Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-13
SIMON CAMERON.
what sze Pretemds 10 IeemcImber,
and what others Remember Of
Him,

ed and Virtuous patriot Simon Cameron,
who has done so much to elevate the DO
| litical morals of the country, has what
may be called prodigious memory. That
is to say, he remembers everything that is
embarrassing. The public appreciation
of Simon and the knowledge of those
who have been nearest in his intimacy
have another word than memory for this
remarkable quality-they rather ascribe it
to an inventive genius, which has stood
him many good turn.
Now, Simon thoughtthe time had come
for demonstrating that prophet might
have honor in his own country. So when
Revels appeared on the scene, and Sum-
ner had discharged his usual quantity of
humanity Cameron thought there was
an opening for Pennsylvania to strike in.
So therefore he remembered converse
tioL with jefferson Davis ten years ago,
wherein he predicted that a "colored
gemmaun would occupy his seat in the
Senate, as result OF secession.
Well, after q reasonable time, Mr.. Da-
Wis quietly suggested that no such CONVEX
satiou had taken place, and consequently
the prophet had not won bis spurs. There
upon, the willy Simon falls back
| upon his reconcied brother Forney,
| whom he denounced not along ago in the
| Senate, and who, considering, the Forrest
letter, ought to be man after his own
heart, and gets up in the Chronicle
| breakfast for himself at "Jeff's" house,
only ''two weeks" before the separation,
and there lays the scene of his prophesy
| of the second edition. Like some swift
| witnesses, Simon has proved rather too
much for his memory. Mr.. Davis was a
| prisoner to dark room for long time
before leaving Washington "to go South. "
Strange as it may appear, in face of the
| existing prejudice, he was for compro-
mise and settlement up to the last mo-
ment, and in favor of the Crittenden res
olutions for basis. 1t was with great
| reluctance he took the ground of the real
revolutionary leaders, though necessarily
| sympathizing with their alleged griey-
| ances.
| But, according to the assertions of the
Radical press, secession had been long
| planned, and eliminated during the win
ter preceding MIR. Lincoln's Inauguration,
| with Jefferson Davis as the master spirit.
| Now, if this be true at all, in what atti-
tude does it place the virtuous, patriotic,
and disinterested Simon Cameron, who,
according to the last phase of his wonder
full memory, was ''breakfasting" with
Jeff Davis" only "tlOo aUeeks" before
the rebellion begsn9 This time he shifts
the responsibility on Mrs. Davis, who, of
course, cannot speak. But everybody
knows that she was much more advanced
on the issue than her husband was, and
that no such relations ever existed as ST.
mon suddenly remembers. There were
terms of kindness, as Mr.. Davis says, in
the Senate, because Cameron always pro-
fessed great admiration for him, and was
profuse in his expressions of regard down
to the last. The plain truth is, Simon
has drawn upon his imagination for his
facts, which, though not very vivid, he
contrives to make useful at times.
BY the way, Cameron has never ex-
planned how it came to pass that he, as
Secretary of War, accepted the resigna-
ton of Lee, Johnston, Beauregard and
the whole catalogue of distinguished
''traitors" who made war against the
Irrational life" for four years, and i'm
posed upon the country a burthen OF
some four thousand millions, of which,
however, Cameron and his family and
his friends have no reason to complain.
He was the prophet who foresaw all
about the rebellion, who predicted the
coming of Revels, and who imported
Belgian guns through the self-sacrifcing
Sanford, more dangerous to Union men
than to Rebels. How did he, ''the Sec
retary," come to send Lee, and Johnston,
and a host of West Pointers to the
South, thus furnishing generals for their
army, brains for the rebellion, and eng
mics to the republic2 Why did he moi
arrest them on the spot as TRAITORS"
then? Why not snip" the revolution III
its bud If there be one man in this
broad Union more responsible for the be
ginning, progress and continuance of thu
rebellion, for the lives lost, the blood
shed and the treasure squandered, it il
Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania, the frs
Secretary of War to Mr. Lincoln. He lei
the chiefs go, knowing their purpose
and therefore he might in an ordinary
criminal proceeding be indicted as an &C
cessory before the fact. Without thes'
chiefs there would have been no real re
bellion on any extended scale. The Soutl
owes its leaders to Mr.. Cameron, and thu
North may allow him the credit of it
causes of mourning and debt.
Perhaps Mr.. Cameron'smemory, singu
lar as it is, might be refreshed by som
other facts. He knows, for the record
| prove il, that large contract for supply
, ing our troops in New Mexico and on thu
| frontier had been made by Floyd before
| he came into office, with jackson, Ma
graw and others. The rebellion upset a
, these arrangements, and Scott ordered tn
troops in New Mexico q think to com
here forthwith. The order, if carrie
out, would have ruined the contractors
. They came to Washington. They Sda
Cameron. ''Don" was considered. Th
, | order was revoked. The troops did no
: come, and the battle OF Bull Run aOd
. | lost, for if these $500 regulars had bee
= there nobody doubts that the result woul
: have been changed There is one ind
| yidual who rode in fine carriage, draw
by splendid horses, from New York, VII
NAV remember how all that happened
:, | and if he does not, there are others ST.
| living who do.
Simon is specially strong on the blac
man since Revels is supposed to be
power But his zeal is not altogether
yesterday. Let US be just. When M
;, Lincoln had decided to dismiss Camera
from his cabinet, owing to the virtuol
- manner in which contracts were made,
had also prepared a passage inhis MESA!
recommending the employment of blat
troops. About that time the Secretary
t. War found his office very hot. The II
lie | bu,ae and all the big guns poured in We
d | big shot and quite too much grape. Tit
cried ont. like the Jews of old, 'Cruci
him." Congress was about coming
!. getber. and after the investigations viii
had been already ordered it was evide
that Simon must 90 to the wall. In th
extremity he made flank move ment
a Lincoln; incorporated the President
I'd tended recommendation about the bla
lie troops in his O,On report; let the repo
" get out in advance of the messag
I'd by accident of course, and tn
captured the citadel of Radica'ism. CIR
lev had nothing but hosannahs to sill
IN The. startling Jobs the Pennsylval
IN horse contracts Don's manipulate
r. Belgian guns; Tremont's speculatio
r and the whole catalogue of plumber, su
of as the history of the world has never
corded before, were all forgotten in
n ioy over Cameron's conversion. Eve
lie thing was forgotten and forgiven. I'll
IN whitewashed him so that he scarcely KIN
he himself, and posted him off to Russia,
ar exile of dilapidated politicians, as a CO