Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-02-06
POSITION OF HON. SIMON CAMERON

| Senator Cameron arrived in Philadelphia or
Saturday, january 26th and took lodgings a
the Girard House. A number of his politica
| friends serenaded him, and the General ap
peare6 at the front of the house, although il
| was showing at the time. He was introduced
to the serenading party by Mr.. John NJ. Cole
man. Gen. G. declared his inability to make
/ speech in the open air, and after a few re-
| marks about the manufacturing interests OF
| the city, and of his devotion to their further
ance; the party went inside of the hot where
| Gen. Cameron made a conversational speech,
in which he referred to the secession move
ments, and the deplorable condition of the
country in consequence of them. He said:
Fellow citizens of Philadelphia 81 thank
you for this demonstration. l am not VAIN e.
nough TO believe that it is because of any per-
sonal merit in myself. l know it arises from
the deep interest you take in the unfortunate
condition of public affairs. Philadelphia is
the metropolis of our State, in which every
Pennsylvania takes great pride. The labor
of her working men and mechanics has not on
ly built up and embelShed this great city, but
has developed the resources and power of our
Commonwealth. You believe that, in all things,
have sympathized and acted with you, and
therefore you honor me by your presence. 1t
has, indeed, been ever my pride to have at
heart, and to promote, to the extent of my
feeble ability, the interests of the laboring
classes. My'own early life was employed in
manual labor, and in after lite, in every pub
lie station which have occupied. my mind
and energies have been devoted to the inter-
ests of the working men and the development
of the resources of the country. Your APP
pearance here convnces me that my course
is appreciated and approved by you.
But, you ask me to speak of the Union. 1t
is in danger. Misguided men in the South,
acting under imaginary wrongs, have control
led public opinion there against the Union.
The calm, sensible and patriotic men there
are prevented from exercising the influence
which is due to their positions to the public
welfare. The mob spirit reigns triumphant.
Six States have declared themselves ont of the
Union, and in several of them armies have
been organized and put in the attitude of war.
Our forts and our arsenals have been seized,
and the public property of the country has
been forcibly taken possession of by men who
set the Constitution and laws at defiance.
To stay the progress of this rebellion, and
to preserve the integrity of the Border Slave
States, which have, as yet, maintained their
fidelity to the Union, something Is required to
be done on our part to strengthen the power
and influence of the Union loving men of
those States. In Maryland, such men as the
heroic Hicks, the fearless Davis, and the learn
ed and patriotic Reverdy johnson in virgi
mia, such spirits as VIM. G. Rives, Sherrard
Clemens, John NJ. Bolts, James Barbour,
and others in Kentucky such patriots as
Crittenden, Guthrie, Powell, Prentice, and
their like; in Tennessee, the lion hearted
Andrew Johnson, John Bell, Ethridge. Mel
son, and host of others in North Caroli-
ma, such as Morehead, Graham, Badger, Gil
mer, and many others like them in all the
Southern States, deserve and commend them
selves to our kindliest sympathy. The con-
duct of these noble spirits appeals to us for
emulation of their own self-sacrifcing spirit.
Shall we, my fellow citizens, be less generous
than they prove themselves to be 2 Unless
the Border Slave States adhere to their integ-
rity, the Union will be at an end. If we but
afford those men ground to stand upon, to
maintain themselves in resisting the mad spir-
it of secession which surrounds them, the in
tegrity of those States will be maintained and
the Union be preserved. Shall Pennsylvania,
herself Border State, hesitate In this emsr-
gency, to extend to them her sympathy and
her support In their effort 70 save the Union.
] am one Of those who supported the cleo
tion, and mean to sustain the Administratien