New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-23
ASPECTS OF THE CAMPAIGN.
CAMERON AND CONKLNG.

CAMERON AND CONKLING.
There are doubtless few honest people
not very familiar with the dongs Of public men, VINO De
eve that the poor opinion which THE TRIBUNE anu JIM
Liberal journals frequently express OF simon
proceeds from unfoundod prejudice or partisan
We have not space to 60 over the history OF 'ue
the corrupt Pepnsylvania Ring in detail but we oeSre
To commend 70 such people study OF Cameron 'oi!
brief Garner "A Cabinet Minister under Lincoln Au-
,inistratioD They will find that before he had Deeh
four months In office, corruption oec'ne 30
dacrapt and notorious In the war Oep"F
uept that the House Of Representatives maue
haste 10 raise a Committee Of Investigation Inc erea-
ton M the Committee was among the first acts OF the
snecial Session which convened July 4, 1851 1t men,
hers were Charles H. Van Wyck Of New-York, Elhu b..
washburne of Illinois, Vim. G. Holman Of Indiana, Reu-
ben f. FentOn OF New-YOrk Henry J.. Dawes OF Massa-
chusetts VIM G. steele Of Delaware, and James g. jack
son of Kentucky. Two OF the members Of the Commit
tee Washburne and Dawes, are now among the great
lights Of the Administration party. and their evidence
ought 70 be taken conclusive by all GRANTEES Ihey
were particularly active In conducting the investigation
II is curious fact that almost the only opposition 70 the
raising of the Committee came from Roscoe Conkling
then member OF the House. COnkling fought the ih
vestgaton from the start and pertnaeiousH opposed
almost every act OF the Committee while NeohIineu n
existence
The Committee proceeded take testimony, and came
upon such evidences fraud in the making OF contracts
for army supplies that when the short specla seSsloh
ended they COT leave TO set the and continue
the work In spite Of COnkings resistance Lneoin uu
not wait for the Committee to report He removed
Cameron from the War Office after the regular De
cember session OF Congress commenced Inc Oouittee
reported IN April resolution censuring Cameron MI
Dawes made speech exposing and denouhelhg the cor
rupt contracts made By the Secretary of War; and
showed the House that Cameron had deliberately s'ateu
the reverse OF fact IN an official communication sent to
the Senate. in which he siad
ain tina time, take occasion to state that nave
myself not made SINGLE contract ior any purpose
ever having always Interpreted the laws OF congress 40
contemplating that the heads or bureaus VINO ar
enced and able officers OF the regular army shall nahe
all Tor supplies for the branches VI inc sefe
under their charge, Respectively"
This statement Cameron made to the Senate Jan TO-
1862 when his nomination Minister 10 hussla was
pending aud when accusations were made against MN
on account Of the contracts be had mace MI dawes
nrinteS II and exhibited Executive Document No. g.
containing list of contracts made for by the War
Department by which 1t appeared that Secretary Cam
eron had himself contracted for I69OO rifles and mus
kets while Chief OF Ordnance had contracted for only
H4OO Mr.. Dawes commenting upon this, said:
This document IN face of the solemn declaration OF
The Secretary War that lie had never bade one
those contracts reveals contracts mace OY nun anu W
HE order 70 the amount Ot l,a69OO musket ana tnat
lpOn tine very day lac madO ts staeneht-tht loth oI
January two days aiter no had resigned ana wme he
acting Secretary Oi WSr, aud WINE Ms hOilih9
U S IN Xy5ds a ii sr. 10 an Unlimited amount
.it +.i-t - - 'i,ni,iaI ,onId furnish
ak months; tHis, Ot the Chief
81 Ordnance, now before lac IA prlnt
Mr.. Dawes thus convicted Cameron OF shameless I'M
truth which ne lad old IN al official communication;
the object being 10 secure the confirmation Of his NOM
nation as Minister 10 COnkng could hnd no
aefense for his reEd and resOred to abuse Of the Com
nittee and sinuatOls wrong motives on the part Of
its members Dir. M-sl0urne replied to him III cutting
speech in which he SAID:
He (COnklins) started out In this Congress as man
who going - punish IauNs. lie Introduced DIii-
aud viii Linn tie justice 10 SAP tdJ believe IL wac
a LOOd bll-4C PARISH these !rdCIs NMCD We nave
exposed Blu. change comes over Tue spHlt Vi MS
dreams. Instead vi pan.snng them he appears TO-DAY
their ChaIn pOn ANA Their defender regret tAat
have mad thus ~ characterize the member nom New
York 1his Is none 10y seeking. His attaek upon the
Committee infamous aud BASE aud OI course Tue
member cannot hope ~ 10 unseatAe4."
According to HunIy l.. Dawes, 1t therefore appears
that simon Cameron, when secretary Of War was un-
truthful and a corrup,cnist, and according 10 Eihu b.
Washourne Roscoe Conk.ing made an L" infamous and
base" attack upon Committee Of the House to shield
Cameron from deserved TIE House on the SOIh
of AurI 1867 sustained and HaShburne by pass
Ing the following resolution, Co--nE VI course voting
IN the negative
Resoped That Simon Cameron late Secretary OF War,
by investing a KaudeF tlLl1 @ltn the cOntrOi OF
Large sums tic Iuuc money, ana authority 70 Pul-
cse lItary SUPPLE WiIhOii. TeIictOn, without re-
uuiriug IRON any guaTt nice 10 t1e ialth4u peIIOi
aace OF lis dueS, when the services OF competent PuO
c officers were available Dy involving the Govern
neut an yst number Of contracts with persons not
ee1tnateiy engaged the business pertaining 10 tDe
suecl matter OI contracts especially IN the puI
chase Of arms future delivery, has a0Oped POoy
highly injurious thc puOAc service AM OBSERVES INC
tensurc Ot tAe hOWse.