Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-15
MIR, CANERONS DESIGNATION.


The change in president LincOln's cabinet
which transfers Mr. Cameron from the war
department to Russia, is varionsly explained.
The most probable reason for 1t is the sur
likely TO be made by the disclosure of frauds
in connection with the contract business OF the
war observation-disclosures perpetrated by con-
tractors with whom the secretary has dealt
too easily, many OF them being his personal
friends. There has already been a foreshad-
owing of what is TO come, and in this alone
Mr.. Cameron must have found ample reason
for seeking transfer to some other post We
do not suppose he has profted by the frauds
in question: but he allowed them to be posi-
bic under his administration and can not es.
cape all the consequences. He has resigned,
yielding the place to one in whose capacity to
reform abuses, aud deal properly by thievish
contractors, there is great faith.
In one or two instances we notice attempts
to represent that Mr.. Cameron has been sacri.
feed TO certain pro-slavery influences that are
supposed to enihrall the administration and
some Of his friends may eagerly favor this
representation, which would turn public at
teniion from the reports of investigating COM
mittees. One Of the reporters at Washington
states that Mr.. Cameron was taken by sur
prise. lie says 1.-The thing was wholly
unexpected and no man was more surprised
than Mr.. Cameron himself" This can not
be true. Everything indicates that the move
ment for a change in the cabinet originated
with Mr.. Cameron, aud that no one desired it
SO much as lie. Moreover, the accounts of
the change furnished TO the associated press,
Monday night, was in a measure official, and
in that account it was said that Mr.. Cameron
himself had procured the change, aud that his
activity in the matter had gone so lar as to
select his successor by allowance of the presi.
dent.
Ii is true that Mr. Cameron has indicated
views on The contraband question, which have
been considerably criticised, but all concerned
may be very sure that he would not allow
himself 10 be sacrificed on account OF anu
view OF that question. He is not the man to
court sacrifice and so to the slaughter with
lamb like simplicity. We should not like to
be made answerable under bonds for his per-
sistent fidelity 10 any particular view of the
slavery question. That he might willingly
use any view Of it 10 divert attention from 9th
er matters connected with his position, is quite
possible ami we have not been able 10 read
any OF his declarations Oh the subject without
thinking of this possibility. This doubt in
regard 10 his motive may be unjust, but it ex-
lists, nevertheless, occasioned, it may be, by
that popular estimate OF his character which
led many to deem him unfit tor place in
the cabinet.
In our view it is Il good thing for the coun-
try that Mr. Cameron has Withdrawn from the
war department. He has no lack OF ability or
activity but there has been a lack of conf
dence in him which the atrocious contract
frauds in his department appear to justify. II
is not to his credit that treasury thieves have
found it possible TO deal so successfully with
him or his agents and a consciousness of this
must have made his situation very uncomtort-
able, Tor we are not ready TO believe he meant
10 tolerate frauds and thieves, although it is
probable that he has lacked power of charac-
ter and will TO repel them properly. Public
sentiment interfered very strongly against his
strenuous attempts to become secretary OF the
treasury. 1t would have been WELL in all re.
spects, if public sentiment had prevented his
becoming secretary of war.
The belief is general that his successor, Mr..
Stanton, is a man of another sort 1t is be-
lieved that lie is not only upright himself, but
also that he has disposition and power to repel
knaves. But little was generally known Of
him, out OF Pennsylvania, until he went into
Mr.. Buclanan's cabinet, after the retirement
of Floyd, Cobb, and the other traitors. Then
he showed himself admirably fitted to be a
cabinet munster. His loyalty is beyond ques-
ton and we do not believe the war will linger
unnecessarily with his.consent, nor that trai
tors in Washington or anywhere else will have
a good time through any favor or weak for.
bearance on his part.