Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-09-12
Secretary of War.

We see BY our exchanges that there is a
disposition to detract from the character q
Gen. Cameron, Secretary of War. We have
long been the friend of Gen. Csmeron-pot
because he ever did anything for us-but be-
cause we admired the man-his industry hi.
indefatigable perseverance,, and the tenacity
with which he has always adhered to the in.
terests of Pennsylvania, and therefore to the
interests of those sturdv sons of toll who in
habit her fertile vallias and her rich and al
most illimitable lumber and mineral regions.
lie has proved himself in thousand instan,
ces-aye his whole life has proved him to be
an honest mar, far-seeing and sagacious
statesman and politician. A man who wo'd.
under all circumstances, take care of his
friends, and at the same time be true to the
grsat principles of TRUTH and JUSTICE.
Gen. Cameron, as Secretary Of War. has
had more onorous duties to perform in one
month than had any Of his predecessors in
Six months, or one year. President Lincoln
was Inaugurated at time when the country
apparently had gone to ruin. When the
question with the people was have we
government President Buchanan had be,
trayed his trust-aye, perjured himself, and
therefore, suffered State after State to secede
without any interference, but rather with en-
couragement from him. Had he done his
sworn duty, and at the tims of the first up.
rising in South Carolina, declared, ike the
immortal jackson, g Tie Union. IL must and
shall be preserved" who will dare say that we
would now be cursed, and our business in.
teFests ruined by this unholy slare rebellion.
lie bad the power to do it. lie had with
him the Supreme Court. the Senate and the
Congress- of the United States. and might.
therefore, have adopted or passed any laws
or compromise he, or they, felt disposed to
pass. But they did not desire to use tbe
power conferred upon them by the Consti>
tuition, and which they were sworn to respect
and enforce. They preferred TO remain qui
escent until after the inaugu alton of Presie
dent Lincoln, while this yerv disposition to
do nothing demonstrated their inieriority as
well as their incapacity to Gil the great and
responsible trusts imposed upon them by the
sovereign and over-confding people of ,be
United States.
In the mdst Of all this treachery, and we
might say without departing from facts, per
jury and bare-faced robbery, Abraham
Lincoln was inaugurated on the 4th day of
Maseh, 1861. Without Cover 1nment. with.
out the power to enforce the laws, with a
Treasury robbed By Cobb of millous of dol,
dollars, with our best guns, Forts and mill.
tary property stolen by EIosd ard bis fellow
secession Democrats in the South. At this
slime, and under such lanentable circua-
stances, Gen. Cameron was called upon to
serve bis country in the capacity of Secress.
ry of War.
Has he performed his daty in that .eapac-
ifyf If not, what bas be left undope. or
wherein has he failed viii tboee rantino
hypocrits who never cease TO laaIiaa aas ira
duce his character please answer? It would
ne blessing to the country if all public
fuucsionaries conld give as good account Of
themselves as cae Gen Cameron. Look. for
moment, at the conditioa in which he
fund the Wer Department, and that, too.
when eight States we're out of the Union, and
e rabel President and Vice President chosen
and rebel Congress organized IN those
States The srmy full Of traitors. The De.
partment at Washington full of secession
clerks. Our best guns, arsenals, forts and
army stores stolen. Out of this confused and
chaotic condition Of his department. at