The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-12-18
The Pennsylvania Senatorship.
A GOOD WORD FOR GEN. SIMON CAMERON.
10 the Editor oftae No,g York Herald:
New YORK, Nov. so, 1866.

4 o the Edtt0f 0T the -fCto iO't A4C'df"
New YORK, Nov. 80, 1866.
The last October election held in Penn
Sylvania resulted in the success Of a majority
Of the Union candidates for the Legislature.
1t then became apparent that tbs Hon
Edgar Cowan, whose term Of Office expires
on the 4th of March next, would not be
reelected Mr.. Cowan was elected United
States Senator in 1861, by Republican
Union votes, as the successor Of the Hon
VIM. Bigler { Dem,) He uniformly acted
with the Union party up to the last session
of Congress; but early at the commence
ment of that session he announced his in
tention of supporting the Presidents policy,
and subsequently did SO, thereby desering
the organization and making common cause
with the Democracy.
The candidates proposed for the succession
are: General Simon CamTon, Of Harris
burg; Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, Of LancaS-
ter; and Hon. Andrew G. Curtin, Of Centre
county. General Cameron, who heads this
list, has filed many public positions, State
and national, with credit and ability.
Both as a Representative and Senator in
Congress, he early acquired good reputa-
tion as an able and judicious Legislator.
He was one of the founders of the Republi
can party in Pennsylvania. In the canvass
of 1860 he labored with zeal and energy
for Lincoln and Hamtin, and had the pleas
ure of Witnessing their triumph in his own
State by $4,000 majority. Some months
afterward ne was called to the War Depart
ment, which Office he held. ill February,
1862, at which time he resigned, owing to
physical inability to give that time and la
Dor to the service which its necessities call
ed for. He had previously { in the month
of September, 1861 J written to the author
of this communication, announcing his IN
tention of leaving the War Office for the
reason stated Gas soon as he could DO so
with Justice to the state Of the country
1t was not until the military and naval De
partments of the service were in a most
fourishing condition, and many victories
had crowned our arms, that he sent IN his
resignation, which, being pressed, was re
luctantly accepted. The President, desi-
rous of expressing his consideration for the
able and patriotic manner in which Mr..
Cameron had served the country. at once
appointed him Minister to Russia, and he
being of the opinion that brief sojoun at
st. Petersburg would prove Of benefit to
Lis impaired health, accepted the Office,
and soon afterwards sailed for the continent.
General Cameron returned home IN less than
one year from the time Of his departure Tor
Russia-to be precise, within ten months
the state Of his business affairs and the
requests of his political friends weighing
with him as much as his wish to be again
in his native State. During his absence
abroad the republican majority Of 1861
had been swept away by the Democrats,
who at the October election Of 1862 carried
the State by 1882 majority, and elected a
majority of the members Of the Legislature.
Mr.. Wilnot's Senatorial term was to eX-
pire ON the 4th of March, 1868, and lie
seeing that he could not be re elected, with
drew from the canvass, and bis friends urg
ed Mr.. Cameron to become a candidate
for the office. He at first refused to per
nit the Use Of his name in that connection; !;
but finally, at the request OF Jealous but
iuiudirious friends, conseted-whereupon he
was duly nominated by thei Union caucus.
As, however, the Democrats had three ma
iority in Joint ballot, the Legislature elect
ed their candidate, Mr.. Buckalew, who
now holds a Senatorial seat by virtue Of
that election. Qaite number Of partisan
caumnies resulted from this contest; but
time which invariably does justice to ALL,
has thoroughly refuted them.
The ex-Secretary Of War participated in
the Gubernatorial canvass Of 1868 witl
his accustomed ability and zeal, and gave
his whole time to the cause The result
of the election was the handsome majority
ofl5'325, in poll ofnearly $4,000 votes.
Mr.. Cameron, at the close of this last con
test devoted himself to private affairs un-
Ill lin May, 1864 he was summoned by
The Union men of the Keystone State (in
Convention assemb!edl to attend the Balti-
more Convention, as their leading delegate.
He did attend that Convention, and contri-
buted toward the unanimous nomination
of President Lincoln. 1t was Mr.. Gamer
on who, at the first convenient opportunity
thatpresented itself after the organization OF
the Convention, moved the unanimous re-
nomination Of both Lincoln and Hamlip.
The effort to rerominate Mr.. Hanllin for
the Vice presidency failed because Of the
strenuous opposition manifested thereto by
Messrs. Seward, Raymond and portion
of the New England delegates. Return
ING to Harrisburg and entering upon the
duties appertaining to the Office Of chairman
of the National Union Executive Commit
tee of the State, Mr.. Cameron planned
onA fnnrht that snlenAid camnairn. which