The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-04-25
Cameron's Doings Coming to Light.


The sage of Lochiel is, just now, in ''a peck
of troubles" A few days ago. as he was about
TO depart for his Russian exile, he ewas brought
10 a sudden halt by an arrest at the instance of
Mr.. Pierce Butler, prominent Philadclphian, |
whom he, while Secretary of. War, had, with |
out any alleged cause, incarcerated in Fort La
fayettc. This proceeding, it is said, disgustcd
exceedingly the chastc and pure-minded patriot
who was about to 'leave his country for his
eountry's good" But, scarcely had Mr.. Cam
eron entered the required bail in this case, when
Secretary Chase, the sleepy, fanglcss Cerberis
of the Treasury, comes along, and asks con-
sultation with the Ex-Secretary in regard to "a
defalcation in one of the Departments amount
ing to millions" This was adding Republican
''insdlt" to Buffers Democratic 'iniury." Then,
there was that vcngeful Jersey Wall, prowling
around Philadelphia, waiting for an opportunity
to give the unhedgcd Plenipoicntiary farewell
greeting in consideration of services rendered, in
having him, the said Wall, torn from his family
during the hours of night, and thrown into
dismal dungeon, ''prisoner of state" But
worse tlfan all this-inore annoying than But
ler's writ-more unkind than Chase's 'consulta-
fon''--more dreadful than all his visions of
Wallis pistols and ludgeons-Executive Docu-
ment No. 67 appears upon the scene and con-
fronts the harassed Minister with its array of
ugly figures and startling revelations. The cur
tain is lifted and the American people obtain q
glimpse into the Augean Stables of the Federal
Government There stands Simon Cameron,
not as the faithful public officer, not as the true
and trusty functionary of people threatened
with all the impending horrors of the bloodicst
anarchy the world ever knew, but as the selfish,
acknowledging SPECULATOR, the partner in
corrupt and Govenment;ruining contracts, the
eLi9f spokesman of all the hungry .iackalls that
hang upon the skirts of brave and devoted ar
my. And to our vision Cameron has ALWAYS
appeared in this shape. We needed not the as
sistance of the light afforded by Document No.
-
Nor was the President deceived in his man when
lie selected him as his Minister of War Well
did Mr.. Lincoln know the character of the adj
wiser he had chosen. Well did he remember the
Winnebago frauds with which Cameron was no
toriousIy connected Well did he recocct The
means by which Cameron was made U. States
Senator. But little cared our model Executive,
"Honest Old Abe" for all that Ills admins
tration could not afford TO lose Cameron's sun
port, and to secure it, this hoary headed incar-
nation of political knavery must have q scat in
the Cabinet! Parasites may fatter and cxpec-
tant oiiice-hunters may sing hosannas to the
President, but we say to him, as will the people
cay ere long, and that, too, in tones of thunder:
Mr. IlNooLS, you not only struck a fatal blow
at the welfare of your country, but YOU did Vi
olcnce to your own conscience, when you elcya-
ted Simon Cameron to Office!
In conclusion we quote the following from the
Philadelphia Inquirer, of las! Friday:
ga startling exposition of the mismanaee-
ment of the War Department under cx-Secrcio-
ry Cameron and Assistant Secretary Scott is
furnished by Executive document, No. 67 re-
Gently printed by the House of Representatives.
II appears by this, that these two funeiionaries
were busily engaged during last summer and
tau m aklrng contracts for muskcts and other
small arms until the aggregate of their opera
lions summed up one million, nine hundred and
seventy7six thousand two hundred and forty,
nuskets, rifles and carbnes, sevcnty-two thou
sand four hundred and forty pisols; and one
hundred and foriy-two thousand five hundred
swords; for which they obliged the Treasury to
pay the trihing amount Of SIG, l44,G65. The
arms Were to be delivered, according to the con-
yenience OF the contractors at almost any time
along IN the next two years. the delivery of hun
dTods OF thousands of them being accommoda-
tingiy disposed over periods extending from
Jnly, 1862, TO December, 1868!
While the public will be astounded at the
vast magnitude and wild improvidence of these
operations, there are other attending circumstan-
ces thatwi leave them hardly less amazed.
Whether we consider the exorbitant prices a.
greed upon, or the apparent privity with the
bidders, or the censurable favoritism TO defaul-
ing and bogus contractors, (who were in large
part neither manufacturers of any kind nor deal
ers m armsl, or the impolicy of the Department
bringing into the field SO many bidders to com
pete with itself in the market of Europe-all
show reckless system of extravaganza and
Jobbng and want of foresight and admins
fratlve ability, shocking to the instincts of
every honest citizen and wtll-trained business
man .islN aa iftf L .d3pi ,la.e t.ai.tl .fI
hss aalaa n-z2
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Tor this county, in both newspapers, excepting
only administrators and executors notices in