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

ty, and well fitted for the respective positions
10 which they have been called. We subjoin
brief sketches of the lives and public services
OF the Presidents assistants in the admnistra-
tion OF public affairs, which will be read with
more than ordinary interest at this time -
wM. II. SEWARD, SECRETARY OF STATE.
| Mr.. Seward was born in Orange county, in
| the State of New York, on the 10Th of May,
1901. He was educated at Union College, IN
| that State, and took the degree of Bachelor
| of Arts in 1920, and of Master of Arts in 1924.
At the age of twenty one he established him
self at Auburn in the profession of law, and
soon acquired lucrative and extending prac-
! tice. Early in his public and professional
life he travelled in the Southern slave States.
and is supposed to have formed at that time
| the opinions and principles hostile TO slavery
! to which he has since given expression. To
greater degree than is known of any other
American Statesman-Mr. Sumner, perhaps
excepted-the object of his life seems to have
| been to counteract the extension of slavery.
! Upon other questions Mr.. Stewards policy
may be described as humanitarian. He is in
| favor of the education of the people, of the
| amelioration of the laws and of the develop
! ment of the material resources of the United
! States. In these respects he has ever been a.
mong the foremost Of the American states
men, and may justly claim the praise bestow-
ed upon him by his friends, and scarcely de-
lied by his opponents, of being ssthe best and
| clearest head in America.'' In 1880 he had
| acquired such influence and character that he
was elected member of the Senate of the
State of New York, then the highest judicial
tribunal of the State, as well legislative
body. In 1884, at the close of his term of
four years, he was nominated candidate for
the Governorship or the State of New York,
| in opposition TO Mr.. " iliam l.. Marcy, the
| then Governor and, later. the distinguished
Secretary of State of the United States. On
this occasion Mr.. Seward was defeated by a
| I n nf,n
ing boder and stronger, he was triumphantly
elected, in opposition to Mr.. Marcy, the ma
jority being greater than his previous minori-
ty. Without having passed through the low
stratum Of the House of Representatives
he was in lSi9 elected to the Senate of the
United States for six years. He gave so
much satisfaction that he was reelected.
S. p. CHASE, SECRETARY OF TREASURY.
? Salmon Portland Chase was bern at Cornish,
n. II. ON the opposite bank of the Connecti-
cut river from Windsor, VT, in the year 1908.
When nine years of age his father died, and
three years after this bereavement, in 1920,
young Chase found at the seminary in
Worthington, Ohio. then conducted by the
venerable Bishop Philander Chase, his uncle.
Here he remained until Bishop Chase accept
ed the presidency Of Cincinnati College, en-
rcring which, our student soon became a chief
among his peers. After a years residence at
Cincinnati, he returned to his maternal home !
in New Hampshire, and shortly after resumed |
his studies in Dartmouth College, Hanover |
where he graduated in 1926. He shortly after |!
commenced the study of law in the city OF |
Washington, under the guidance of the cele- |
brated William Writ, then Attorney General |
OF the United States. He sustained himself |
during the years of his professional studies by |
imparting instruction TO a select school for |
boys, composed in part of the of the |
most distinguished men of the nation. He |
was admitted to the bar at Washington in IS. /
a,,I, Il 41,y,,,
fesSon, In which he soon rose to emincnce, |
and in which he was distinguished Tor indus
try and patient investigation. He SubSe-
quently elected member of the United States
Senate, and upon the expiration of his Sena-
torial term, he was put in nomination for Gov
ernor OF Ohio, and elected. He was again
elected to that position.
SIMON CAMERON, SECRETARY OF WAR.
Gen. Simon Cameron was born in Lancas-
ter county, Pennsylvania. Reverses and mis-
fortunes in his fathers family cast him very
early in life on the world to shape and carve
out his own fortune. After having removed |
to Sunbury, in Nocthum berland county, his
father died while yet boy. In 1917 he came
to Harrisburg and bound himself as an ap-
prentice to the printing business to James
Peacock, who is still q resident of Harrisburg,
and one of its most worthy and respected ci-
tizcn. During this time he won the regard
and esteem of Mr.. Peacock and all his fellow
y
dustry, Intelligence, and iaithfullness. His
days were devoted to labor and his nights to
study. Having completed his apprenticeship,
he went to Washington city, and was employ
ed as journeyman printer. In 1924, though
scarcely of competent age, he had attained
such position and influence that his party
then in the ascendancy in the Congressional
distrct-proposed to nominate him for Con-
gress, an honor which he promptly declined,
as interfering with the enterprise in which he
was then engaged. He was appointed Adju-
tant General of the State in 1928, office
which he filled creditably and acceptably du-
ring Gov. ShultZ's term and in 1881, unso-
licited, he appointed by General Jackson
visitor to West Point, compliment, at
that time rendered only to the most promi
nent citizens. To no single man within her
borders is Pennsylvania more indebted for her
great systems of public improvement and
public Instructions. Nor did he hesitate to
invest his own means, when prosperity and
fortune dawned upon aim, in enterprises of
great public importance. In 1884 he origin
ated and carried to successful completion the
Harrisburg, Mount Joy and Lancaster Rail-
road, surmountiDg difficulties and prejudices
which would have appalled, and paralyzed
man of ordinary energy and determination.
In 1888 he nominated for Congress, but
declined. He was engaged in public enter
prises from which he would not permit him
self to be drawn aside by any consideration of
office or personal elevation In 1851 he was
mainly instrumental in the formation ofthe Sus-
quehanna Railroad Company, now consolida-
ted with the Northern Central Railway, by
which the upper valleys of the Susquehanna
connected with the capital of the state.
There was still another link wanting to form
a direct and continuous railroad to New Y ork
city, the great commercial metropolis OF the