Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-03-20

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General Cameron was elected cashier of the
Mlddletown Bank-a position he held for
twenty-seven consecutive years. So that a.
bout the year 1854, he was at the same time
president of the Lebanon Valley Railroad
Company, president of the, Commonwealth
Insurance Company, and cashier of the Mid
dletown Bank, besides being director and man.
ager In several other institutions, and having
large private business of his own to manage
and superintend. Yet, Notwithstanding the
vast labor and responsibility of these positions
he performed the duties of them all satisfac-
torily and successfully.
MONTGOMERY BLAIR, POSTMASTER GENERAL.
The State of Maryland will be represented
in the Lincoln Cabinet by Judge Montgomery
Blair, who resides at Montgomery Castle, near
Silver Spring, Montgomery CO., Md. Judge
Blair is the son of Francis Z. Blair, well known
in General Jacksons time. He graduated at
West Point, went to the State of Missouri
practised law in ST. Louis, was made Judge,
and was appointed by President Pierce one of
the Judges of the Court of Claims, from which
place lie was removed by President Buchanan.
Judge Blair is now in the prime of life and
mental vigor, and there is no man south of
Pennsylvania who is more devoted to Repub-
hcanism, or who is more popular among the
radical Republicans all over the North and
West. He is son-in-law of the late Hon. Levi
Woodbury., Of New Hampshire, and brother of
Frank P. Blair, Jr., Congressman elect from
the st. Louis district.
C. d. SMITH, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
Mr.. Smith is well known in Indiana, and is
reputed TO be possessed of vigorous intellect,
and considerable administrative tact and abil-
ity. He has been in Congress, and was Com
missioner on Mexican claims. In regard TO
his political faith 1T is not certain that he has
made any decisive declaration, but it is very
generally presumed that he is moderate Re-
publican.
GIDEON wELLEs, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
Mr.. Gideon Welles, of Connecticut, is the
Northern Postmaster General. Mr.. Welles
has been for upwards of thirty years leading
politician in Connecticut, and for much OF
that time has been connected, directly and
indirectly, with the public press, welding
partzan pen, and always exhibiting evidences
of unqueStionable hostility to his opponents,
in the advocacy of his opinions. political or
otherwise. He for some time held the Office
of postmaster of Hartford. under Mr.. Van Bu-
ren's admin istratiOn, and left the office soon
after the election of Mr.. Harrison, in 1910.
During part of Mr.. PoIk's administration he
occupied an important position in the Navy
Department. Like many other prominent
\ Northern Democrats, Mr.. Weles disagreed
with his party on the subject of the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, which breach was
still further increased by the Kansas policy of
the Pierce and Buchanan Administrations.
The Territorial question being the chief one |
publican party soon after its organization, and |
has since been one of its leaders, taking /
prominent part in its Conventions, State and |
National. He delegate from the State |
at large to the Chicago Convention, and con-
Stituted one of the committee to Springfield |
with the official notice of Mr. Lincoln's nomi- |
nation. He was also one of the Presidential |
electors. Nor was his visit to Springfield the |
first time he had met that distinguished gen.
tleman. While in Hartford, year more |
since, they formed a somewhat intimate ac- |
quaintance, which resulted in the warmest |
mutual friendship and confidence; SO that Mr.. |
Lincoln has, IN the selection, no doubt acted |
as much upon his personal knowledge and esti-
nation OF the man as upon any solicitation of /
prominent New England Republicans.
EDWARD BATES, ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Edward Bates was born on the 4th of Sep
tember, 1898, on the banks of the James river,
in the county of Goochland, Virginia, about
thirty miles above Richmond. He was the
seventh and youngest child of family of
twelve CHILDREN, all of whom lived to a mature
age, of Thomas Bates and Caroline NJ. Wood
son. Both of his parents were defendants of
the plain old Quaker families which had lived |
for some generations in the lower counties Of
the peninsula between James and Y York rivers.
They were married in the Quaker meeting, ac-
cOrding to the forms of that simple and virtu-
Gus people, in the year 1771; but in 1871 the
Friends by bearing arms at the siege Of York
town-a volunteer private soldier under Gen
eral Lafayette. In 1905, Thomas + :. the faith
er, died, leaving very small estate and a
large family. Left at an early age an orphan,
and poor, the son was fortunate in what was
better than patrmOny, heart and will to
labor diligently for promotion. Besides, sew
eral of his brothers were industrious and pros
porous men, and treated the helpless with gen.
erous affection. One of them, Fleming Bates
of Northumberland, Virginia, took him into
his family a son, and did fathers part to
him. He had not the benefit of a collegiate |
education, being prevented by an accident
the breaking of a leg-which stopped him in
the middle of his course of study, and conf
ned him at home for nearly two years. In
he was taught by the father, and af
terwards had the benefit of two years instruc-
tionS of his kinsman, Benjamin Bates, of Han
over, Virginia, most excellent man, who,
dying, left behind him none more virtuous and
few more intelligent. In 1872, having re-
nounced service in the navy, and with no plan
of life settled, his brother Frederick (who was
Secretary of the Territory of Missouri from
1907 to 1920 when the State was formed, by
successive appointments under Jefferson, Madi-
son and Monroe, and was second Governor of
the State, invited him to come out to st.
Louis, and follow the law, offering to see him
safely through his course of study. He accep-
ted the invitation and was to have started in
the Spring of 1918, but an unlocked for event
detained him for year. Being in his native
county of Goochland, a sudden call was made
for volunteers tomarch to Norfolk, to repel an
apprehended attack by the British fleet, and
be Joined company in February, marched TO
n orfolk, and served till October of that year,
as private, corporal and sergeant successfully.
The next spring he set out for st. Louis, and
crossed the Mississippi for the first time on
the 10Th of April, 1914. Hers he studied very