Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-10
SIMON CAMERON.
What Ne PreteHds to Remember and what
Others Remember Of Him.


EFoh1 the new AOEh " 0IlN
WASHINGTON, May l.-That disAfer-
ested and virtuOus patriot, Simon Cam
sron, who has done so much 10 elevate
the political morals Of the country, has
what may be called prodigious memory
That is to say, he remembers everything
that is convenient and foTgets everything
that is embarrassing. The public appre-
citation of Simon and the knowledge OF
those who have been nearest in his inti-
macy have another word than memory
for this remarkable quality-they rather
ascribe il to an inventive genius, which
has stood him many good turn.
Now, Simen thought that the time had
come for demonstrating that a prophet
might have honor in his own country. 80
when Revels appeared on the scene, and
Sumner had discharged his usual guam
tity Of humanity" Cameron Thought
there was an opportunity for Pennsyl-
vRnia to strike in. So, therefore, he re-
zaesabered a conversation with Jefferson
Davis ten years ago, wherein he predicted
that '' cOlored gemmsn " would occupy
his seat in the Senate, as result OF Sc
cessiOn.
Wen after a reasonable time, Mr.. Davis
quietly suggested that no such cOnversa-
tion had ever taken place, and conse-
quently the prophet had not won his
spurs. ThereupOn, the willy Simon falls
back upon his recOnciled brother FOrney,
whom be denounced not long ago in the
Senate, and who, considering the Forrest
letter ought to be a man after his own
heart, and gets up in the Chronicle break
fast for himself at " Jeff7s" house, only
1.-TWO weeks" before the separation, and
there laws the scene of his prophecy OF
the second edition. Like some swift wit
nesses, Simon has proved rather too much
for bis memory. Mr.. Davis was prls-
oner 10 a dark room for long time before
% srrf n
Strange as il may appear, in face OF the
existing prejudice, he was for compro-
mice and settlement up TO the last mo-
ment, and in favor of the Crittenden reso-
iUtiOns for basis. II was with great re-
luctance he took the ground OF the real
revolutionary leaders, though necessarily
sVmpathizing with their alleged griev-
ances.
But, according TO the assertion of the
Radical press, secession had been long
planned and eliminated during the win
ter preceding Mr.. LincOln's inauguration,
with Jefferson Davis as the master spirit.
Now, if this be true at all, in what attl-
tUde does it place the virtuOus, patriotic,
and disinterested Simon Cameron, who,
according TO the last phase Of his wonder
ful memory, was " breakfasting with
&" Jeff. Davis F" only " tiOO 1Deeks" before
the rebellion began2 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
Simon 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
10 the last. The plain truth is, Simon has
drawn upon his imagination for his facts,
which, though not very vivid, he con-
trives TO make useful at times.
Bv the way, Cameron has never eX-
plained how il came to pass that be, as
Secretary Of War, accepted the reslgna-
zion OF Lee, Johnston, Beauregard, and
the whole catalogue Of distinguished
sstraitors" who made war against the ina
tiOnal life" for four years, and imposed
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. Ee
was the prophet who fOresaE all about
the rebellion, who predicted the coming
of Revels, and who imported Belgian
Guns through the self-sacriicing Sanford,
more dangerous to the Union men than
10 rebels. How did he, "tte Secretary"
come 70 send Lee, and Johnston, and
l,ost OF West Pointers TO the South, thus
furnishing generals for their army, brains
for the rebellion, and enemies 70 the re-
publfc2 WHY did he not arrest them on
the spot As TRAITORS" then2 Why not
ssuips the revolution in its'bud7 If there
be one man in this broad Union more re-
fsDonsible for the beginning. progress, and
continuance Of the rebeliOH, for the lives
Iost. tbe blood shed, and the treasure
squandered, it is Simon Cameron, Of
PENNSYLVANIA, the first Secretary OF W 3
70 Mr.. Lincoln. He let the chiefs %,
knowing their purpose, and there' e ne
might ina an ordinary criminal proceeding
be Indicted Is an accessory before the fact.
without these chiefs there would have
been no real rebellion on any extended
scale. The South owes its leaders TO Mr..
Cameron, and the North may allow him
the credit Of its cause of mourning and
DEBT.
Perhaps AIr. Cameron's memory, sin
sznlar as il is, might be refreshed by some
other facts. He knows, for the records
proye il, that large contract for supply
fug our troops in New Mexico and on the
frontier had been made by Floyd before
ne came into Office, with Jackniau, Ma
,zraW and others. The rebellion upset all
these arrangements. and Scott ordered
the troops in New Mexico II think to
come here forthwith. That order, il car
risd ont, would have ruined the oontrac-
tors. They came TO Washington. They
sasD Cameron. "DOn" was considered.
not come. aud the battle oj Bull Run iOdS
lost, for If these 200 regulars had been
there nobody doubts that the res1lt would
have been changed. There is one indi-
vidual who rode IN a iDe carriage, drawn
by splendid horses, from New York, who
may remember how all that happened,
and Il be does not there are others still
Biving who do.
simon is specially strong on the black
man since ReFels is supposed 70 be a
mower. But his zeal is not altogether Of
Yesterday. Let us be just. When Mr..
lincoln hsd decided to dismiss Cameron
from his Cabinet, owing to the yirtuOiis
manner ia which con. oats were made,
he had also prepared a pals. Aga IN his mes
saze recommending the employment Of
black troops. About that time tbs Secre-
1srV of War found his Office very hot,
The Tribune and all the big guns poured
IN very big shot and quite too much
grape. They cried Qut, like the Jews Of
old, @CrueifY him" Congress was about
coming together, and after tue inyestiga-
tions Which had been already ordsrad, it
was evident that siBlpD must 60 TO the
wall In this extremity Es made hank
movement Oh Lincoln; incorporated the
Presidents intended recommendation
,sboRt the black troops ia his O1gn report;
let the report get out in advance Of the
MESSAGE bY accident Of course, and taus
captursd the RlLEdel Of ha0icdltsIh.
SGreeley bad nothing bat hosannas
20 sing. The startling Jobs; the
Pennsyfyania horse eontractsJ Don's
manipulation; Belgian guRsi frelnont's
speculation; and the whole catalogue OF
pluDder, such Is tbe history Of the world
had never recorded before, were all for
COTTON In the joy oEsE CsmeroB's eOnyer-
sion. Everything was forgotten and
forgiven. They whitewashea hin so
thai he searceiy knew himself, and posted
him OF TO Russla, the exile Of dilapida-
ted politicians, as a compliment 20 the
Cars friendship. En- T0Ht6 be stopped
IN Paris, and, lettering along the ROuie-
wards, discovered ElideA standing at a
window. He rushed mp, seized him by
the hand, sBd gusbed into Pennsylvania
enthusiasm oYef bis old friend, before
Slidell had tune 70 recover, r.,eqGanimity,
and 70 turn eoldly from this 'andacious
intrusion, f" As be called il. OF course ST.
mons memory will be defective in this
little souvenir. 1t is only fresh where
ReRels is concerned, who, it is only just
20 say, is the better man OF tbs two in all
that constitutes true manhood.
The Odd Fellows eslessation tomorrow
3 expested TO be the grandest ever held
IA