Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-02-12
Tic Editor Of The Patriot and Union

jefferson Boyer, Member Of Me Leg
istature from CtarGed Co.
To the Editor Of the Patriot and Union:
AS many rumors are anoat in regard to
certain transactions between Gen. Cam
eron and myself on several occasions pre-
vious to the late election of United States
Senator, | think it my duty to make a
plain, unvarnishcd statement of the facts,
so that there may be hereafter no misun-
derstanding or misrepresentation. Be-
lieving that thare would be attempts to
bribe mem bcrs in order to defeat a Dem
ocrat, | conceived the idea Of putting my
self in the way of the operations and try
ing how far they were disposed to go in
the matter. Once conceived, determin
ed to act upon it, and communicated my
intention to several friends. The first
opportunity that offered, | embraced, and
here is the result
| had been to Philadelphia, and on my
return, .psrhTa" e-wRek or more before
the election, N,Tf Z Mr.. VIM. Brobst, of
Lewisburg, with whom was acquainted,
at the Pennsylvania House, in Harris
x,
noticed some unusual nervousness on his
part, and from his conduct was soon led
to suspect that his business at Harrisburg
was not of a very public character. In
the afternoon he came to me and asked
to see me privately, and we proceeded at
once to my room, where lie soon com
menced disparaging the several promi-
nent Democratic candidates for United
States States Senator, and concluded by
expressing his decided preference for
Gen. Simon Cameron. This, of course,
left me no room to doubt the object of
bis visit to the State Capital and to me,
and | at once asked him whether this was
the object Of his visit. He said it was.
In reply to my question, whether Gen.
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 pre-
liminary arrangements to secure a vote
for Cameron. | then asked him in what
manner they expected to secure the cleo
ton of Cameron. He answered, "by
getting three Democrats to absent them
selves on the day Of the election" |
then asked them what they would pay,
He said he was authorized by Cameron
to offer $4,000 | told him the figures
were too aew, 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, land returned in a short
time, and said that Gen. Cameron wanted
to see me, personally, at his residence
out OF the city that evening. | told h N
| could not make the engagement, but
would answer him in one hour, and if
could get clear of another engagement
had made, | would so with him. In the
meantime | consulted with DR.. Farley, OF
the House Of Representatives, my col
league, to whom | related the foregoing
facts. | then saw Brobst again and tolG
him would go. He told me he would
have a carriage ready in front Of Herr's
Hotel at seven O'Clock that he was au-
thorized by Cameron to get carriage at
any time When the time arrived DR..
Farley and myself walked down to Ierr's
anu saw tuS uiitt i'iOOot
| then made some excuse to Brobst, and
told him it would be best not to go. q
deemed it prudent at this state of the pro-
ceedings not to manifest too much eager
ness, lest | might defeat the object in
view,) The next day he Brobst) called
and said Cameron wanted to see me at
the State Capital Bank. | called, and
was ushered 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?" | answered that it was
a very business-like question, and that it
would depend very much on circum-
stances. He then said suppose the cir
cumstances are all right ?" | asked him
how he meant call right" He answered
'the financial consideration in short,
the dollars and cents" | answered him,
certainly" He then asked me what
would take. told him | had not been
in this business long, and did not know
exactly how to answer, but wished him
to name the sum. He asked what / tho't
of so, 600, Fright down, after the work
was done" / then asked him whether
he wanted q vote or an absentee. tie
answered, "a vote" and that it would
be very troublesome to get the men away,
and besides he only regarded the money
paid as the first instalment, and that he
felt in duty bound to take care of the
person that made him Senator afterward,
and, if he had SO many to take care OF
it would embarrass him, but if he had
but one he could do it well and pyo4itably
as long as we lived and said besides,
there would be no more danger in voting
diiectly for him than in being absent, foi
they would make every provision for the
protection of the man that would vote
for him. This ended the interview, and
we agreed to meet again to fix tbs COM
pensation. She next day he sent Brobst
for me, declined going to SEQ him, but
agreed to see him at my room, No. IL
Pennsylvania House, Mr.. Brobst, VINO
was still, up to this time, figuring iol
Simon, went after him, and in less thar
twenty minutes returned with him.
Cameron then said, "Woll, let's come tc
an understanding" said "What for p
| He answered, "ln reference to the Sena
torial question" | then said, l mus
have $l5, 1000" He said, 81 will Civ,
it," aad wanted to know who l would
prefer to arrange further interviews ant
| do tha tnanciprinu of the husiness