North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-01-28
STATEMENT OF 7. JEFFERSON BOYER, MEMBER
OF ASSEMBLY, FROM CLEARFIELD COUNTY !
From the Patriot q. Union.

As many rumors are afoat in regard to
certain transactions which took place be
tween General Cameron and myself on sever
al occasions previous 10 the late election Of
United States senator, | think 1t nv duty to
make plain unvarnished statement of the
facts, So that there may be hereafter no mis-
understanding or Misrepresentation Belev
ing that there would be attempts to bribe
members in order to defeat the election of a
Democrat, conceived the project of putting
myself in the way of the operators and try
ing how far they were disposed to g in the
matter. Once conceived, | determined to
act upon it, and communicated my intention
TO several friends. The first opportunity
that offered | embraced, and here is the re-
suit:
l. had been to Philadelphia, and on my re-
turn, perhaps week or more before the
election, met Mr.. Brobst, of Lewisburg,
with whom was acquainted, at the Penn
sylvania House, in Harrisburg for the first
time this winter, and noticed some unusual
nervousness on his part, and from his con-
duct was soon led to suspect that his bus-
ness at Harrisburg was not Of a very public
character In the afternoon he came to me
and asked to see me prlvatel y, and We pro-
ceeded at once to my room, when be very
soon commenced disparaging the several
prominent Democratic candidates for United
States senator, and concluded by expressing
his decided preference for General Simon
Cameron. This, of course left me no room
to doubt the object of his visit to the state
capital and to ne, and | at once asked him
whether that was the object of his visit. He
said it was. In reply to my question, wheth-
er General Cameron authorized him to come
to me in this way, he said he was authorized
by Cameron to see any Democrat Of the
House or Senate, and enter into the preHmi-
nary arrangements to secure vote for Cam
eron. | then asked him in what manner
they expected to secure the election of Cam
eron. He answered " By getting three Dem
ocrats TO bseDt themselves on the day of
the electio n. then asked him what they
would pay. He said he was authorized by
Cameron to offer $5 900. | told him the fig
ures were too low, and desired him to tell
me who the other members were. This he
refused to do at the time but would try and
get permission of his principal To do So. He
then left, and returned in short time, and
said that General Cameron wanted to see
the, personally, at his residence out Of the
clty. that evening. told hun | could not
make the eng eagement, but would aaswer him
IN one hour, and If | could get clear Of ano;h-
er engagement had made | would 90 with
him. In the meantime IcIn>nlted with Dr..
Early, OF the House If Representatives, my
colleague, to whom I'related the foregoing
facts. then saw Brobst again and told him
lwould go. He then told me he would have
a carriage ready in front of Herr's Hotel at
O'Clock; that he was authorized by Gamer
on to get carriage at any time. When the
time arrived DIR. Early and myself walked
down to Herr's and saw the carriage and
Brobst there. then made some excuse to
Brobst, and told him it would be best not to
sc. q deemed it prudent at this state of
the proceedings not to manifest too much ca
gerness, lest | might defeat the object in
Tiew.) The next day he (Brobst) called
and said Cameron wanted to see me at the
Safe Capital Bank. called, and was ush-
cred into back room of the bank, and found
Cameron there alone. He addressed me as
follows; " Boyer, do you think you could
have courage enough to vote for me 2" an
swered that it was a very business like ques-
ton, and that it would depend very much on
circumstances. He then said: "Suppose
the circumstances are all right 2" asked
him how he meant all right" He answer
ed, " TIE financial consideration, in short, the
dollars and cents" / answered him. Ger
tainly.' lie then asked me what | would
take. told him had not been in this bu-