New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-18
THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATORSHIP

DON CAMERONS VACCINATIONS.
A SMALL NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC VOTES NEEDED
TO GIVE A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE LEG
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. EXPERIENCE OF THE CAM
ERoNs IN PURCHASING VOTES - Don CAMERON
NOT SURE OF THE REPUBLICANS.
lPRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT or rHR rnIBUNE.l
HARRISBURG, Pa, JAN 14.-Rumors are ahoat OF
M attempt to buy sufficient number of Democratic
votes 10 elect Republican TO the United States Sem
ate. The movement, if it has actually been set on
foot in the interest of Mr. Don Cameron son OF the
Senator who has for some time cherished ambition
for public life and who would beyond question have
managed to crafty this ambition by persuadlng the
Legislature to send him to Washington as the COL
Ieacue of his father had 1t not been for the I'M
expected reverse suffered by his party at the
election AS il is he is not altogether without hope
The Democratic majority on joint ballot will not be
more than six. and unless two members, now said to
be seriously ILL., recover may be reduced to four. Ha
few men could be persuaded to be taken sick and go
home and if the Republicans could be brought to give
their united vote for Cameron, he might yet win the
prize Amember of the House was yesterday offered
81 900 to 90 home and stay until after the election
and although the offer cannot be traced directly to
Mr. Cameron, it is believed by all Democrats to be
the beginning of a campaign opening in his behalf
in which money will be relied upon as the chief
argument.
The political history Of Pennsylvania furnishes
instances of both the and failure OF efforts OF
the kind which 1t is interesting to recall at this
time. In 1857 it was widely reported that Simon
Cameron overcame q clear Democratic majority in
the Legislature on Joint ballot by purchasing three
Democratic members, named Wagenseler, Manner,
and Lebo. John w. FOrney was the Democratic
cauc1s nominee. and had as good reason to regard
his election as certain as Mr.. Wallace, who was
nominated last Thursday. I! When the roll was
called in Joint convention however, the three pur-
chased Democrats voted for Cameron, and their
votes elected him. The feeling of hatred provoked
by their apostasy so intense that no hotel in
Harrisburg would entertain them They all disap-
peared from public life.
In the Winter of 1865, Cameron was again a can
didate for Senator. He had resigned to take the
War Department portfolio in 1861 and had subse-
quently given that up for the mission to Russia
which he soon found not congenial to his tastes.
The Dem pcrats as a result of the which the
Republicans experienced throughout the country in
the FAN elections of 1862, found themselves with
majority of barely one in the Legislature 1t there
fore required but the detection of o single member
TO deprive them of the Senatorship. Buckalew was
their nominee. On the positive assurance that he
had secured one Democratic vote, Cameron was
given the Republican caucus nomination the night
before the election. HlS own Stdtencnt 10 inns erect
was not deemed sufficient He was required
20 name the man-lt was one Boyer of Clearteld
Courtyard committee was sent to him to ascer-
tain il he really intended to vote for Cameron.
Meanwhile the Democrats had Vigilance Commit
tee watching the movements of their opponents.
When BOYER left his room to 90 to the State House
on the day of the election he was met by two Dem
pcratic members who took him by the arms and
marched him through the streets and the Capitol
grounds, assuring him as they went that he would
never leave his seat alive if he betrayed his party
They never left him for moment until the roll
called. Fully convinced that there was gang of
PHILADELPHIA roughs present who had sworn to take
his life if he carried out his bargain with the Cam
sron men, he voted for Buckalew. Mr. Boyer always
asserted afterwards that he playing double with
Cameron to keep him from securing somo fellow
who would carry out his bargain.
Both these cases are frequently referred to now
the first by Republicans who assert that there is
plenty of purchasable material among the Demo-
Gratis waiting buyer and last by Demo
cratic members who feel confident that if the
arts of Simon Cameron were unlvailing when their
party had majority of only one, nothing his
son could now do would destroy their present
majority and rob them of the Senatorship. Even
if plot to secure the votes of two or three Demo
crats-or what would be easier, their absence on
pretense of luess-should promise success it is not
at all probable that the solid vote of the Repub-
licans could be thrown for Don Cameron. More
than enough men to block any such game have
declared in advance that under circumstances
will they be parties to plot to secure the election
of Cameron These men are Republicans of high
character who cannot be moved from their position.
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