The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-08-04
Why Cameron Left the War Department.

Why Cameron Left the War Department.
We ref rred some days ago, 10 the recent
portrait presentation 10 Cameron ct Harris
burg, eaG the attempt on the part Of simon
and his friends, to gull the public into the be-
lief that the ayowal Of emancipation sentiments
was the cause Of his resiguing the position OF
Secretary OF War. We stated then, that this
was a nlere pretcxt to cover Camcron's being
kicked cut Of the Cabinet, for shameless dis
honesty and Incompetence. This view of The
case. we see, is endorsed by Col A. K. Mcclure
Of Ch8mbcysbarg, one ci the best informed and
most acute Republican politicians in Hennsylva-
Ma. In his Paper-the Esposito,y-the Colo
lei SAYS:
General Cameron Withdrew from the War
Department because, like Blair, Chase, Smith
and Usher he ,cas poiteig requested 10 do 50.
He was appointed, with Bates, Chase and
Seward, because he had aspired to the Chica-
90 nomination aud was a competitor OF Mr..
Lincoln for that honor. So little did Mr.. Lin
coin know of public men who were prominent
merely as Dotacaa8 rather than as Statesmen,
that he did not know, two months after his G.
lection, that Mr. Cameron had been a Senator
in Congress from 1916 to 1913, when Mr.. LIN
coin was A representative. lie knew but little
Of public men, save those who won his heart
or Judgment by the eminence Of their attain
ments in :he national councils. He was sell
dom out of Illinois, and was without national
fame until his memorable contest with Doug
lass in 1853. He appointed Mr. Cameron,
therefore, because Pennsylvania mad presented
him for the Presidency, assuming that so great
G. state would award its highest honors to its
~g +[n
Chicago Republican, that Mr.. Cameron volun-
tarily withdrew from the Cabinet because he
would not consent 10 remain any longer with
General Mcclellan at the head Of the army, IS
purely gratuitous, and we hazard little in the
assertion that he never made the statement or
authorized its publication. That General Me-
Clellan and hir. Cameron differed at times a.
bou, appointments we DO not doubt; but his
portfolio was rot surrendered for that reason.
He Withdrew simply because resistance 10 his
administration has eliminated in so Imperlops
demand upon the President from Congress- the
monied nea OF the cities, ard the country gen.
orally, that it had to be obeyed. The leading
New York financiers demanded his removal or
shattered government credit as the penalty for
denying it, and Republican Congress became
decided in its hostility to his continuance in
ofice-so much SO that even after his retire.
ment formally censured him by resolution for
ual administration; and he was ignorant OF his
own resignation until Secretary Chase called
upon him with letter from Mr. Lincoln, IN
which he was informed that he was no longer
Secretary of War. but Minister to Russia. OF
his successor he had no knowledge until the
nomination of Mr.. Stanton was sent to the
Senate, tooeather with his own as foreign Min
ster and his letter of resignation, afterwards
published, to which the letter Of President Lin
cola seemed to DC a reply, was written some
days after Mr.. Lincons letter had been deic-
cred, and Mr.. Cameron had retired from the
Cabinet. The arrangement of the corresPon-
dence was an after thought, and one OF Lin
coins many balms to the wounds he was SO Of
ten compelled reluctantly to inflict."