Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-05-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
BANQUET TO GENERAL CAMERo

We publish the following extracts from a
speech by General Cameron, at a Banquet
given TO him by his neighbors, and fellow
citizens who best know him, previous to his
departure for st. Petersburg as Minister to
Russia, and regret we cannot give room for
the whole. General Cameron docs not deny
that he may have made some mistakes, but
he shows that his slandcrers are either dis
appointed contractors or Breckenridge sym
pathizers with the rebels.
l took a seat last year in Mr.. Lincoln's
Cabinet against my own Judgment, without
consulting my taste for the position, and,
| may say, against my own determination.
resigned that post when ! thought my mis-
sion was ended in organizing, cquipping,
and supplying, under the most adverse cir
cumstances, larger army than had ever
been raised at any period of human history
When did accept the place it was with the
perfect understanding between Mr.. Lincoln
and myself that whenever | thought proper
to resign ! should be privileged to do so 4;
and when vacancy occurred in the appoint
ment to Russia, he offered me the post, and
| was glad TO accept it. Why, gentlemen,
toiled in that Department as no man ever
toilcd before; | have told you that in my
younger wears ! worked for twenty hours
out of the twenty flour for successive months
but that labor was nothing in comparison
with the overpowering toll which | under
went at Washington. To say nothing of
the extraordinary necessities of the Depart
ment, arising from an unforeseen and threat
/ ening national emergency. The doors of nv
private dwelling were besiegod from daylight
/ to the latest hours of the night the depart
mcnt was surrounded on all hands, and at
all hours. Certain members of Congress,
who figure in the vote of censurc were ever
besieging my doors, and often patiently
waiting for hours to catch part of the
drippings from The War Department. Mean
while | managed the delicate and trying
affairs Of my situation as wisely as knew
how. Of course | committed some errors
but did not commit the wrong with which
| am charged in the resolution of Congress
| solcmnly assert that neither in motive noI
deed can | be justly chargeable with the
commission of any wrong in the administra,
tion of those affairs, and | am proud to say
here in reviewing my official conduct, sec
no act which j would not repeat under the
same circumstances.
Now, gentlemen, in regard to the Con,
grcssional committee of investigation OF
which the country has heard so much, have
reason to believe that the original intention
OF Its appointment was to control the Wal
Department and place money in the pocket,
OF its members.
The investigating committee of Congress:
have said that the muskets made at the
Springfield armory cost only $12 apiece
That assertion like many Others that have
been made in connection with supplies TO,
the army is not the fact.
When we expected large arrivals of sol
diers from Pennsylvania and other States
and there was nothing to feed them with
the Acting Commissary General came to mt
and said, II can now buy two thousand
beeves if pay two or three cents pouno
more than they should be worth.
"Well, replied" pay it," (applause)-
pay dollar per pound sooner than soldie
should suiier but be guarded that your con
tract ceases when supply can be had at tn,
customary price'-which was done. HI
made contract for two thousand beeves
and the whole world rung with the an
nounccment that the Secretary of War haC
cheated the government in order to enricl
some favorite, and yet the contract wa
made with my personal enemies So, again
| was censured at the battle of Bulls Run
for not having sufficient cavalry in the field
Yet could not speak in my own defence
for the safety of the government compelled
me to secrecy. Plenty Of horsemen Offered
their services but had no pistols, sword
nor carbines to give them and / did no
want the world to know that such was on
condition. My function was to raise al
army of the largest kind in the shortest pos
sible time, and to supply them with what
ever needful material could first lay hand
upon. But then the cry was "he has 90
too many" OF course, then again l wa
cheating the government, by giving my friend
all the horse contracts. Laughter.] Wei
MIR. Mayor the horses have been in servic
and the country has been saved. Those VIII
then cried mo more horses" to-day can SC
advertisements for the purchase of an increa,
ed number; and to-day saw also an advel
tisement asking for proposals to furnis
, more mus6ets.
Had the material resources of the govern
ment been, in any manner, commensurate
with the emergency, the war would hay
been terminated ere this. So far as concern
myself, would rather have had a millio
OF guns too many rather than that sing