Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-11-14
E. 0. GOODRICH, EDITOR.
TOWANDA:
THE SECRETARY OF WAR.


When the present National Administration
was inaugurated treason bad prepared the
way for rebellion and bloodshed, by robbing
the axseRals. of arms and munitions of war
which had been sent to the South, and 10y
scattering in far-distant and inaccessible places,
the small army of the Nation The war de
partment was almost entirely stripped Of its
accessories, and without arms to furnish the
loyal men, whose hearts burned with patriot.
ism. To add to this vexalious and dangerous
condition, many of the officers of the army,
who had been educated and petted at the ex-
pense of the Government, proved treacherous
In word, the Department was without the
necessary paraphernaIa for warlike operations,
aud the army itself crippled by the desertion
of its leaders, or paralyzed by the want Of con-
6deuce in those who did not secede"
1t was under such embarrassing circumstan-
ces, that the present Secretary of War, assum
ed the portfolio of Office. Several States were
in rebellion, after months spent in energetic
armed with the weapons fIchC d from the Gov
ernment. The attack upon Sumter kinded
the flames of war, and mighty nation uproSe
to protect and defend the time honored Flag
of our Union. The War Department sudden
ly became the most important branch of the
Government. To organize, equip and arm the
hosts of Freedom, has been task such as no
man ever before encountered. A man of or
dnary ability, of ordinary energy, OF ordinary
judgment, would have been crushed beneath
the Atean load which has rested upon the
shoulders of the Secretary of War How
these duties have been performed history will
faithfully record. The future historian, in
writing of this Great Rebellion, will dwell
with profound admiration and wonder upon
the great spectacle which we have wi,nes ed.
aud cannot fail properly to appreciate the ahil-
iy, energy and business capacity with which
the affairs of the War Department have been
conducted. Absorbed, as we are, in the ex
citing occurrences Of the day, we can hardly
be expected to appreciate aud do justice 10
those who are bending their energies unriring-
ly to direct the operations of the gigantic lna
chiuery now in operation to crash the rebel
liouS schemes of the traitors
We have watched, with the interest natu
rally felt by Pennsylvania, proud of the rep
utation of his native State, how faithfully Gen.
CAMERON has performed the trust reposed ii
hin. We have observed the CIamor raised
against the Secretary of War, and the persis-
tent aud powerful attempts made to shake pub
lie confidence in him, aud drive him from the
War Department No public man has ever
encountered such systematic aud brutal as
saults upon his public character 1t is hardly
necessary for us To point out the motives irom
which these assaults proceeded They were
the rawlings Of spectators, disappointed in get
ting their hands deep into the public treasury.
Tier name was legion and at one time 1t
seemed if their persistence was to be award
ed by success But the President, with his
usual shrewdness, detected the motive of the
detractorS and the faIsity of their charges,
and retained undimiuished bis confidence III the
dignity looked with noble patience for time
20 vndicate him in the estimation Of bis cOun-
trymen. Nor has his confidence and his reti-
cence been uurewarded Sooner than his
warmeSt friend could have anticipated the
People are rebuking his asperSers and testify
ing their appreciation and admiration Of the
honesty, ability and energy with which the
War Department has been conducted. His
energence from the fiery furnace of persecu-
tion and detraction has been triumphant aud
brilliant No member Of the Cabinet enjoys
the confidence and respect of the People III q
higher degree than SIMON CAMERON. The
once busy tongues of his magners are silent.
Bafled in their pundering schemes, and recog
nizng the Judgment of the people, they are
satisfied that their poisoned arrows fall harm
less. So may it ever be, with all public men,
who honesty devote their best energies for
their couutry's good.
We do not presume that the administration
of the War Department has been infallible.
The circumstances which surround that De-
pa:tment render it impossible that everything
should be as desired. There may have been
abused, we know there have been bad ap-
pointments--but all that is claimed for its
head is. that he has faithfully, honestly, and
energeticalIy conducted its affairs, so as to
gain for himself the plaudits of the people.
Gratifed as we have been, to observe daily,
the demonstrations which we felt, would in