Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-04-02
THE BUT'LERS AND THE CAM
ERONS.
THE PROTEST AGAINST CAMERON IN 1857
WHAT BUTLER, DIoLER AND 9TH
ERs DID.

"The vote Of Don the other day was purely on
personal grounds. The father Of the present Sen
ator Butler was in the Senate when was com
young Senator. Bigler made use Of
some very mean language against me, and Butler
got up and gave him a sound drubbing with his
tongue, and told him to go back to Pennsylvania
and wash his dirty linen, the Senate was no place
for 1t. Well, never forgot the kindness, and l
supposed Don remembered II and wanted to help
the son Of the father who helped his own father.
That Is all the significance there is in Don's vote
for Butler"
Governor Bigler, having retired from
public life, honored and respected for
the faithful performance of many pub
lie trusts, and especially esteemed as a
man Of habitual propriety, fairness, and
even generosity, was greatly surpris-
ed at this ready slang Of Cameron.
Anxious TO see for myself what meas
ure of provocation Governor Biglcr had
to depart from his usual propriety OF
speech, | have examined the record,
and diligent search of the Congressional
Globe has shown me that this apology
Of Cameron to his party for the treach.
cry Of Don is mainly fiction and false
hood. | regret TO use such language,
but no other terms will do justice to
the case. The Globe shows no debate
in the Senate between Butler, Bigler
and Cameron, except that which grew
out OF Cameron's right to his seat on
his credentials presented in 1857. All
presumptions were fairly against Cam
eron, because the Democrats had ma
jority in the Legislature and were en-
titled to the Senator. Colonel John
W. Forney was their nominee; but
Cameron in some mysterious way Sc
duced and carried off three of the men,
bers from the counties Of York and
Schuyllill (Lebo, Wagonsellcr and
Mancer), and he was by their votes
elected. The Democrats, believing
that this result had been accomplished
by corrupt influence, sent communi-
cation to the United States Senate set.
ting forth these circumstances and OBJ
jectlng to Cameron's right to the seat.
This paper was presented to the Sen
ate by Bigler without debate, and re-
ferred to the judiciary committee, OF
which Judge Butler was Chairman.
Butler held that the committee had
no Jurisdiction over the subject matter
of the communication from the men,
bers of the State Legislature and re-
ported in favor of Cameron's right To
the seat, On the report arose all the
debate that could give the slightest
foundation for Cameron's ungracious
statement about Biglcr. The debate
was mainly confined to Messrs. Butler
BENJAMIN and Pugh. What Biglel
said was marked with moderation and
propriety. He concurred with Butler
in the committees conclusions and
their want of jurisdiction, but he had
whilst the subject was under debate
received telegram from members O
the Legislature informing him thai
they and others had sent him com
; munication bearing on the Cameron
election and he made an earnest effor
TO have the subject postponed till thu
next day, that tho Senate might SCI
what this communication contained
Butler resisted this motion and urged
the adoption of the committees report
. without casting one word of reproacl
upon Bigler, and uttered no unkinC
word toward HIM. He did say, how
ever, Of the members Of the State Leg
islature that "if they had been dab
, bling in dirty water they should wasl
. themselves before they came here.
[ But he said no such things as to Big
! ler, and Cameron could not fail Il
, know that the remark had no refer
t ence to Bigler, would prefer to Civ
' you the words of the debate through
' out, but it would occupy too mucl
s space. But investigation will satisfy
any one Of the accuracy Of my state
ment, and how unjust and maliciou
: are the words of Cameron toward Big
. ler, who was his colleague and his su
perior in every particular.
If the Republican party accept thi
explanation Of Cameron as a satisfac
: tory apology, l am content; but ther
is widespread impression that Simol
= Cameron's gratitude to John J. Pat
terson for services in moro recen
Senatorial contest had more to do wit
a Don's vote than any action OF Judg
g Butler In 1857, for since that vote W
already see immunity guaranteed b.
South Carolina TO John ]. Patterson.
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