sns%'. 10 a' saeh i person." "TSsis' a. may sSH i mns spsi 'he ny Of fF any
Value. From your friend. very resre;ttaliyn
HrvRr 8. Mon. EST.
But these willy politicians had not counted
on III possibilities of u foe from without.
Forney was selected by the Democratic eau
Gus as the regular candidate for Senator.
Then simon Cameron Appeared on the scene.
James Dwchanan's letter OF interference In
the Senatorial matter had angered certain
Democrats. and Cameron saw ut once the
ranks. When the vote was taken in the Legis-
lature Simon Cameron was chosen Senator by
tho votes OF three Democratic representatives
Mtssrs. WaGgonseller and LeR@ Of Schnyi'
These men, defended their detection
from the ruling o, tho caucus by read
ing in tho House Of Representatives .Buchan.
ans letter. and declaring that they had been
impelied to their course. by a conscientious
affairs OF n State. Whatever their conscien-
tious feelings might have been in the matter
the popular belief was that their course WAS
impclled by things more potent and tangible.
But the fact remained that the implied dicta
featcd tho purpose for which it was made. and
led to the utter deinoralization OF the Domo-
cratic party in Pennsylvania. n liZation
which the spasInodic rebukes OF recent years
to the Republican party i'll the state are In no
way an evidence Of recovery from.