Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-05-26
The Pennsylvania Delegation at Chicago

The delegates from Pennsylvania to the
Republican Convention at Chicago were
instructed to vote for Gen. Simon Cameron
and urge his nomination as the best cal
culatod to carry Pennsylvania. Indeed,
the State Convention that assembled in this
place last February, announced in their
address to the people Of Pennsylvania that
Gen. Cameron was the only man of all
those mentioned for the Presidency VIII"
could unite the entire body of people oppo-
scd to the present Administration 1t was
announced from time to, time that the vote
Of Pennsylvania would be cast as unit
for Cameron, and that Pennsylvania was
sincere and determined in demanding his
nomination. Any intimation that the
leaders of the Opposition were only play
ing selfish part to promote their inter-
ests, and that the name of Gen. Cameron
was used as cover for Interior operations
and dosigns, was always repollcd with in
dignation. To all appearances the news
papers that talked Cameron meant Came,
ron, and a majority of the delegates from
the State were sincerely welded to his in
tercsts.
1t is unnecessary to say that a very large
proportion of the Opposition of the State
were persuaded that Gen. Cameron's
chances of nomination were as good as
those of any other candidate except Sew
ard; and that as Pennsylvania was Il
doubtful State, the necessity of satisfying
and conciliating her, would be powerful
argument in favor of the man she put for
ward. Arguing in this way, the sincere
friends of Gen. Cameron regarded his
prospects as highly encouraging.
But with all the arguments of position
and availability in favor of their candidate,
the conduct of the Pennsy ylvania delegation
at Chicago was most curious, and mex
plicablc upon any other hypothesis than
that of the basest treachery. Instead of
laboring to promote the interests of Came
ron and make his name the point of con-
ccntration after disposing Of Seward, their
first aim seems to have been to put him out
of the way, and all their excrtions direct.
ed towards securing the nomination of some
nth 4: Al
delegates were busy to ascertain who was
the strongest man after Seward, we do not
see that the Pennsylvania demanded the
nomination of Cameron-thcy let the op-
perfume moment slip, either through stu
pidity or design, and informed the Mas
sachusetts delegation, in answer to an in-
quiry, that although Cameron was their
first choice, they had a second and a third
choice in NJ Lean and Lincoln. This must
have convinced delegates from other States
that Pennsylvania did not want Cameron
for men who are earnest in desiring the
nomination of candidate 10 not have n
second and third choice. Had they said +,
Cameron is our first, our second and our
third choice, and we will stick to him to
the last the delegates would have rogar-
ded him as a real candidate, supported by
real friends, and his ultimate nomination
would have been not only possible, but
more probable thaA that Of Lincoln.
! Appearances indicate that the Penn
sylvania delegation became parties to the
Lincoln combination before ballot was
had, and that the withdrawal of Cameron
after the first vote was intended to con
summate the arrangement. Whether this
early capitulation was compelled by the
force of Interchangeable circumstances OF
not, it is certain that the delegates from
this State displayed suspicious alacrity il
hauling down their colors. They wcr,
unequal to the effective use of the power.
full weapons at their command, or they dit
not want to have Cameron nominatcd-
and the character and anteccdcnts of somt
of the leading members of the delegation
suggest the latter conclusion as the true
one.
What part Mr.. Curtin had in bringing
about the result of the Convention, time
will show. As the candidate for Cover
nor, in Il State which will decide the
Presidential contest, his wishes were Ger,
tainly entitled to great weight We learn
that he was vocifcrous in dcprocating tho
nomination of Seward, but do net Learn
that he exhibited very great anxiety for
the success of Gen. Cameron. If he did
it is certain that his wishes were much les.
respected in the Pennsylvania delegation
and in the Convention, than his position
entitled them to.
Taking all appearances into considera
ton, we cannot avoid the conclusion tha