The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-06-28
Grants Simon.
From the Springfield Rep ublican.,


In his exceedingly piquant and in
structive Life Of Abraham Lincoln"
Mr.. Ward Lam0n has given the public
several hitherto unedted chapters of
political history. Here is one Of them
Before the Chicago Convention of
1860 assembled, it became evident to Mr..
LincOln's friends that the only chance Of
beating Mr.. Seward lay in arranging u
OmbinatiOn Of interests against him.
Accordingly they went to work and ar
ranged it. 1t was a delicate piece of
business, but the average Illinois politi-
clans of those days was not very heavily
burdened with scruples nor squeamisli
about the means which he took to
achieve his ends. How delightful to
note the change which has since passed
upon his character! These friends of
Mr.. Lincoln, assuming TO speak in his
name, approached Mr.. Caleb Il. Smith.
Of Indiana, and Mr.. Simon Cameron. of
very practical and business like nature.
If these gentlemen would contract to
transfer the vote OF their friends in the
convention to Mr.. Lincoln. the Illinois,
ans W wonld in turn guarantee them seats
in Mr.. Lincoln's cabinet. suppo,ing him
10 be- elected. Mr.. Camcron's represen-
tativcs were at first disposed 10 haggle
and stand ont for better terms. They
demanded for him the position of Sccre-
tary of the Treasury. But the demand
was pronounced inadmis-ible, and the
original bargain was ratified. The de-
livery Of the votes followed in due time.
After the election il became necessary
to inform Mr.LincOln Of what had been
done, and what he was expected to do.
lie was both annoyed aud distressed.
but his friends insisted upon his per-
formance OF the bond. They told him
that his honor as well as theirs was in
vOlved, ,and their arguments finally pre-
vailed upon him to tender Mr.. Smith
the promised portfolio. But at Mr..
Cameron lie stuck for a long time SD
long that the latter supposed for a sea-
son the bargain was "oif." and actual, :
wrote to another I'cnns ylvanian. Mr..
Stevens. proposing 10 withdraw in his
favor. Mr.. Lincoln was thoroughly in
formed of Mr.. Cameron's antecedcnts
and character. He was assured both by
letter and word OF mouth that the man
was VIGOROUSLY corrupt, slIamc!e>s
and inscriptions intriguer. possessed
with IL mean ambition TO occupy exalted
trusts for which he was lIopclrssly in
competent. lie was told that Mr.. Cam
cron never dared to offer himself as II
candidate for the sufiiage> of the people :
that such offices AS he had held had been
bought OF veiial Legislatures: that his
appointment would be scandal and ar
a!lrOnt to the party and the country. MIR.
Lincoln felt the full force Of these OBJ
jectioms. lie said "All that | am in
the world the Presidency aud all else
Il owe to that opinion of me which
the people express when they call me
honest old Abe Now. what will they
think of their honest Abe when he ap-
points Simon Cameron 10 be his familiar
adviscr!' lie told Colonel Mcclure
that i { he would make his charges against
Mr.. Cameron specific and produce the
proof. the appointment should not be
made. But the pressure was too strong
for him. Mr.. Cameron insisted upon
his bond. going on TO Springfield tn
look after its acquital. The friends tO
whom the new President was indebted
for his Office were equally strenuous.
Mr. Lincoln gave way, and Mr.. Came
ron went into the War Department.
! The American people have surely not
forgotten the history of this brief. stay in
that Department. They have not forgot
ten the stencil of corruption which pres
entity issued from its doors and wind
ows, and finally grew SD offensive that
the representatives Of the people under
! the lead, among Others, of Mr.. Dawes :
undertook to imvcsti igatc and discover the
source. They have not forgotten. either
that Mr.. Cameron suddenly "resigned'
and took himself off to Russia. Bu
few of them know the whole history o
that resignation" and the account q
the affair which Colonel Mcclure ha.
furnished. Mr.. Lamon will have all ths
interests of disclosure.
saw Cameron the night Of the day
that Lincoln removed him. We met ia
the room OF q mutual friend, and he was
very violent against Lincoln for rcmov.
Ing him without consultation or notice
Ills dcnunciation against the President
! was extremely bitter for attempting, a,
Inc said, his personal rs we'll as his p0lit
; ical destruction. He exhibited the let
ter. which was all in Mr.. Lincoln's hant
writing. and literally as follows. quot,
from carefully treasured recollection.
II Hon. Simon Cameron. Secretary o
War Dear Sir: 1 have this day nonii
mated Hon. Edwin NJ. Stanton 10 b
. Secretary Of War, and you to be Minis
|, ltcr Plenipotcntiary to Russia.
Very truly. a. LINCOLN.
am sure there is no material erro
lin my quotation Of the letter. We've
l.ac.. a. cyor hcfnrc a,nd sincC anil A