Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-06-07
FASTENED by, if it was not the direct result
Of, overwork in the war department"


Gen. Cameron continued for time to talk
of the war and incidents connected with it,
until, again referring to politics, he said
abruptly. "And even Lincoln. great a man
rs he grew to be, was at one time exceeding
ly doubtful as to his hold upon the party"
Then, without waiting for any comment upon
this statement, he continued refectively,
'.Ycs, yes, | remember distinctly that he was
not a little troubled about the matter. 1t was
in 1868, and the talk of his denomination
had begun. OF course, he was exceedingly
anxious for success, and he was very much
disturbed at what he called the hostility of
Chase and Weed. referring, of course, to
Mr. Thurow Weed, of New York. Re-
garding the position of those gentlemen, he
said to me one day
"'Cameron, don't like the idea OF hay
ing Chase and Weed against me. I'm afraid
| can't be nominltcd if they continue to Op
pose me-
"'Give yourself no uneasiness on that
score was my reply; 'the people are with
you, and the leaders, even If they desire to
do so. will he powerless to prevent your re-
turn to the White House, and then still furth-
er to rcassure him, | continued: The posi-
tion Of Gen. jackson Just before his tirsttcrm
expired was an exceedingly critical one,
which yours is not, and still he was renom-
mated How was that?' he asked and
went on to tell him of the fact that Jack
son was under what was substantially
pledge not to run for second term.
"And how did he get ont of it, Cameron !;
how did he get out of it p he asked, repeat
ing the question second time. 'Oh,'
H. I #
sylyania sent him n letter representing that
until his warfare on the United States
Bank had been successfully concluded it
would be against tho best interests of the
country for him to retire, and on that ac
count strongly urging him to accept second
term 'Ah, yes said the President. Il see,
and then, looking at me sharply, he asked
Cameron, could you get INC letter like
that
"'Yes, think might was my rely.
DO, do he said, very earnestly, and then,
after a few more words on unimportant
topics, VIC separated. | went to Harris
burg almost Immediately, found the Legisla-
ture in session. and calling few of our
party friends together, | represented to them
the political situation, and advised that
such letter as we had years before sent to
jackson, should then be forwarded to Lin
coin. They all agreed with me, and short
ly afterward the letter was prepared and
forwarded on behalf of all the Republican
Senators and Representatives of our State.
And singularly enough" continued the
General. sit was modelled almost exactly
after the Jackson letter, the only substantial
difference being that the war of the rebellion
instead of the United States Bank was re-
ferred to as the evil which the President
was relied upon to crush OUT
"And did Lincoln ever acknowledge what
you had done for him in the matter?'
"Well, not directly" Mr.. Cameron re-
piled; "but some time after my visit to
Harrisburg was at a reception-it was in
the White House, if | remember correctly
and as [ was standing talking to number
of gentlemen, Mr.. Lincoln approached me,
smiling, and holding out one of his great
big hands, covered with a white cotton
glove, said:
"'It's all right, Cameron; two more
States heard from to-day
"lf am not mistaken, that was the only
reference to the letter which he ever made
in nv presence"