The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-26
THE REMARKABLE SILENCE OF SIMON
CAMERON

We have waited long time Tor some re-
spouse from Senator Cameron to the state
ment of Hon. A. X. Mcclure, giving the
reasons that induced the Senator to withdraw
from the Cabinet of Mr.. Lincoln in 1862
When it is considered that MIR. Cameron, and
his friends for him, have declared that this
was q most praiseworthy act-that il sprang
from exalted patriotism and unselfsh devo-
ton to country--certainly Mr.. McOlures grave
and pointed allegations of expulsion merit
some recognition from the Senator. 1t is all
a mistake to suppose they can be passed over
as unworthy of notice. Neither their cha
racter or the character of their author will
permit of that. Mr.. Mcclure is we'll known
to the people of the State, and is now and has
been for number of years a recognized and
trusted member and leader of the Republican
party of Pennsylvania. He makes the charges
over his own signature from personal know
ledge, and challenges denial from General
Cameron, either in his place in the Senate or
through the press, as the Senator may elect.
General Cameron does not avail himself of
either. He permits some of his retaners to
sneer at Mr.. MoClures letter, but this is as
far as he ventures. 1t is worth while reca-
pitulating the main points of the whole
matter
For the last eight years it has been claimed
for General Cameron that he alone of Mr..
Lincoln's constitutional advisers appreciated
the magnitude of the war as far back as 1862,
or understood the proper way to meet it; and
that failing to induce the administration to
adopt his decisive policy, he General Came
| ROM, first taking good care to secure the ap-
| pointment in his stead of a reliable and care
| full successor, like MIR. Stanton, voluntarily
withdrew from the Office of Secretary of War.
| This modest claim not only covers a reproach
on Mr.. Lincoln, but makes of Edwin M. Stan
| ton a sort of protege or political pupil of
Simon Cameron. 1t has been the ''stock in
trade, too, of the Cameron ''ring" in Penn
| sylvania for years, and has been used to de-
| lude good citizens possessed of a constitu-
| tional distrust of the honesty of that faction
and its head. 1t has also crept into history,
and finds a place in eulogy on Secretary
Stanton, printed in a leading magazine, by
| Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts,.
Certainly, if this theory of the Cameron
resignation can be placed beyond aspersion
or doubt, it carries with it degree of honor
which any public man might be excused for
coveting. If true, let Senator Cameron have
all the glory. If it is simply an impudent
expedent to cover an enforced withdrawal
from high postion-a withdrawal made ne
cessary by profigate peculations and frauds,
committed at a time when the country was
BILE eding from every artery-let the lions skin
be stripped from the fox, and the names of
Lincoln and Stanton rescued from an implied
stigma, made necessary to bolster the failing
| fortunes OI an lu6InClenI ana corrupt place.
| man. I his is the issue. There is no evading
it. Mr.. Mcclure is neither so low, or Mr.
Cameron so high, that it can be passed over
After making history, as the American people
| have, during the past ten years, they can GER
tainy claim that it shall be rightfully trans
lnitted to posterity.
In opposition to the Cameron theory that
the Secretary of War withdrew from the Cabi-
net because his far-seeing craftsmanship and
xicln fnI 20
full sway in the military and civil conduct of
the administration, Mr. Mcclure puts the
facts in this light
''Mr. Cameron was removed from the War De-
paItment by Mr Lincoln without any previous notice
Change at the time. He never did resign and was
not consulted by Mr.. Lincoln as to his successor.
| "The correspondence published in the newspapers,
| purportng to be MIR. Cameron's voluntary resigna-
tion and the Presidents acceptance Of the same was
after Mr.. Cameron had been removed. II was
charitably conceived to break the fall OF a Cabinet
Minister who had justly forfeited the confidence OF
| the administration and OF the country, and whose
dismissal was an imperious necessity to save the
sgThe first knowledge Mr.. Cameron had OF his ire.
signation' 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 (Cameronl had nj been a determined upon upon
! to MIR. Cameron by Mr.. Chase.
81 saw the letter very soon after 1t had been deliv
cred and distinctly remember not only S genera era
Cameron complained of the manner of his removal
His resignation was not requested, nor had 1t then
| been given.
.'The withdrawal of Mr.. Lincoln's letter and the
substitution of correspondence antedatng the re-
moval, was suggested to Mr. Cameron, in my pre-
sence and Mr.. Lincoln's generous disposition was
discussed and confidently relied upon to make him
consent to such correspondence. He was appealed
TO on the subject, and agreed to 1t. Letters were
l then prepared, giving the dismissal OF Mr. Came
tirement from the Cabinet, and Senator Wilson was
! | doubtless misled thereby. II Mr.. Cameron pro
posed to resign, Senator Wilson states, happen
to be one of several, least who know that it was
some time after Mr.. Stanton had been installed a.
9 | Secretary Of War.
p 1t is due to the memory OF both that the appoint
ment OF Mr.. Stanton shall not be made to appear
falsely In history, having been dictated or sug
r gested by Mr.. Cameron, or intended to perpetuat'
n | his policy, The change was made to redeem the
| Government from the deadly atmosphere OF corrup
tion that up from the seething cadron OF the
9 | War Department IL was demanded not only by
every dictate OF patriotism, but II was formally ant
peremptorily called for In financial circles with the
positive assurance that no additional loans could bt
{ dethroned from the head OF the War ONCE. Tina
: | demand removed Mr.. Cameron, and It was fully me
by the appointment OF Mr.. Stanton"
u 1t is entirely unnecessary that we should
. canvass the probabilities of the Mcclure an(
. Cameron theories of the Cabinet change, fol-
: the enlightenment of the people OF Pennsyl
:, !, vania, who possess a pretty thorough know
L ledge, derived from, long experience and suf
!. fering, of the qualities of Mr.. Cameron as
= public man. Nor is it necessary to refer
= to the vote in the House OF hepresenta
. tives, censuring the corrupt administration o
= the War Department while Cameron wa
, Secretary. We repeat the facts IN order tina
- they may sink deeper into the hearts OF tn
~ ~ people; that they may become ingrained il
- tVAn i0l wNAlsA