The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-12
FIRST EDITION
THE WAR OFFICE
Why Cameron Left 1T
he Resigned the secreteryship of War
After Mr.. Lincoln had Removed
Him-Senater Wilson's Ac-
,n count gorrected-A Let
ter from Alexander
'3 K. Mcclure.

To tie Editor of tie EUeniRg Telegraph
In your paper of Wednesday you refer to the
conflicting explanations given by political jour
nails of the retirement of Mr.. Cameron from the
War Department, and call for the correct his
tory of his displacement for Mr. Stanton. can
throw some light upon the inside history of the
change.
The Atlantic Monthly for February contains
an eloquent and just tribute to the late Hon.
Edwin M. Stanton, from the pen of Senator
Wilson, of Massachusetts,. Coming as it does
from gentleman of high character for integ
rity, and one who is presumed to have been
familiar with the inside political movements of
L'u, oln admi nistration, the vindicaton of
truth of history requires that one paragraph
Of his otherwise unexceptionable paper should
corrected. He says:-
'srhe impatience of the public mind at the delays
found expression in harsh and generally undeserved
felt the pressure Of multiplied iabers that crowded
upon him, and he was not insensible to adverse
criticisms ne proposed 70 RESIGN PrGrtded son'e one m
suggested the appointment Of Mr. Stanton The Prest-
dent acted upon his suggestion accepted his resignation
was then named Secretary OF War; with the hearty
concurrence OF every member OF the Cabinet except
polntment."
writer In Lippincotfs Magazine for Febru-
ary also discusses the retirement of Mr.. Came
ron from the Cabinet, and approaches the truth,
but does not fully explain the circumstances
connected with Mr. Stanton's appointment.
Mr.. Cameron was removed from the War
Department by Mr.. Lincoln without any pre-
vious notice of the purpose of the President to
make the change at the time. He never did re-
sign, and was not consulted by Mr.. Lincoln as to
his successor.
The correspondence published in the news
papers, purporting to be Mr. Cameron's volun-
tary resignation and the Presidents acceptance
of the same, was an after-thought. 1t was sug-
gested and prepared after Mr.. Cameron had
been removed. 1t was charitably conceived to
break the fall of Cabinet minister who had
Justly forfeited the confidence of the admins
tration and of the country, and whose dismissal
was an imperious necessity to save the national
credit.
The first knowledge Mr.. Cameron had of his
resignation" was communicated TO him in
letter from the President, informing him that
Mr. Stanton had been, or would be, nominated
as Secretary of War, and that he (Cameron)
had been determined upon for the Russian mis-
sion. The letter was delivered to Mr.. Cameron
by Mr.. Chase.
] saw the letter very soon after 1t had been
delivered, and distinctly remember not only its
general contents, but also the bitterness with
which Mr.. Cameron complained of the manner
of his removal. His resignation was not re-
auested, nor had it then been given.
The withdrawal of Mr.. Lincoln's letter and
the substitution of a correspondence, antedating
the removal, was suggested to Mr.. Cameron In
my presence, and Mr.. Lincoln's generous dispo-
sition was discussed and confidently relied upon
to make him ent to such correspondence.
He was appealed to on the subject and agreed
TO it. Letters were then prepared giving the
dismissal of Mr.. Cameron the appearance of u
voluntary and cordial retirement from the Cabi-
net, and Senator Wilson was doubtless misled
thereby. If Mr.. Cameron proposed to resign,
as Senator Wilson states, happen to be one of
several, at least, who know that 1t was some time
after Mr.. Stanton had been installed as the
Minister of War.
Mr. Lincoln and Mr.. Stanton are both dead,
and it Is due to the momory of both that the ap-
poiptment of Mr.. Stanton shall not be made to
appear falsely in history as having been dictated
or suggested by Mr.. Cameron, or intended to
perpetuate his policy. The change was made tc
redeem the Government from the deadly atno
sphere of corruption that came up from tht
seething caldron of the War Department.
was demanded not only by every dictate of pa
triotism, but 1t was formally and peremptorily
called for in financial circles, with the positiv,
assurance that no additional loans could be ne
gotiated until dishonesty and incompetency wer
dethroned from the head of the War Office
That demand removed Mr.. Cameron, and it wa
fully met by the appointment of Mr.. Stanton.
A. X. MCCLURE.
Philadelphia, February II, 1870.