The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-07-27

CAMERON.-Ihe latest excitement IN Elk
ton is the Cameron excitement. Readers of
The Wing have, during the rebellion, seen
occasional notices of an excentric, miscela-
neous genius by the name OF Stephen F.
Cameron. His name got into the history of
the rebellion by his being a kind OF spy and
runner for the rebels. He was captured in
one of his expeditions during the war and
confined in the Old Capitol Prison at Wash
ington. After being there awhile, he was
considered of so little Importance that his
escaped was winked at.
Cameron has recently appeared on the
stage again, as a witness in the Surratt trial,
called by the defense to impeach the evi
dence Of DR.. Mcmillan. Last week the
prosecution summoned several witnesses
from Elkton to testify to Cameron's charac
ter for truth and reliability. The witnesses
called in order by the prosecution were JOS
Wells, Jas. s. Crawford, James II. Mccall
| Tough, John Torbert, Jos. l.. Mahan, John
V. Reardon, and Frank Titus, all residents
OF Elkton and intimate acquaintance of
Cameron, while he resided here. The bur.
cratic, crack Drained fellow, whose repu.
tation was bad, and whom they would not
believe on oath. The defense, to show what
| a universal genius this Cameron was, sum
| moned another batch of witnesses from Elk,
| ton, who were examined in the matter OF
| Cameron's reputation as a man of truth, re-
| liability and good character, on Wednesday
| last.
The witnesses from Elkton called by the
| defense were Geo. II. Howard, Daniel Brat,
ton, Eli Cosgrove, John Partridge, r. G..
Reese, W. G. Purnell, Thos. Bremen, John
Hogg, Hon. Hiram Mccullough, DR.. C. NJ.
Ellis, Joseph r. Brown, Aaron G. lutte,
Joseph p. Cantwell, David Scott, John M.
Miller, James B. Groome, S. B. Foard,
Reuben d. lamar, and Perry Litzcnberg.-
| These witnesses all knew Cameron intimate.
ly, they testified, who had an excellent
character for veracity and truth. Several
made it point to testify that they moved in
Cameron's circle, which Z" circle ~ has be.
come quite by-word since, among the Elk.
tonians.
The general reputation " of the excen
trio Stephen has apparently risen very rap
idly within a few days with some of our citi
zens. Cameron's status before the Surrat
trial was fixed by all parties to be kind O
cross betwixt knave and fool. This per
haps explains the seeming difference of opin
ion between the honorable gentlemen called
to the stand. Those who testified to hi.
reputation being bad and his word not relia
BILE, contemplated him in the character of {
kndce, and those who considered his reputa
ton good and could believe him on oath
doubtless viewed Stephen as fool, it bein,
proverb that fools speak the truth. On ne
other theory can we reconcile such conflict
ing testimony on the part Of honorable wit
nesses, who all know the man so well.
The man who runs off and forsakes AZ
amiabe wife and family OF interesting chill
dren, for no other reason than that he il
too lazy, worthless and good for nothing tc
exert himself TO support them, leaving then
to the care Of others; who apostatizes from
a protestant minister to Catholic priest
who under false pretense Of aiding the Union
cause procured pass over the railroads o
the country, in Gl, from the Secretary o
War, and used it to practice the business o
q rebel spy, has no claim, whatever, to
good character, or reputation for truth. Al
of these crimes is Stephen f. Cameron guilt,
of and the crowd Of witnesses named abov,
who testified to his good character, KNOWN,
these things of Cameron are guilty of amin,
a mortal stab at piety and the most sacre,
christian virtues. Not one OF all those wit
nesses who testified to Cameron's goo,
character" has the least confidence in hin
as minister, as q husband, or aa II man. 90
A man destitute of all the virtues whicl
adorn these positions in life, cannot posse"
a good reputation.